Challenge Ambassadors

Harrison Craig

Harrison Craig won The Voice in 2013, but for many years he struggled to find his own voice. He battled with a stutter for most of his younger life, which made everyday conversation very difficult. Often the subject of bullying, he turned to his love of singing, which is how the story behind Harrison’s Song began.

He is now a professional singer, has visited and performed in cities around the world, worked with Seal and Olivia-Newton John, sung alongside the likes of Leo Sayers and John Paul Young as part of an ensemble Christmas performance, featured on TV in Australia and overseas, has had a hit platinum status record and toured the country with sold out shows.

Mark John

Mark John is one of the most respected and highly revered DJ’s in Australia. The Melbournian has a unique sound that when combined with his tireless work ethic has resulted in a very successful career within numerous areas of the music industry. A trumpet and piano player from a young age, John has had passion for music from the very beginning. It is this passion that has led him into the DJing world. His career began during a three year stint in Japan where Mark was soon cutting his wax-spinning teeth regularly playing marathon 12 hour sets. In 1998 Mark released his first EP ‘Into the Fire’, which launched him in to the international spotlight securing tours throughout the US and Europe. Including gigs in Miami, Portland, New York, Athens, Rome, Paris, Geneva and London just to name a few.

In 2001 his career escalated further after his single ‘You Give Me Everything’ lead to him signing with independent dance music label, Vicious Vinyl, and touring throughout Asia. From there Mark took his music career to a whole new level when he wrote, produced and DJ’d for successful electronic outfit Disco Montego. Who, with Mark’s help, scored three Australian Top 40 hit singles ‘Magic’, ‘U Talkin To Me’ and ‘Beautiful’ which achieved Gold status. An active participant in almost every facet of the music industry and holding residences in some of the hottest night clubs in Australia including Seven, Prince of Wales, One Six One, Love Machine, Eve, Strangeways, Tank (syd), Home (syd), Bedroom (qld), family (qld) and Metropolis (wa). Most notably though is his recent gig as Music Director for new Melbourne nightclub Club 23 owned by James Packer and Shane Warne. He is also Music Director at Melbourne’s newest avant garde super club “Miss Collins.” His immense popularity reaches outside the club scene and has seen him perform at some of Australia’s biggest dance events including Summadayze, Future Music Festival, and Godskitchen.He has also supported most touring djs including the likes of Martin Solveig, David Guetta, Armand van Helden, Erick Morillo, Roger Sanchez, Masters at Work, Frankie Knuckles and Basement Jaxx.

Proving music has no boundaries Mark started the electronic band Black Dogs. The Black Dogs pack is comprised of Danny Destiny (ARIA award winning producer) and Laura Noir from Sydney. Born in the back alleys of St Kilda, Black Dogs infuses their electronic act with hip hop and moombahton drawing inspiration form such artists as Diplo, Hopsin, Public Enemy and Prince. Through the use of electronic drums and synths Black Dogs has created a unique sound that has seen them play festivals such as Parklife, Future Music and Summadayze. Over the last year the guys have written with rappers Lil Jon, Eve, Brasco (Timbaland) and soul star Daniel Merriweather. Renowned for their instinctive ability to pick up the audience scent and attack the party, Black Dogs are the ultimate entertainment animal. Mark John has an undeniable talent for stroking wax and creating hit tracks. Recently he was picked to be the sole DJ at PRINCEs end of Australian tour party at the Hi Fi. One attended by 1000 people in the club and over 10,000 trying to get in! Renowned headline Dj. Based in Melbourne, available nationally. Please email Instinct for further details.

The Honourable Ted Baillieu

Former Premier of Victoria Ted Baillieu was born on 31 July 1953 in Melbourne. He studied architecture at Melbourne University and throughout his public life has retained a keen interest in planning.

Before entering Parliament, Ted was a Director of Knight Frank for 20 years; a Trustee of the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Trust; a Board Member of Tourism Victoria, and a Partner with Mayne & Baillieu Architects.

“When you sing through a storm, hold your head
up high and don’t be afraid of a ‘bark’.”
Ted Baillieu

He has also served as a Board Member of the Melbourne Comedy Festival and the Australian Children’s Television Foundation.

In 1999 Ted became the Member for Hawthorn, a position he held until just recently.

On entering Parliament he held a number of shadow ministries including Tertiary Education and Training, Gaming, Planning and the Arts.

Ted was elected Leader of the Victorian Liberal Party on 8 May 2006. Following the Victorian State Election on Saturday 27 November 2010, he served as Victoria’s 46th Premier and Minister for Arts from 2 December 2010 to 6 March 2013.

Ted is passionate about improving the lives of Victorians and has a clear plan to encourage a growing competitive economy, make our services work, provide a government Victorians can trust, foster strong families and vibrant communities, secure our water supplies and create a healthy environment.

“When life seems jolly rotten… there’s something you’ve forgotten… and that’s to smile and laugh and dance and sing. Just give it a try – it works!” Ted Baillieu

As a former architect, Ted uses his knowledge and experience to meet Victoria’s planning challenges and build a better future for Victorian families.

