Let's Talk Biodiversity

In the face of a rapidly changing climate we will explore drivers that achieve multiple social, economic and environmental benefits . If recent events have anything to tell us lately; it’s that we are firmly planted in interrelationship with the web of life.

Amongst a myriad of converging crisis, we are in the midst of the sixth mass extinction. Invertebrate populations have decreased by 60% Species are becoming extinct 100 times faster than they would without human impacts Populations of wild animals have more than halved since 1970, while the human population has doubled.

Biodiversity loss is one of the most pressing issues of our times. Plausibly the cause of a steep rise in infectious diseases that we are seeing across the globe - by way of pandemics from wild animals whose homes have been destroyed.

Our Speakers are Dr Anne Poelina, Prof Sarah Bekessy and Ann McGregor.

Dr Anne Poelina, Managing Director of Madjulla Inc., Chair of the Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council, is a Nyikina Warrwa Traditional Owner and a guardian of the Mardoowarra, Lower Fitzroy River in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Dr Poelina’s life career includes Indigenous, human, and environmental justice and advocacy spans four decades of achievements; Master Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Master Education, Master Arts (Indigenous Social Policy), Doctor of Philosophy & Doctor of Philosophy (Health Science) Scholar. Peter Cullen Fellow (2011), Laureate Women's World Summit Foundation (Geneva) (2017). Adjunct Senior Research Fellow the University of Notre Dame (Nulungu Institute of Research) and Visiting Research Fellow, Australian National University.

Professor Sarah Bekessy (RMIT University) leads the ICON Science research group at RMIT University which uses interdisciplinary approaches to solve complex biodiversity conservation problems. She is particularly interested in understanding the role of human behaviour in conservation and in designing cities to encourage ‘every day nature’ experiences. She co-developed the Biodiversity Sensitive Urban Design protocol that has now been used by numerous developers, governments and non-government organisations to design innovative urban biodiversity strategies.

Ann McGregor is a strategic environmental planner who has worked in academia, the public service and as a consultant, concentrating on the interface between land use and environmental sustainability. She has been actively involved as a long-term community volunteer in the restoration of the Merri Creek corridor through northern Melbourne. The Creek has been transformed from a drain and dumping ground to revegetated parkland that is now a recreational and real estate asset, as well as valuable habitat for birds and other wildlife. Ann is currently Vice-President of Friends of Merri Creek and President, Merri Creek Management Committee.

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