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From the pressure of playing AFL in front of thousands to surviving some of the world’s most unforgiving environments, two familiar Australian names are heading to Goolwa to share what they’ve learnt about pushing boundaries and finding purpose.
Port Adelaide legend Travis Boak and renowned explorer Tim Jarvis AM have been announced as the first speakers for TEDx Victor Harbor 2027, bringing an impressive line-up of sporting achievement, adventure and personal stories to the Fleurieu Peninsula.
The event will take over Centenary Hall in Goolwa on Friday 12 February 2027, with just 150 seats available for South Australia’s only regional TEDx experience.
Under the theme At the Edge, the event will explore the moments that challenge people to think differently, step outside their comfort zones and discover what’s possible.
For Port Adelaide supporters, Travis Boak needs little introduction. The former captain played a club-record 387 AFL games across 19 seasons, becoming one of the most recognisable figures in the Power’s history.
His loyalty to the club was cemented in 2012 when he chose to remain at Port Adelaide during one of its most challenging periods, going on to captain the side for six seasons.
But behind the on-field achievements was a personal journey that saw Boak question how much of his identity was tied to football.
“What I did on the field was never the same thing as who I was, and it took me a long time to learn that,” Boak said.
“Most of us know what it feels like to stand at the edge of our potential and not step off. I’m really looking forward to bringing that conversation to the Fleurieu.”
Since retiring at the end of 2025, Boak has returned to Victoria, taking up a role in Performance and Culture at Carlton Football Club and launching Human Being First, a coaching and speaking business focused on the person behind the performance.
Joining him is Tim Jarvis AM, the 2024 South Australian of the Year, whose extraordinary adventures have taken him from the South Pole to the icy waters of the Southern Ocean.
The environmental scientist and explorer has retraced Sir Douglas Mawson’s Antarctic journey and recreated Sir Ernest Shackleton’s historic open-boat crossing, while also dedicating much of his career to environmental conservation.
His work has helped secure 750,000 square kilometres of marine sanctuaries around Australia’s sub-Antarctic islands, and closer to home, he’s the founder of The Forktree Project, restoring native habitat on the Fleurieu Peninsula.
“I’ve spent a lot of my life at the edges of the map, and what I’ve learnt out there is that the biggest changes start close to home,” Jarvis said.
“The Fleurieu is where The Forktree Project began, so it means a great deal to bring these ideas back to this community.”
TEDxVictor Harbor licensee Debbie Constable said attracting speakers of this calibre demonstrated the potential of regional events.
“Big ideas don’t only belong in big cities.”
“Having Travis and Tim on our stage in Goolwa shows exactly what this region can draw, and they’re just the start. With only 150 seats in the room, we’d encourage anyone who wants to be there to get their tickets now.”
Additional speakers will be revealed in the coming weeks, with individual talk topics to be announced closer to the event.
For those who enjoy hearing extraordinary stories, discovering new perspectives and leaving with something to think about, the intimate Goolwa event promises an opportunity to hear from two Australians whose experiences extend well beyond the ordinary.
TEDx Victor Harbor 2027 – At the Edge
When: Friday 12 February 2027, daytime
Where: Centenary Hall, Goolwa
To book, click here.
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