Apart from the regular talks, performances and films, attendees also had the option of chatting with other attendees via an online video roundtable, or join a Meet the Speaker Q&A. Photo Credit: TEDXSydney
Like most events in 2020, TEDxSydney went virtual this year, attracting more than 3,000 global attendees.
Event agency, INVNT GROUP, helped to execute the physical-to-digital move after working with the TEDx team in 2018 and 2019.
"We knew the talented and versatile INVNT GROUP team would be able to
support us in pivoting our more than 5,000 attendee in-person
TEDxSydney event to a unique and memorable online experience," event
founder, Remo Giuffré, said.
“It was incredibly important we didn’t lose any of the elements
TEDxSydney is known for during this process — it’s a place where people
come to hear leading and inspirational ideas, share their own thoughts,
and connect with likeminded people. INVNT GROUP played an integral role in enabling us to achieve a seamless transition, while retaining our core identity and values,” he added.
Logging in via a custom-built platform, attendees joined four main
stage sessions that were broadcast from live from a Sydney studio. And a
new way of 'gathering' everyone: an expansive 20 metre Zoom wall so
global virtual attendees could 'join' the studio audience live in
Sydney.
As a nod to how the entire industry has been upended by the pandemic,
the ideas forum also featured 27 Discovery Sessions, which provided
attendees the opportunity to dive deeper into an idea, learn something
new, or get up and move: think yoga and coffee art demos, plus
advice-led sessions on topics like how to pitch to venture capitalists
or design a more sustainable future.
During breaks, there was also the option to chat with other attendees
via an online video roundtable, join a 'Meet the Speaker' Q&A
session or participate in one of the Discovery Sessions.
And like many other events that have found new ways around
registration fees in pandemic times, TEDxSydney offered a Pay It Forward
initiative, where options included general admission for the event, as
well as admission for a member of TEDxSydney's charity partner, the
Australian Indigenous Education Foundation.