2023 Bushfire Conference – NCC NSW

The Nature Conservation Council of NSW is proud to present our 13th biennial Bushfire Conference – Managing Bushfire Together: applying science, skills and stories.

This year's conference will bring together representatives from all tiers of government, interstate agencies, fire services, researchers, non-government organisations, First Nations groups, restoration contractors, private landholders, students, businesses and community interest groups from around the country and beyond. With over 26 years of biennial bushfire conferences to learn from, this year's conference will continue to showcase a variety of multi-disciplinary approaches to mitigating, managing, and responding to bushfire. Academic research, applied methods, on-ground projects, traditional knowledge and more, from a range of communities and ecosystems, will all be on display. This year's conference is a unique opportunity to contribute to discussions on best fire management practices to help protect, enhance and restore biodiversity, ecosystems and communities.

This will be a live event – there will be some hybrid online capacity, however we would encourage you to attend in person in order to fully enjoy the conference offerings, with a conference dinner, poster session, discussion panel and field day (26th May - see website) to be included.

Keynote speakers will include:

• Oliver Costello, Jagun Alliance Aboriginal Corporation – "Connecting to Jagun (Country) for healing and community resilience"

• Dr Sarah Harris, Country Fire Authority – "Climate change and bushfire management."

• Professor David Lindenmayer, The Australian National University – "Forests, forestry and fire"

• Associate Professor Lauren Bennett, The University of Melbourne – "Fires and forests – can we assume carbon stability and neutrality"

• Professor Euan Ritchie, Deakin University – "Burning issues: managing fire and interacting threats for effective ecosystem management and biodiversity conservation”

Additional speakers will include:

• Dr Philip Zylstra, Curtin University – "Cooperation with Country"

• Leanne King, Koori Country Cultural Fire Aboriginal Corporation, Djurali Pty Ltd – "Coming together to benefit community and Country"

• Prof Ross Bradstock, NSW Department of Planning and Environment – "Transforming the capacity to manage bushfire risks to biodiversity and environment values: the NSW DPE ABS program"

• Dr Angie Haslem, La Trobe University – "What does successful fire management look like? Measuring and evaluating ecological outcomes, a case study using fire management in Victoria"

Any many, many more!

We are delighted to announce that NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Rob Rogers ASFM will be delivering an address at the opening of this year's conference. We are also very happy to announce that the conference panel will be chaired by Greg Mullins AO AFSM, former Commissioner Fire & Rescue NSW; Former AFAC President; Founder, Emergency Leaders for Climate Action; Climate Councillor; member NSW Bushfire Coordinating Committee; RFS Group Officer and Member NCC Bushfire Advisory Committee.

Find out more by visiting our website or emailing us.