This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. Ingrid Cumming is a Whadjuk Nyungar from Perth WA. She has grown up in two worlds, the indigenous and non indigenous Australia. Despite her painful trauma as a child, she found myself and spread the word of two worlds collaborating to make a new Australia.

Understanding and embracing her culture and getting an education from both worlds has made her see the potential our nation has to make Reconciliation not a talking point, but a reality.

Cummings shares her story to inspire others that this can be done. We can acknowledge and embrace diversity and difference as a positive rather than a deficit.

Ingrid Cumming is a custodian and traditional owner of Whadjuk Nyungar country. Ingrid has worked in many areas including national and local Indigenous Australian media (including film, radio and print), marketing and communications, state health, the arts, anthropological research, higher education and is now CEO and Principal Consultant of Kart Koort Wiern.

She has been a delegate to the UN International Conference for Women Leaders in 2013, an advisor in the PhD research group on ‘Urban Aboriginal Women’s Beliefs and Attitudes to Sexual Violence’ and placed third at the National Indigenous Comedy Competition – Deadly Funnies.

Ingrid holds a Bachelor of Arts in Australian Indigenous Studies from Murdoch University and is a graduate of the Management and Academic Leadership Programs and the MURRA Aboriginal Business Program at Melbourne Business School.

About TEDx, x = independently organized event In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)