Welcome to the 2024 Island Ark Symposium VIII.

The Island Arks Symposium is an exciting opportunity to share the knowledge and practice of our Island stewards. An invaluable forum for developing collaborations and partnerships for those involved in, or with an interest in Island management within the Pacific Region and elsewhere.

Since the first meeting in 2009 held on the Great Barrier Reef, the Island Arks Symposium has grown considerably to now include Oceania. Previously held on Daydream Island, Tasmania, Norfolk Island, Fiji, Rottnest Island and Philip Island, the 8th Biennial Symposium will be held on Kangaroo Island.

The Symposium provides an exciting opportunity to share the knowledge and practice of our Island stewards. It is a targeted opportunity for Traditional Custodians, community groups, practitioners, land managers, policy makers and scientists to explore the challenges, pathways and solutions to successfully balancing competing pressures to ensure the sustainability of islands.

It features an engaging mix of keynote speakers, presentations from people involved with Island management, plus a field trip to further explore examples of how Island Stewards integrate land management. A welcome event and symposium dinner will provide opportunity for networking and relationship building.

The 2024 Symposium theme is Island Stewards: Caring for Land and Sea. The overarching theme aims to explore the interaction between people, nature, conservation, culture and livelihood. It was selected in recognition of the role of land managers in supporting and developing our unique island lifestyles in a way that sustainably uses natural resources, whilst conserving and protecting the natural values that make each island unique. It seeks to highlight the relationship all island managers have as both users and protectors of an island’s resources.

We are looking forward to sharing and celebrating the many stories of our Island Stewards. Please visit our website www.islandarksymposium.com for full program details.

If the registration fee is a barrier to your attendance, please contact sarahkemp@smartfuture.com.au for more information about scholarships.

Please note accommodation is not included in registration. The Aurora Ozone Hotel is our accommodation partner for the Symposium and they are offering discounted accommodation and buffet breakfast rates for attendees. Located on the Kingscote seafront it is a short 5 minute work to the Symposium venue. To access these rates book directly with the Hotel by calling 08 8553 2011 and request a room being held for the Island Ark Symposium. Please have available contact and credit card details at time of booking. Standard booking terms apply, this offer is available until 30 days prior to the conference start.

On behalf of the Symposium Organising Committee we pay our respects to the first nations of the Islands we live and work on. We reflect on the pain caused by our colonial history and seek to listen and learn from our Indigenous custodians. We commit to keep learning, together.