TEDx Sydney to feature 16 Australians

From the great-great grandson of Charles Darwin, to paralympians, composers and neurosurgeons, sixteen extraordinary Australians are set to take the stage to share their stories and thoughts for TEDx Sydney.

The speakers and performers on Thursday will include barrister Julian Burnside, nature conservationist Chris Darwin, artist Lisa Gerrard and even the king of the compost toilet Hamish Skermer.

This year's cultural theme for the independently organised TED event, held at the Sydney Opera House, is "learning".