A Tale of Two Rivers: Reviving our Cities’ Iconic Waterways

Are you passionate about transforming urban landscapes and breathing new life into our rivers? Join us for this free, inspiring webinar that dives deep into the global movement to make urban rivers swimmable once again – and discover how local efforts are making waves right here at home!

Channel 10’s 'Planet Shaper’s' host and Good for the Hood founder, Jo Taranto, will join presenters from the Parramatta River Catchment Group, Sydney Water, Swimmable Birrarung and Regeneration Projects to discuss how these organisations are leading the way to turn Sydney’s and Melbourne’s iconic rivers into clean, vibrant spaces for recreation and community life. Learn about the innovative strategies and collaborative efforts driving these changes, from water quality improvements to community engagement.

The panel will also explore the first International Swimmable Cities Charter that was launched prior to the Paris Olympic Games, which advocates for 10 key principles that support the right to swim, celebrate urban swimming culture, and honour First Nations peoples’ deep spiritual connection to water.

This event is part of the Parramatta River Catchment Group's annual, premier community event, Riverfest – celebrating the Parramatta River and surrounding creeks and environment. This year’s festival is being held from Saturday, 21 September (World Clean Up Day) to Sunday, 29 September (World Rivers Day). For more information on other Riverfest events, visit: ourlivingriver.com.au/riverfest.

This webinar is co-hosted with Good for the Hood.

Presenters:

Jo Taranto (host)
Founder, Good for the Hood

Jo Taranto is a sustainability educator and founder of social enterprise, Good for the Hood. Jo is co-host of Channel 10's sustainability series, Planet Shapers and enjoys working on projects that build the health and resilience of places and their people. Jo passionately believes in the role grassroots solutions play in strengthening the social and ecological connection of communities. She advocates that everyone has a role to play in making their community or organisation a positive force for good.

Alexi Gilchrist
Coordinator, Parramatta River Catchment Group

Alexi Gilchrist is the Coordinator of the Parramatta River Catchment Group. Alexi is a restoration ecologist and environmental educator with more than a decade of experience in collaborative leadership within the local government sector. He is driven by the sense of wonder that is produced when you connect communities to their environment through their individual interests.

Nerida Taylor
Waterways Lead - Business Development, Sydney Water

Nerida has worked for Sydney Water for the past five years on a multifaceted project to bring swimming back to the Parramatta River. This initiative involves a coordinated approach to improve catchment management, land-use planning, and riparian management. She works closely with swim site councils on the river to monitor water quality and help coordinate the opening of new swim sites.  Nerida has a Bachelor of Science and postgraduate qualifications in Environmental Science. She has formerly worked for both State and Local Government in both catchment management and water sensitive urban design roles.

Charity Mosienyane
Lead Convenor, Swimmable Birrarung

Charity Mosienyane is the Lead Convenor for a Swimmable Birrarung, a city transforming project in service to the river and the city. She has more than 18 years of experience in the engineering sector, locally and globally, leading water supply and drought resilience strategies as well as managing the design and delivery of civil infrastructure projects across water, transport and energy sectors. Charity is passionate about collective and collaborative approaches to delivering transformative, city-shaping projects.

Matt Sykes
Co-Founder & Convenor, Swimmable Cities & Founder, Regeneration Projects

In 2011, landscape architect Matt Sykes discovered urban swimming culture in Zurich and Copenhagen, which inspired his work in Australia’s bathing tourism. His 2019 Great Victorian Bathing Trail strategy led to the creation of the Bathing Australia alliance, after starting his consultancy Regeneration Projects in 2020. Matt later authored the 2023 Swimmable Cities Handbook and played a key role in launching the first ever Swimmable Cities Charter ahead of the Paris Olympics. Matt also influences Melbourne’s local movement, hosting the Two Bays Podcast Series #2, "10 Steps to a Swimmable Birrarung," and publishing the Birrarung/Yarra River Swimming Trail concept. His work is inspired by the intersection of the Right to Swim and the Rights of Nature.