The future of our planet and its people motivates the work of today’s inspirational guest on Word For Word.  At just 30 years of age, Dr Alessandro Demaio trained at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne.  He now works for the World Health Organisation as a Medical Officer focusing on the global rise of non-communicable diseases.  He is also the genius behind festival21.

festival21 is an unprecedented, all-day celebration of community, food and future. Taking over The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Friday 11 December, this free event will serve and digest our biggest social challenges through something we love and celebrate – food.

Coinciding with the final day of the United Nations climate talks in Paris, festival21 is not about ‘doom and gloom’. It will be a forward-looking and inspiring event exploring how food and the way we eat can be the key to a sustainable, healthy, future for us – and our planet.

From 12pm to 5pm, a youth-focused day program, f21y, will act as a bootcamp for change makers aged 16-30. With an allstar cast of international and local speakers, entrepreneurs and leaders, it will provide 1000+ young people with the skills, knowledge, connections and confidence to rethink a fairer, healthier and more sustainable future.

From 7pm – 10pm, festival21’s evening flagship will be a massive, open, celebration for 4000+ Victorians. Packed with music, comedy, short-films, keynotes, panel discussions and live social enterprise pitching, we will not just talk and listen – but act and change.

A live exhibition space including indoor vegetable gardens, pop-ups and free masterclasses will run throughout the day.

festival21 supporters include patrons David Prior, Simon McKeon AO, Professor Rob Moodie AM, Professor Kerin O’Dea AO, and media partners The Huffington Post, National Geographic, Broadsheet and The Saturday Paper.

https://youtu.be/yaJt-r9WKag