Category: IGNITE TALKS

Stu Brunsdon – the maths teacher who says to get outside

Stu Brunsdon with Maggie Dent – Photo Credit Stu Brunson

At the Ignite event on 5 September at the Berry School of Arts, every speaker gave us something to think about. Over the next few weeks, I will be sharing highlights from each presentation. You can find the presentations as they are published here.

Stu Brunsdon, a local high school maths teacher, spoke with both humour and conviction about the world his students are growing up in. He sees how teenagers’ lives are increasingly dominated by their phones, leaving them siloed, less connected, and often overwhelmed. Instead of letting the phone define their world, he argues that young people need structure and opportunities that pull them outward.

“Teenagers really want to explore their world, but they also need structure in which to do it.”

“If we do not give them positive structures, they will find their own  and phones fill the gap all too easily.”

One program Stu highlighted is the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award. This global youth development framework, running in more than 130 countries, encourages participants aged 14 to 24 to commit to a balanced program of activities over 6 to 18 months. Young people set personal goals across four key areas: community service, skill development, physical recreation, and an adventurous journey. As they progress from Bronze to Silver to Gold, they learn teamwork, resilience, leadership, and the value of giving back.

Stu believes this kind of structured program offers a healthy balance to the fragmented, phone-based life that too many teenagers find themselves caught in. Volunteering, playing sport, learning new skills, and planning outdoor adventures are not just activities, they are scaffolding for growth. They give young people the chance to explore, connect, and thrive in ways that endless scrolling never will.

His key takeaway was simple but powerful: “Get outside.” Not just outdoors into nature, but outside the narrow world of phones, and into experiences that build skills, relationships, and confidence.

“Get outside, not just from your house, but from the siloed world that mobile phones trap you in.”

📸 Images used in this post are for commentary and community storytelling. Credits belong to the original photographers and sources. Please contact me if you would like an image credited differently or removed.

#IgniteBerry #StuBrunsdon #GetOutside #DukeOfEdinburghAward #Teenagers #PositiveStructure #BeyondPhones

Monica Willis Learnt to Reframe the Flips from Lessons from the River

Monica Willis speaking at Ignite Berry 5th September 2025 

At the Ignite event on 5 September at the Berry School of Arts, every speaker gave us something to think about. Over the next few weeks, I will be sharing highlights from each presentation. You can find the other presentations as they are published here 

Today’s spotlight is on Monica Willis, who recently completed an extraordinary adventure: whitewater rafting 110 kilometres down the Franklin River.

Eight set out, eight returned, and every single one with all limbs intact. Monica Willis and her adventurous crew on the Franklin River, proving that teamwork, humour and a little courage can carry you through the wildest rapids.”

Monica described herself as “a four star hotel kind of girl,” but she set off into pure wilderness with no phones, no tents, no bed, just a tarp and the rapids. The experience was breathtaking, relentless, and sometimes frightening, but it also became a powerful teacher. Her talk was also full of humour, with the audience laughing as she described everything from bush toilets to slipping bum up over rocks.

Her key insight was clear: Reframe the flips.

When Monica was flung from the raft into a torrent of rocks and water, panic surged until the guide turned to her and said, “Amazing swim.” That single phrase shifted her whole perspective. What could have been remembered only as a near disaster instead became a moment of courage and learning.

“When I was flicked out of the raft, the guide said, ‘Amazing swim.’ That shift in perspective changed everything.”

She carried that lesson throughout the trip, reframing every setback as a new way of seeing. Nights without sleep became “magical” with glowworms for company. Bush toilets became “loos with a view.” Hauling gear over slippery rocks became a masterclass in teamwork and resilience.

Portage is the process of carrying boats and gear over land to get around obstacles in a river. On the Franklin, this meant scrambling over slippery rocks and massive boulders, hauling supplies piece by piece through tough terrain. There are no tracks or shortcuts in that wilderness, so every step required teamwork, problem solving, and persistence. For Monica, portage became more than a physical challenge. It was a lesson in resilience and adaptability, showing that sometimes the only way forward is to shoulder the load together and keep moving.

“Portage taught me that problem solving, adaptability, and the support of your team are what get you through the obstacles.”

Monica reminded us that life is just like the river, wild, unpredictable, and sometimes overwhelming, but we always have the power to choose how we respond.

“Life is like the river, wild, unpredictable, breathtaking. You cannot control the current, but you can choose how you show up.”

#IgniteBerry, #MonicaWillis, #ReframeTheFlips, #LifeLessons, #CourageAndResilience, #Storytelling

Spotlight on Stephen Lead.  The Spark Behind Ignite Berry

On Friday 5 September the Berry School of Arts came alive with Ignite Berry, a night of fast, funny and thought-provoking lightning talks that left the audience inspired. You can see the presentations as they are loaded here 

I’ll be sharing the highlights of Ignite Berry in a series of blogs, with each one capturing a different part of the night. In this blog, the spotlight is on the organiser, Stephen Lead, whose vision and dedication make the whole event possible.

Spotlight on Stephen Lead.  The Spark Behind Ignite Berry ……

Last night’s Ignite Berry was nothing short of extraordinary. A sold-out crowd filled the Berry School of Arts, eager for a night of short, sharp, and inspiring lightning talks. Over fifteen presenters took to the stage, each with only five minutes to share their passion, their insight, or their big idea. The result was a fast-paced evening that left the audience buzzing.

At the heart of it all is Stephen Lead, a software developer, geospatial expert, and the driving force behind Ignite Berry. By day, Stephen is a specialist in building geo-spatial applications and customising ArcGIS tools, making complex mapping systems more intuitive and accessible for users. With thousands of hours of development and presentation experience, he brings both technical precision and a gift for communication.

In his spare time, Stephen’s love for connecting people and ideas shines brightly. He is the organiser of Ignite Berry, managing everything from booking the venue and curating more than fifteen speakers, to coaching presenters on delivering effective lightning talks. He also takes the stage himself as host, ensuring the night runs seamlessly.

Watch Stephen present on 19 September 2023, at the Oxford Art Factory

Stephen is deeply involved in the tech community, serving on the organising committee for the GeoNext conference, the GeoRabble meetup group, and working as a regular MC for the Web Directions conferences. His knack for bringing people together, combined with his enthusiasm for storytelling and innovation, has made Ignite Berry one of the region’s most anticipated community events.

The 5th of September was another reminder of how important it is to create spaces where ideas can be shared, whether big, small, quirky, or profound. Thanks to Stephen’s vision, Berry continues to ignite curiosity, creativity, and connection.

#IgniteBerry #BerryNSW #CommunityStories #IdeasWorthSharing #LightningTalks #BerrySchoolOfArts #Shoalhaven #Inspiration