Ted has also actively pursued a very significant International Engagement Strategy to provide increased opportunities for Victorian business to grow our economy.

Ted is Chair of the Victorian Government’s ANZAC Centenary Committee – coordinating Victoria’s commemorations – and is passionate about connecting as many Victorians as possible with their family’s involvement in the war.

Well known for his love of swimming, Ted tries to find time for a few laps or a swim in the ocean. Ted and his wife Robyn have three children.

Professor Charlie Teo

Professor Charlie Teo AM MBBS FRACS is an internationally acclaimed neurosurgeon and a pioneer in keyhole minimally invasive techniques.

He has been invited to many distinguished universities in over 50 countries as Visiting Professor, including Johns Hopkins, Vanderbilt and Stanford Universities in the USA, Marburg University in Germany and the Karolinska Institute in Sweden.

Prof Teo dedicates 3 months every year to pro bono work in developing countries, for which he has been recognised with awards from Rotary International, including the Paul Harris Fellowship, and as a finalist in the NSW Australian of the Year awards in 2003 and 2009. In the 2011 Australia Day awards he was named as a Member of the Order of Australia.

Prof Teo founded the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation in 2003, which is now the largest funder of brain cancer research in Australia and which supports the Neuro-oncology wing of the Lowy Cancer Centre.

Prof Teo is a father to 4 beautiful girls and when not performing intricate brain surgery is proud to support his 2 favourite charities, the Cambodian Children’s Trust, which runs an orphanage in Battambang, and Voiceless, which funds legislative reform for the prevention of cruelty to industrial and Farm animals.

Tania de Jong AM

Acclaimed Australian soprano, award-winning social entrepreneur, creative innovation catalyst, global speaker, spiritual journeywoman and storyteller

Founder Creative Universe, Creativity Australia, Music Theatre Australia, Pot-Pourri, The Song Room and Founder and Executive Producer of Creative Innovation Global

Tania is a leading Australian soprano, inspirational speaker, social entrepreneur, creative innovation catalyst and spiritual journeywoman. She founded Creativity Australia, Creative Universe, MTA Entertainment & Events and The Song Room and works with disadvantaged communities through Creativity Australia’s ‘With One Voice’ choir social inclusion programs. Tania presents keynote speeches and leadership programs and performs internationally as a soloist and with her group Pot-Pourri with whom she has released 7 CDs. She is Founder and Executive Producer of Creative Innovation Global. Tania’s TED Talk How Singing Together Changes The Brain has sparked international interest. In 2015 Tania released her solo CD Heaven on Earth.

Tania’s awards include Ernst and Young Australian Social Entrepreneur of the Year, “Outstanding Individual Contribution to Australian Culture”, Churchill Fellowship and the Accessibility Award in The Melbourne Awards. She was inducted into the AGSE Entrepreneurs Hall of Fame at Swinburne University and named Brainlink Woman of Achievement. She was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in June 2008 for service to the Arts as a performer and entrepreneur and through the establishment and development of music and arts enrichment programs for schools and communities.

Tania’s mission is to change the world, one voice at a time!

Dr John F. Demartini

Human Behavior Specialist, Educator, Business Consultant and Internationally Published Author

Dr Demartini is considered one of the world’s leading authorities on human behavior and personal development. He is the founder of the Demartini Institute, a private research and education organization with a curriculum of over 72 different courses covering multiple aspects of human development.

His trademarked methodologies, the Demartini Method and the Demartini Value Determination, are the culmination of 42 years of cross-disciplinary research and study. His work has been  incorporated into  human development industries across the world.

Read below for John’s tips on how best to get yourself ready to sing!

Your voice is the instrument upon which to play the symphony of your life.

To assist you in overcoming your fear of singing consider doing the following few actions.

1. Select a song that is truly meaningful and inspiring to you – one that is aligned with what is truly most important and valuable to you – one that brings out the message you would love to share.
2. Learn, know and repeatedly rehearse the lyrics of your song until you feel ready and inspired to sing – the more you rehearse the more confident you will become.
3. Visualize yourself singing your song in a way that inspires you and moves the audience to make the difference you desire.
4. Focus on your purpose for singing your song the outcome you desire for your audience – when the why is big enough the “how” takes care of itself.
5. As long as you are focused on serving the audience you won’t be focused on yourself – you can only feel frightened when you are forgetting your purpose and audience and focusing only on yourself.
6. Identify any admired traits, knowledge, skills, or talents of any imagined audience member that you might be intimidated by.
7. Identify within yourself where and when you demonstrate or display these same or similar traits, knowledge, skills, or talents until you can see that you are not missing what you perceive in them in your own unique form. This helps level the playing field and relaxes the distracting energy of comparing yourself to your audience.
8. There is nothing missing in you – you have your heart waiting to fluently guide you.
9. Sing and sing and sing. You learn to play the flute by playing the flute.
10. Let your heart sing with gratitude for the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others.

May you sing your song with love.

John