Peggy Oki and Laura Wells – Change agents.Are you ready to be an agent for change? Join two pioneering women in arts and the environment to hear...

Game Changer: Peggy Oki and Laura Wells

Location:

The Rocks 2000
Australia

Featuring

Peggy Oki

Skateboarding Icon, Artist and Environmental Campaigner

Living icon and pioneer of the skate/surf industry — a skateboarding legend turned educator, environmental activist, accomplished artist, TED X speaker and motivational personality globally. In the 1970s, Peggy broke barriers in the world of skateboarding as the only female member of the Zephyr Skateboard team, made famous in the Sean Penn narrated film, Dogtown & Z Boys. The Z Boys crew basically created the entire skateboarding industry as we now know it. Introducing Tony Alva and Stacy Peralta who later unveiled Tony Hawk and the Bones Brigade. As the only female member of the Z Boys, Peggy has an incredibly inspiring story to tell.

Since her groundbreaking days skating with the Z-Boys, and induction into the Skateboarding Hall of Fame, Peggy went on to UCSB to study environmental biology, and also received her Bachelor of Arts in Painting at The College of Creative Studies. The theme of her art reflects the landscapes, seascapes, and marine mammals she loves. Her art is a direct reflection of her love and dedication to our oceans and its amazing creatures, most especially the whale, whose well-being seems inexorably tied to her own. She is their champion, on a quest to save them from recklessness. Forged from a warrior’s heart, her beautiful paintings reveal the splendor of nature, while challenging viewers to plunge deeper into their own consciousness, compassion and commitment. A tireless advocate for cetacean rights through her Origami Whales Project, Peggy has a deep commitment to our planet that drives her to inspire people around the world to make a difference. She inspires not only with her art, she inspires with her actions.

Peggy Oki is not only instantly recognisable to the entire action sports industry in Australia and beyond, she is widely revered across  art, culture conservation and influencer segments as a boundary-breaking pioneer of style and substance. As a living female icon, she inspires women as someone that has blazed a trail for others to follow in her footsteps. Furthermore, as she is also now in her mid sixties, Peggy also appeals to  all ages, including older generations inspired by her active lifestyle. We are thrilled to bring Peggy Oki to CURVY x Vivid Sydney 2018 for a series of special activities including a vibrant exhibition of archival skate photography, art installations, public talks and appearances, and the launch of a special concept publication in collaboration with CURVY.

 

Laura Wells

Laura Wells is an environmentalist, presenter and one of Australia’s top plus size models. Holding degrees in both biology and law, Laura’s passion for the environment, love for the ocean and interest in climate change has led her to become a positive role model, advocate and ambassador for change. Working on environmental campaigns with The Boomerang Alliance, Greenpeace, 1 Million Women, WWF Australia and the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), being an active and vocal participant of the Cash for Containers campaign in NSW, a climate reality leader in Al Gore’s, Climate Reality Project and the main subject of a Canadian produced documentary A Perfect 14 has allowed Laura to extend the voice of environmental campaigns and help to educate those people not normally influenced by such a sphere.

Laura has just returned from the largest all female expedition to Antarctica where she participated in a women in STEM leadership program. Homeward Bound Project aims to facilitate an international network of 1000 women in STEM to foster their leadership, strategic policy and decision making, visibility and communication skills and highlight the role of women as leaders moving toward a more sustainable future. Learning these skills in the isolation and beauty of Antarctica and seeing climate change effects in real time has given Laura the encouragment and education to continue to strive for change.

 

Access and Inclusion

  • Wheelchair Accessible - Access to the venue is suitable for wheelchairs (toilets, ramps/lifts etc.) and designated wheelchair spaces are available.
  • Companion Card Acceptance - The Companion Card is for people with a significant permanent disability, who always need a companion to provide attendant care type support in order to participate at most available community venues and activities.

Event Details

Peggy Oki and Laura Wells – Change agents.

Are you ready to be an agent for change? Join two pioneering women in arts and the environment to hear how they campaign to protect oceans. Learn tips about turning your passion into action and explore what part you can play to have an impact. This talk is part practical and part inspiration. Peggy has always been a pioneer – as the only female member of the iconic Z-Boys skateboard crew and now as a veteran artist activist. Laura Wells is the next generation of female leaders – using her international profile as a model, digital influencer and marine biologist to educate others in the war on plastic. If you want to know what tools and tips you can apply personally and professionally, how you can build a community (on-line and in real life) and be an agent for change – join us.

Peggy will take the audience on a journey from her early years to now and how she has forged her way in the male dominated spaces of surfing and skating to become a respected environmentalist. She will share her passion for whales, current projects that she is working on and how she is playing her part.

Laura will share practical tips on how you as an individual can make a change and inspire others around you to help fight the war on plastic. She has lots of very easy and simple solutions to share. She will also share insights into how she built her own brand and become an influencer - and how she uses these platforms and tools to educate others.

For enviromental warriors - young and old - come and be inspired and meet others in your tribe. There will be a chance to mingle and network post the talk.

PEGGY OKI

Meet Peggy Oki, skateboarder, surfer, artist, environmental activist whose art inspires others to care about our oceans. In the '70s, she broke into the boys-club as the only female member of the Zephyr Skateboard Team, made famous in the films Dogtown and Z Boys. Now at 60, she still skates, rock climbs and surfs. Her love of the waves directly informs her art. The large scale public art installation Origami Whales Project has enamoured hundreds of thousands of participants to the plight of whales and dolphins. 

LAURA WELLS

Laura Wells is an Environmentalist, presenter and one of Australia’s top plus size models. Holding degrees in both Biology and Law, Laura’s passion for the environment, love for the ocean and interest in climate change has led her to become a positive role model, advocate and ambassador for change. Working on environmental campaigns with The Boomerang Alliance, Greenpeace, 1 Million Women, WWF Australia and the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), being an active and vocal participant of the Cash for Containers campaign in NSW, a climate reality leader in Al Gore’s, Climate Reality Project and the main subject of a Canadian produced documentary ‘A Perfect 14’ has allowed Laura to extend the voice of environmental campaigns and help to educate those people not normally influenced by such a sphere.

Laura has just returned from the largest all female expedition to Antarctica where she participated in a women in STEM leadership program. Homeward Bound Project aims to facilitate an international network of 1000 women in STEM to foster their leadership, strategic policy and decision making, visibility and communication skills and highlight the role of women as leaders moving toward a more sustainable future. Learning these skills in the isolation and beauty of Antarctica and seeing climate change effects in real time has given Laura the encouragment and education to continue to strive for change.  

 

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Access and Inclusion

  • Wheelchair Accessible - Access to the venue is suitable for wheelchairs (toilets, ramps/lifts etc.) and designated wheelchair spaces are available.
  • Companion Card Acceptance - The Companion Card is for people with a significant permanent disability, who always need a companion to provide attendant care type support in order to participate at most available community venues and activities.