Conservation breakfast to highlight role of Traditional Knowledge
Empowering Aboriginal-led Traditional Knowledge to conserve wildlife and nature will be the focus of the 14th annual Celebrating Women in Conservation Breakfast on Friday 28 February at the Grand Ballroom, Sofitel Hotel on Wurundjeri Country.
Keynote speaker Teagan Shields, a proud Arabunna descendant, has worked in the community engagement and environmental sector for 15 years. She is currently Chair of the Federal Minister for Environment’s Indigenous Advisory Committee and is undertaking a PhD at the University of Melbourne in empowering Indigenous Land and Sea Managers in biodiversity conservation.
Hosted by Corinne Proske, CEO at Trust for Nature, and Rachel Lowry, CEO at Bush Heritage Australia, the event will explore the crucial role that women and gender-diverse people can play in the conservation sector. Victoria’s Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Action, Sheena Watt MP, will also be addressing the breakfast on behalf of the Victorian Minister for Environment, the Hon Steve Dimopoulos.
The event’s tie-in with International Women’s Day, held annually on March 8, has become a not-to-be-missed occasion in the conservation sector’s calendar, with tickets to the in-person event selling out within days.
The theme for International Women’s Day in 2025 is ‘March Forward: For ALL Women and Girls’.
“We know that we cannot achieve conservation goals without embracing a diversity of perspectives and voices, including women and First Peoples,” said Corinne Proske, CEO of Trust for Nature.
“This event is a true demonstration of the collective power in our sector, and an opportunity to celebrate the impact of women in conservation while amplifying the importance of Traditional Knowledge.”
Rachel Lowry, Bush Heritage’s CEO, emphasised the importance of inclusion in the conservation sector:
“We’ve made significant progress towards building a more inclusive sector, but we’ve still got a long way to go. Through events like these, we can come together around our shared goals to protect nature and ensure we march forward for a more sustainable and equitable future. Because our planet and our communities cannot afford for us to take a step back.”
Tickets to the in-person event at Sofitel Melbourne are sold out. Virtual tickets are available via Humanitix. The Celebrating Women in Conservation Breakfast is supported by ANZ, Cassinia Environmental, TBH, King & Wood Mallesons, and Yarra Valley Water.