We need to harness unique perspectives to rebuild a society that's designed for inclusion.
Named the winner of the Recalibrate Gender Equity Award 2022 and one of the Top 100 Women of Influence 2019 by the Australian Financial Review, Melanie Tran is a designer, an innovator, an activist, and a public speaker.
As an Experience Design Manager at Nous Group, Melanie’s work brings together the worlds of technology, design, health, business and social change. Her work has been recognised internationally, including being
named the winner of the Laureate International Universities Global Here for Good Award 2018. The award recognises a student from the Laureate network who is using education as a platform to drive social change.
Melanie is currently a Board of Director at the International Youth Foundation and also completing her PhD on design innovations in healthcare at Torrens University Australia. With experience in user experience design,
coupled with expertise in academic research and board governance and leadership, Melanie specialises in solving complex problems by harnessing the power of
technology to create solutions that innovate and disrupt.
In 2017, Melanie’s work and influence were once again recognised globally when she was selected as one of the Laureate Global Fellows - an international fellowship for young social entrepreneurs.
Following her success, Melanie has become a sought-after international public speaker, represented by Saxton Speakers. Some events she has presented at include TEDxYouth@Sydney, TEDxSydney Pitch Night,
Laureate Leadership Summit, Reimagination Thought Leaders Summit at ACS, the United States Sustainable Development Goals Action Zone Conference and a keynote at Google, opening their first-ever Asia Pacific UX Design Summit.
Talking Points
Does Disability Overpower Identity?
What do you define as social norms? Does Disability Overpower Identity?
We live in a society that is defined by expectations and stereotypes - almost as if gender, race, ability and culture defines who we are as individuals. The word disability comes with a wealth of preconceptions, but what happens when gender is added to the equation? As an individual striving for success, Melanie often wonders whether her disability overpowers heridentity as a woman. Can both these identities co-exist and be leveraged to create social good, or does this mean we have to fight twice as hard for disability rights and women's rights?
Key Takeaways:
1. The principles of access and inclusion goes well beyond disability and compliance. Gain practical tips on how your business can adapt a curious mindset that enables you to go beyond compliance and checking boxes when it comes to creating a more inclusive and diverse workforce.
2. Learn how to create better products and services through the power of storytelling and lived experiences. More importantly, gain insights on how this contributes to a wider systemic change.
3. It is okay to make mistakes. In fact, we need to create an environment where we can safely learn, make mistakes, fail and grow.
Leveraging the Power of Education to Create Social Change
Education can serve as a catalyst for change within the walls of institutions and beyond. Leveraging the Power of Education to Create Social Change
As a person living with a disability navigating through the education system, it is clear to Melanie that there is still an uphill battle for social inclusion and equality.
On the other hand, it is a known fact that education has the power to create a positive social and cultural shift by nurturing brilliant minds that can approach society with empathy, curiosity and desire to drive change. If we were to reimagine the future of education, what needs to change in order to bridge the gap between fighting for social inclusion and equality, and having the ability to leverage education as a platform to create social and cultural change? Now let's come back to the present day - what small changes can we make today?
Key Takeaways:
1. Gain insights on how the education system can be leveraged as a catalyst for change.
2. Practical tips on how to foster collaboration, empathy and curiosity in order to embrace inclusion and access to quality education.
3. Practical tips on how we can create a roadmap to help facilitate learning and knowledge exchange in the workforce as education extends well beyond the walls of institutions.
Rebuild a Diverse and Inclusive Society Through Creativity and Technology
We live in a society that was not built for inclusion. Rebuild a Diverse and Inclusive Society Through Creativity and Technology
How might we harness the power of creativity and the unbelievable potential of technology to shape a society that embraces unique perspectives? It's easy enough to say that our system is too big and complicated to change. But we are the system. Change starts with us - the question is, where do we start?
Key Takeaways:
1. The global pandemic has placed us in a unique position to redefine social norms - let's shift our conversation from 'road to recovery' to 'rebuilding our society to embrace change and unique perspectives.
2. Gain insights on the power of lived experience and unique perspectives. Through this, you will learn the concept of access and inclusion, and how to amplify the impact of your business.
3. Practical tips on how to develop solutions (products and services) that are driven by user needs and inclusive design principles.
Video
Melanie Tran | Saxton Speakers
Named one of the Top 100 Women of Influence 2019 by the Australian Financial Review, Melanie Tran is a designer, an innovator, an activist, a social entrepreneur.Melanie Tran | Studio 10 - The Power of Technology and Its Ability to Drive Innovation
Melanie Tran - User Experience Designer, HireUp / Co-founder, AbilityMade (Australia) - Named one of the Top 100 Women of Influence 2019 by the Australian Financial Review, Melanie Tran is a disruptor, an innovator, an activist, a social entrepreneur. Melanie’s work as a User Experience (UX) Designer and social entrepreneur has been recognised internationally, including being named the winner of the Laureate International Universities Global Here for Good Award 2018. Melanie’s lived-experience, developed skills and knowledge allow for her work to span the disability, health and technology sectors. With over eight years’ experience, and through her role as a UX Designer at Hireup, Melanie specializes in bringing together the worlds of business, design and social impact.Melanie is an exception to any rule and norm we know about in the best possible way. Mel's ability to deliver clear messaging with depth, authenticity, and conviction set Mel apart from many ... keep reading Enabler Interactive
Melanie has a great ability to captivate audiences when she speaks. She brings a unique perspective when speaking about the intersection of design, innovation, social inclusion and technology. I’d highly recommend Melanie
Mel is an inspiring speaker who quickly captures your attention and rewards you with strong messages and an upbeat desire to be positive and do positive. Better still, Mel practices what she preaches
Overall the speakers were moving and had a lot of great things to say. Melanie Tran was by far the most empowering and interesting to hear from. Her speech was very eye-opening and inspiring. You can never truly understand what other people go through every day. Still, I appreciated the opportunity to listen to her experience and learn how to think from a different perspective. She was eloquent and confident and the way she spoke about how she achieved her accomplishments despite the discrimination was really empowering!
