yLead is proud to partner with the following speakers for our nine location roadshow across Australia. These young people are all role-models in their community, committed to driving change and making a difference in the world. We are excited to welcome them to the Altitude Day stage to inspire and empower your Year 9 students.
Find the speakers for your specific location below.
Tiesha Munnich-Hewitt is a proud Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander woman of the Wadjigan, Yawuru, Bardi Jawi, Karajarri, Gunggandji and Mamu clans. A mother, mentor, artist, designer and freelance model, Tiesha is passionate about using creativity, culture and fashion as powerful tools for storytelling, connection and empowerment.
Through her art, design and community work, she leads powerful workshops centred around culture, kinship, creativity and connection to Country – reaching communities across the Northern Territory and beyond to strengthen pride, identity and confidence. From the runways of Naam (Melbourne) to remote communities and the Northern Territory, Tiesha turns every space into a platform for mob, showcasing the beauty, resilience, creativity and strength of First Nations culture wherever she goes.
Tiesha will be speaking in: Darwin
Rachael Sarra’s vibrant creative practice embodies her experience as a proud mixed race, First Nations woman from Goreng Goreng Country. Driven by a belief that art and design are vital to communication, connection and culture, Rachael invites us to see the world through her eyes with bold colours and dynamic contours. Her distinct contemporary style is resonating around the world, and challenging societal perceptions of Aboriginal art and identity.
Rachael is a change-maker. Her commercial practice is inseparable from her community obligations. She is redesigning how First Nations businesswomen navigate success while anchoring their business in culture. Building a business bigger than herself, she is committed to significant charitable donations and pro-bono work that has a tangible impact back into the community.
Rachael will be speaking in: Brisbane
Amity is currently in her second year at Bond University, where she is a recipient of the Transformer Scholarship and studying a Bachelor of Climate Change and Sustainable Action (Global Studies – Sustainability).
She works as an Assistant Electorate Officer and is also employed at Sea World, where she works in both retail and Polar Bears. Passionate about ocean conservation, particularly shark protection, she actively volunteers with Sea Shepherd Australia on the Gold Coast, contributing to their Shark Defence and Marine Debris Campaigns. Amity also mentors with the Queensland Youth Parliament and supports youth-led environmental education through her volunteer work with the EcoMarines Foundation.
Amity will be speaking in: Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba, Townsville
Barnaby Howarth thinks of himself as an average bloke. However, his story is anything but average. A type-1 diabetic and former AFL player, his life changed dramatically at the age of 25 when he was king hit in an alcohol-fuelled attack, leading to a stroke. He was forced to rebuild his life and learnt to dig deep and find the power within to overcome his challenges. When his first wife died of cancer, he had to again look within to move forward.
Barnaby is a successful keynote speaker and resilience coach who draws on his experiences and amusing anecdotes to help people be the best they can be.
Barnaby will be speaking in: Sydney
Ricky Esterquest is the Founder and Principal Community Development Worker at Towards Better, a certified social enterprise committed to helping people with disabilities experience more of the good things in life: purpose, belonging, learning, meaningful work and genuine relationships. Originally from the United States and a Townsville resident since 2015, Ricky is also a proud husband, father and active school parent.
Ricky works alongside individuals and communities to create meaningful roles where people with disabilities are valued and included, a true leader in the Townsville community.
Ricky will be speaking in: Townsville
Darian Brooker is a foster care leaver, TEDx speaker, and the founder and CEO of We, Future Leaders – a youth-led education and mentoring organisation assisting students from pre-school to university to reach their full academic and personal potential. Motivated by her experiences, she envisioned a world where all students could be heard, valued and adequately supported, no matter their circumstances.
Darian now leads a team of 45 who work with students weekly on a 1:1 and small groups basis within her two learning centres, online, and within schools. We, Future Leaders has supported approximately 2,000 students across NSW to date and aims to positively impact 1-million Australian youth by 2040.
Darian will be speaking in: Sydney
Elijah Delporte’s dual interests in filmmaking and entrepreneurship converged when he launched a rewarding commercial videography business. Over the past five years, Elijah’s career has transitioned from hands-on content creation to strategic consulting. In his current role as a content consultant, he guides companies in crafting purpose-driven content strategies rather than creating the videos himself.
Elijah now focuses predominantly on the streetwear fashion industry, where his unique blend of creative talent and business acumen continues to drive significant results for brands looking to enhance their market presence.
Elijah will be speaking in: Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba
Georgia Hayward [she/her] is an artist, writer and artsworker of Mardigan/Maranganji and Anglo-Celtic descent. Based in Boorloo [Perth], Georgia works as the Curator for the Perth Institute of Creative Arts [PICA]. Prior to this, she was based in Meanjin [Brisbane] where she stepped up as Director at Outer Space, a non-for-profit contemporary arts organisation focused on supporting the ambitious development and professionalised practice of emerging, early and mid-career artists.
Georgia is also a Co-Chair, Editor and Board Member for Runway Journal, an experimental digital art platform. Through knowledge-sharing and collaboration, Runway commissions and publishes critical and artistic works that respond to thematic callouts and engage with current threads of Australian and international contemporary art.
Georgia will be speaking in: Perth
Krushnadevsinh Ravalji empowers young people to embrace their evolving identities and build acceptance for others. Through his partnerships with schools, he champions diversity and inclusion to create a culture where every student feels valued and belongs. He has collaborated with organisations such as UNICEF and the Australian National University to address systemic racism and institutional bias, and his advocacy for building resilience and promoting inclusion has made him a thought leader in the space.
Recognised through awards such as the Inaugural VicHealth Future ChangeMaker Award and named Wyndham City’s Young Person of the Year, Kano is a relatable and engaging speaker for today’s generation.
Kano will be speaking in: Adelaide, Perth
Nineteen-year-old Kushi Venkatesh believes that everyone – no matter their age or skin colour – should have a voice. That’s why South Australia’s Funniest Teen of 2023 is a stand-up comedian and reporter – on top of being a university student and tennis coach.
Kushi was on track for college tennis when a bad shoulder dislocation meant she had to turn down a scholarship. The competitive Kushi turned to her other love, comedy, starring in the ‘Brown Women Comedy’ tour and amassing a following on social media for her relatable, hilarious and inspiring storytelling. Kushi’s talent has been widely recognised – she was the winner of the Australian EdStart Achievement Award for Performing and Visual Arts in 2023 and was a Raw Comedy State Finalist in 2023 and 2024.
Kushi will be speaking in: Adelaide
© 2026 yLead. Website by IMPACT Crew.
