Program & Speakers
The program is now available for download >>
Please note that the program may be subject to change. Speakers will be added as they are confirmed.
Keynote Speakers
Dr Mark Diesendorf is currently with the Institute of Environmental Studies at The University of New South Wales. At various times he has been a Principal Research Scientist at CSIRO, Professor of Environmental Science at University of Technology Sydney, and Director of Sustainability Centre Pty. Ltd.
Mark is co-editor of "Human Ecology, Human Economy: Ideas for an Ecologically Sustainable Future", and author of the new book "Greenhouse Solutions with Sustainable Energy".
Blair Nancarrow is a social scientist with the Australian Research Centre for Water in Society in CSIRO Land and Water. She has been involved in the conduct of social investigations and public involvement programs in water resources and environmental management for twenty years. Her particular area of expertise is in the design and implementation of large, community-based research programs and experiments. Her project experience is in both the urban and rural spheres. Her background in education is invaluable in both research implementation as well as the communication of results to lay personnel.
Blair has a special interest in the development and evaluation of community processes which are practical and encourage wide-spread participation, while ensuring equity and social justice in environmental management and decision making.
Dr Linda Ford is a Rak Mak Mak Marranunggu elder from Kurrindju (Finniss River) Northern Territory.
Linda's broad teaching and research interests are in the field of indigenous and adult education and Australian Indigenous Knowledge Systems. Particular interest in sustainable practices relating to Language and Cultural Diversity in Educational Settings, Social and Cultural Mapping, Social Justice and Cultural Diversity, Issues in Indigenous Research and Community Development and Adult Education.
Linda has extensive research including publications.
R.G. (Jerry) Schwab is a Fellow at the Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research (CAEPR) at The Australian National University. He is one of a very small number of anthropologists in Australia with research experience in the area of Indigenous education and training. He has been involved with educational research and development in Australia and overseas (USA, Canada, United Arab Emirates and Egypt) since the mid-1980s. He has worked in the fields of literacy, educational development (in schools and for academic staff in higher education) and program planning and evaluation.
A focus of his current research is land and resource management as an avenue for the educational and social re-engagement of Indigenous youth in remote regions. He has carried out major consultancies for a number of clients including the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Department of Health and Family Services, the Queensland Department of Education, Training and the Arts and the Warlpiri Education and Training Trust.
Michael Christie worked as teacher-linguist at Milingimbi in the 1970s and Yirrkala in the 1980s. He moved to Darwin in the early 1990s and started the Yolngu Language and Culture program at what is now CDU's School of Australian Indigenous Knowledge Systems. His current position is Associate Professor in Education at CDU's School of Education involved in researching digital technology and Aboriginal knowledge work, and transdisciplinary research methodology through facilitating Aboriginal consultancies.