Bush Heritage Australia invites you to join us for a thought-provoking networking breakfast, featuring inspiring women in leadership sharing their insights on tackling biodiversity loss and climate change collaboratively and concurrently.

This is a great opportunity to meet other sector professionals in the Adelaide region and foster new connections.

The challenges driving biodiversity loss overlap with the climate crisis and require a diverse toolkit and serious widespread momentum that is coordinated at both local and global scales. Organisations can support these efforts by integrating "nature-based solutions" into their operations, including actively restoring and protecting ecosystems through sustainable practices and collaborating with stakeholders across different sectors to minimise environmental impacts.

Date
Friday 31 October 2025

Time
7.30am for a 7.45am start, to 10am. Optional networking until 10.30am

Location
Pullman Hotel
16 Hindmarsh Square, Adelaide

PANELLISTS

As Group Sustainability Advisor for Thomas Foods International, Frances is responsible for the strategic direction of the global entity’s sustainability across numerous areas, including GHG emission management, decarbonisation, circular economy, biodiversity and deforestation, modern slavery, and Australian and international reporting requirements.

Previously, Frances was Director of Asia Pacific for Conservation Capital where she engaged on numerous large-scale projects involving conservation area business planning, innovative natural capital financing and sustainable natural resource management in Asia, Africa and South America. She worked with a broad range of clients to create and protect resilient natural landscapes that support biodiversity, communities, and business.

Frances is also an FCA who spent over ten years as a senior Chartered Accountant in auditing, agriculture, banking and funds management, and international development. In addition to her CA qualification, she has two international Masters' degrees: Master of Science (Sustainability Management) from Columbia University (New York City), and a Master of International Business Administration from IE Business School (Madrid).

A proud Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander woman descended from the Kaurareg Nation of Thursday Island, Tiahni Adamson is a nationally recognised conservation biologist, science communicator and advocate for climate justice and equity. As the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Engagement Manager at Bush Heritage Australia, she works alongside Traditional Owners to embed cultural governance in environmental management.

Tiahni is also a Board Member of Green Adelaide, a member of South Australia’s Premier’s Climate Change Council, and founder of her own business that supports organisations to centre Indigenous knowledge in their climate and sustainability strategies. Named the 2024 Young South Australian of the Year and recipient of the University of Adelaide's Tirkapena Indigenous Distinguished Alumni Award, she has reached over one million people through national and international speaking engagements.

Tiahni’s work spans grassroots activism, STEM education, and cross-cultural partnership building to foster healing-centred, community-led climate solutions.

Melissa is currently a Professor in Human Geography at the University of Adelaide, and a passionate advocate for the environment. She has worked with ENGOs, Indigenous groups, State and Federal governments, CSIRO and academia trying to build community capacity to have a voice in decision making, as well as understand the socio-ecological drivers that affect how societies are impacted by big issues like climate change.

Melissa is committed to socially just conservation practice and working for a socially just transitions as we all seek to meet current and future challenges facing the environment and its peoples.

MC/PANEL MODERATOR

Annabelle is a former ABC broadcast journalist who reported on rural issues with The Country Hour, presented state-wide radio program Late Afternoons and reported for ABC's Landline and Behind the News. Based in the Clare Valley Annabelle is currently a podcaster, voice coach and MC.

SPECIAL GUESTS

Rachel Lowry, CEO, Bush Heritage Australia
Christina Tonkin, Managing Director, Corporate Finance, ANZ

TICKETS AND DONATIONS

Your ticket fee goes towards the conservation work of Bush Heritage Australia. As a not-for-profit organisation, we rely greatly on donations from supporters. Please consider making a donation to Bush Heritage Australia.

For event enquiries please email events@bushheritage.org.au

TICKET SALES CLOSE 17 OCTOBER, UNLESS SOLD OUT PRIOR

Bush Heritage acknowledges the Kaurna Traditional Custodians, upon whose land the event will take place. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.

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