2024 conference program

Connecting Basin communities, industries and ideas...
Print/share |
Conference live stream recordings now available

The conference live streams held on Wednesday 19 June and Thursday 20 June have now ended. Video recordings of Day 1 and Day 2 are now available.

Early Insights Paper

The Early Insights Paper is now available.

Our 2024 conference has ended, but you can still view the program and read about our speakers.

Conference venue

Commercial Club Albury.

Day 1 – Wednesday 19 June 2024

Time Session Speaker
8:00 am Registrations, tea and coffee  
8:30 am Welcome to Country Darren Wighton
Wiradjuri man
9:05 am Conference introduction Jack Knowles
General Manager, Murray–Darling Basin Authority
9:15 am Introduction to Albury Wodonga region Kylie King
Mayor, AlburyCity
9:20 am Address: The art of the possible when tackling complex problems

Tim Jarvis
Environmental scientist and adventurer

Presentation

Media release: Collaboration is key to complex Murray–Darling Basin challenges
10:00 am In the Hot Seat

Andrew McConville
Chief Executive, Murray–Darling Basin Authority

Address transcript
10:30 am Morning tea/exhibits  
11:00 am Address: The 2026 Basin Plan Review – Early Insights Paper

Sir Angus Houston
Chair, Murray–Darling Basin Authority

View the Early Insights Paper
Address transcript

Media release: Early Insights into the 2026 Basin Plan Review
11:25 am Update on Basin Plan implementation

Rachel Connell
First Assistant Secretary, Water Division, 
Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water (DCCEEW) 

Presentation
11:55 am The Snowy Scheme

Dennis Barnes
Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Snowy Hydro

Presentation
12:25 pm View from the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH) – Partnerships, progress and persistence

Simon Banks
Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH)

Presentation
12:55 pm Lunch  
1:55 pm Next Generation: Innovative thinking to tackle complex problems (facilitator: REO Lucy Sevil) Emma Lipscomb
Brad Fischer 
Harriet Brickhill
2:40 pm First Nations: Connection to land, rivers and Country

Darren Wighton
Wiradjuri man

Presentation
3:00 pm Change through collaboration The Hon. Troy Grant
Inspector-General of Water Compliance
3:15 pm Diverse views of the Basin: The Art of the Possible – who are the diverse groups and perspectives from around the Basin?

(includes working afternoon tea)		  
4:00 pm Wrap Up day 1 Jack Knowles
General Manager, Murray–Darling Basin Authority
4:15 pm Day 1 close  
  Conference dinner
6:30 pm for 6:45 pm start		  

Day 2 – Thursday 20 June 2024

Time Session Speaker
8:30 am Conference Welcome Jack Knowles
General Manager, Murray–Darling Basin Authority
8:45 am Ministerial address The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, 
Minister for the Environment and Water
9:00 am Basin Plan Review workshop

(including working morning tea)		  
11:30 am

Breakout sessions (concurrently): Tackling complex problems from different perspectives

  • Economic perspectives (chair: Authority member Roseanne Healy)
    • How to juggle the environment, the economy and production: catchment health and social wellbeing: North East Catchment Management Authority CEO Katie Warner
    • Industrial hemp and the story of the ‘hectare house’: Western Murray Land Improvement Group: Roger Knight
    • The Connections Project: Goulburn Murray Water Managing Director Charmaine Quick
       
  • Cultural perspective (chair: MDBA Chief Executive Andrew McConville)
    • Lake Victoria (Tar-Ru) Aboriginal Heritage Impact Permit: Barkindji Maraura Elders Council a/g Chair Tamika Smith
    • Rivers as living entities: a foundation for change: Birrarung Council Uncle Andrew Gardiner, Dr Erin O'Donnell, Jackson Chatfield
    • First Nations perspective on water management in the Murray-Darling Basin (Aqua nullius): Monash University Research Fellow Indigenous water kate harriden
       
  • Environmental perspective (chair: Authority member Stuart Bunn)
    • Winning hearts and minds: improving wetlands on private property - Murray Darling Wetlands Working Group CEO Dr Deborah Nias
    • Winton Wetlands case study: the evolving story to save the Growlers: Dr Lisa Farnsworth 
    • Water quality monitoring in the Upper Murray: Rutherglen Primary School River Detectives supported by North East Catchment Management Authority Citizen Science Support Officer, Blair Yates

Economic:

Katie Warner
Presentation

Roger Knight
Presentation

Charmaine Quick
Presentation

Cultural:

Tamika Smith
Presentation

Birrarung Council
Presentation

kate harriden
Presentation

Environmental:

Deborah Nias
Presentation

Lisa Farnsworth
Presentation
12:35 pm Summary and key messages from breakout sessions  
1:00 pm Lunch  
1:45 pm

Following the journey of floods: Hume Dam and Noreuil Park

Bus trip to Hume dam to hear about the challenges of operating a huge piece of infrastructure (including water quality issues) as well as the many benefits to recreation, tourism and local economies. Return trip includes drive through Noreuil Park.

  
4:00 pm Return to Commercial Club Albury. End of conference  

Last updated: 29 August 2024