TEDx Sydney is an independent event organised under licence to TED. These events are non-profit, but may use an admission fee or commercial sponsorship to cover costs. Similarly, speakers are not paid. They must also relinquish the copyrights to their materials, which TED may edit and distribute under a Creative Commons licence, hence the wonderful source of information free on TED sites around the world.

TEDx Sydney has appointed Fenella Kernebone as head of curation.

Kernebone will oversee all aspects of curation, leading the next phase of programming for what has become one of the largest TEDx events in the world.

TEDx Sydney is primarily, but not only, about the speakers and their talks. There are also programmes relating to performance, film and food; and the head of curation oversees all four curatorial pillars.

In the role, Kernebone will lead and manage a curatorial team of over 20 voluntary curators and producers, all committed to the pursuance of TEDx Sydney’s mission to spread great home-grown ideas, while engaging and delighting the not-for-profit’s rapidly growing member community; to inspire and be inspired.

Kernebone is a noted television and radio presenter and producer, MC, interviewer and writer and has enjoyed a distinguished career working across arts, film, music, design and culture. Her hosting roles have included Radio National’s By Design, The Sound Lab on Triple J, Art Nation on ABC TV and The Movie Show on SBS. In 2015, Kernebone presented a five-part series for ABC online entitled Design Shots, which focused on Australian designers.

TEDx Sydney founder and licensee Remo Giuffré said: “We’re really thrilled to have Fenella join us as head of curation. She has been involved with TEDx Sydney since 2014 as our livestream host on event day, and has always been a delight to work with. Fenella’s collaborative approach and knowledge of the design world are enormous assets for us and we’re excited to see how she shapes not only the main stage, but all pillars of the TEDxSydney experience.”

Kernebone takes over from Edwina Throsby, head of curation for the past three years. On Throsby’s watch (and Janne Ryan’s before her) TEDx Sydney has grown by a factor of 10, establishing itself as Australia’s leading platform for the propagation of ideas, creativity and innovation.

“We loved working with Edwina and TEDx Sydney benefitted greatly from her fierce intelligence, impeccable editorial judgement and consistent good humour,” continued Giuffré. “Over her three-year tenure, content from Edwina's editorial team set a number of new high-water marks for TEDxSydney. She will be a tough act to follow, but we have every confidence that Fenella is the perfect fit for the job.”

Kernebone added: “I am delighted to be joining the talented curatorial team to help shape the next phase of TEDx Sydney, one of Australia’s most thought-provoking and inspiring events. Australia has a wealth of innovative thinkers and speakers and I am looking forward to collaborating with the team, to bring that diverse range of people together to speak with an equally diverse, creative and smart audience. It is also a great honour to be following in the footsteps of the brilliant Edwina Throsby and Janne Ryan.”

TEDx Sydney 2016 was the biggest and most feted TEDx Sydney yet. Here are some key statistics:

• 2500 Concert Hall attendees
• 2400 attendees at the simultaneous TEDxYouth@Sydney in Joan Sutherland Theatre
• 23,000 attendees at 287 Satellite Events across Australia and the world (147% growth since 2015)
• 116,000 viewers of the TEDxSydney Live Stream
• 85,000,000+ views of TEDxSydney content online to date
• 124 Organising Team Members in 2016
• 119 additional Event Day Volunteers
• 1000+ stage door passes issued to people working at the venue on the day to deliver the event
• 13,500 meals served on event day prepared by 34 Chefs
• 7500 coffees served!

The talks from TEDx Sydney 2016 are now available for viewing here.