TEDx asks: what is humankindness?

A solution to Sydney's transport woes? How can our city support online holiday rental platforms, like Airbnb and not lose its soul? Would you trust a robot to cut you open?

These and other big questions could be answered next month, as TEDxSydney today announces its new speaker line-up, to add to the already announced guests such as comedian/author Magda Szubanski and Indigenous writer Bruce Pascoe.

Darling Harbour's International Convention Centre will host the thinkfest on June 15. TEDx conferences are the self-organised offshoot of the TED (Technology Education Design) organisation that started in California in 1984 with the slogan "ideas worth spreading".

Joining the roster of speakers, where the slogan is "Humankind", will be robobiologist Anjali Jaiprakash, whose vision is to create a world in which robotics technology enables affordable medicine for all.

Tech business veteran Stephen Scheeler who is a member of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's Knowledge Nation 100, top innovation leaders in Australia will speak, as will CSIRO innovative data chief Fang Chen, who will examine how to use big data in more human ways. Nicole Gurran, Professor of Urban and Regional Planning, who is passionate about the regulation of online holiday platforms and their impact on cities will talk to the importance of building sustainable urban environments.

Fenella Kernebone, TEDxSydney's head of curation, says: "We live in world that is increasingly complex. Current and future advances in technology continue to shape how we live. Our speakers this year, from diverse fields such as technology, science, culture and design, all tackle the theme HumanKind – what does it mean to be human and to be kind?"

This promises to be the biggest TEDx event Sydney has ever hosted, with an expected sell-out of the 5000 registration capacity. Sydney hosted its first TEDx conference in 2010.

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