The 22nd Annual WA Wetlands Conference (5–6 February 2026) brought wetland managers, researchers, Traditional Owners, educators and community members together at The Wetlands Centre Cockburn, Bibra Lake – Walliabup, for two days of shared learning, grounded conversation and practical next steps.
With the generous support of our sponsors, and the time and energy given by speakers, delegates and volunteers, the WA Wetlands Conference again proved what it has become over the years: a practical meeting point for people who care deeply about wetlands, and who are doing the work on the ground.
This year’s theme, “Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage”, put cultural knowledge where it belongs, at the centre of the conversation. Across the program, Traditional Owner perspectives sat alongside science, management practice and community action, with a clear message throughout: healthy wetlands and healthy communities are inseparable.
A standout feature of the 2026 conference was the presence of regional wetland champions supported through Lotterywest’s RegionaLink initiative. Bringing people in from across Western Australia strengthened the conference in the best possible way, with place-based insights, local challenges, and community-led approaches that simply cannot be captured from a metro-only lens.
This report captures the key moments and outcomes from the two days, including program highlights, attendance and participation snapshots, engagement activities, and early feedback. It is intended as both a record of what was achieved and a practical reference point for shaping future conferences, seminars and wetland education initiatives.
Noteworthy Achievements
The WA Wetlands Conference 2026 brought together a highly engaged cross-section of the wetlands community across two full days, creating space for real exchange between on-ground practitioners, researchers, decision-makers, educators, and community leaders. Conversations stayed practical and place-based, with strong participation from both metro and regional delegates.
Who Attended:
| Participation Type | Day 1 Count | Day 2 Count |
|---|---|---|
| Registered delegates (including presenters) | 180 | 174 |
| • Presenters (included in delegates) | 34 | 38 |
| • RegionaLink-supported delegates (included in delegates) | 19 | 19 |
| Volunteers, staff & planning committee | 26 | 27 |
| Total people on-site (delegates + volunteers/staff/planning) | 206 | 201 |
Participation Snapshot:
- 264 individual delegate attendances were recorded across both days.
- The program featured a strong presenter cohort, with 34 presenters on Day 1 and 38 presenters on Day 2.
- RegionaLink supported 19 regional delegates on each day, strengthening the diversity of on-ground perspectives from across WA.
- A combined team of 26 (Day 1) and 27 (Day 2) volunteers, staff and planning committee members kept the conference running smoothly.
The conference website and online tools supported planning and participation, including an interactive program, a streamlined registration pathway, an online presenter/submission portal, and a detailed feedback questionnaire to capture learning and priorities for future events.
Catering was delivered across both days, with Chef Nimrod Kazoom catering Day 1 and Cool Fodder Fremantle catering Day 2, providing refreshments, morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea.
The conference was delivered with a strong focus on environmental sensitivity and practical sustainability steps to reduce waste and event footprint. Key initiatives included:
- E-program: The program was made available digitally (via email and the conference website), with only limited printed copies on recycled paper placed around the centre for reference.
- Reuse and recycle: Name badges were re-used from previous conferences, with names printed on recycled paper. Badges were collected at the end of each day for future re-use.
Program & Engagement Highlights
The WA Wetlands Conference 2026 delivered a full two-day program designed to bring Traditional knowledge, scientific practice, and community-led action into the same room. The schedule was structured around four themed streams: Wetlands & Country (Day 1 morning), Water & Community (Day 1 afternoon), Science & Stewardship (Day 2 morning), and Practice & Partnerships (Day 2 afternoon). Engagement across both days was strong, with discussion-rich sessions, practical workgroups, and place-based experiences connecting learning to Bibra Lake – Walliabup and the Centre’s surrounds.
- 5 keynote sessions: Walter McGuire & Francesca Flynn; Vivienne Hansen & Cristina Ramalho; Laurie Barlow & Vilma Hodder; David Morgan & Travis Fazeldean; and Rod Giblett.
- 20 breakout presentations across 10 rounds: concurrent expert and case study talks delivered in the Main Hall and Education Room, with strong Q&A and cross-sector discussion throughout.
- 3 Spotlight talks: “Wetlands, People, Place, Stories” — short, story-led presentations that broadened the conference lens beyond technical practice.
- 5 poster presentations with lightning pitches: five-minute presentations showcasing emerging research and on-ground projects, creating quick, high-energy entry points for delegates to connect with new work.
- 8 facilitated workgroup sessions: hands-on and topic-focused sessions that supported shared problem-solving and skill-building, including a full-length Learning & Yarning circle (Bindjareb Djilba Kaadadjan Bidi Yarning Circle) led by Noongar Elders and young leaders from Winjan AC, Harvey AC, WAATSIC, and the Bindjareb Gabi Wonga project. Plus focused workgroups on turtles (3 talks), art and wetlands (3 talks), and native plant propagation (1 practical nursery session).
- First Nations-led program elements: the conference included five Indigenous-led presentations, including two keynote sessions and the yarning circle, ensuring cultural knowledge and lived experience were centred in the program.
- 2 International speakers: David Wakogy (Friends of Ondiri Wetland, Kenya) presented on Peatlands and Their Importance in Climate Change Mitigation, and Prof. Juergen Geist (Technical University of Munich, Germany) shared wetland restoration case studies from Germany in Sustaining Aquatic Biodiversity in Densely Populated Areas.
- 2 wetland experiences: a self-guided Augmented Reality Art & Ecology Tour (Day 1) and a guided Wetlands Walk (Day 2), offering immersive, on-ground ways to engage with the site and its stories.
- Sundowner networking session: an end-of-day gathering featuring book launches and an artist talk, with exhibiting artists in conversation about art, science and wetlands.
- Art, culture and scholarship activations: five artists showcased wetland-inspired works, with glass artworks by Sabrina Dowling Guidici, Greg Ash and Nada Murphy; an augmented reality wetland-creatures exhibition by Nidia Hansen; and nature-themed calligraphy works by Judith Ann. Rod Giblett launched two major publications: Wetland Cultures: Ancient, Traditional, Contemporary (2024) and The Routledge Handbook of Wetlands (2025).
- Plenary session and round-up: a closing forum to consolidate themes, reflections, and next steps.
This combination of science, culture, art, and on-ground practice created multiple entry points for participation and helped delegates connect ideas across sectors, disciplines, and regions.
Sponsors & Partners
The WA Wetlands Conference 2025 was made possible through the generous support of sponsors, partners, and volunteers, whose contributions helped elevate the quality, reach, and impact of the event.
Conference Sponsors & Supporters:
Regional Representation
The RegionaLink initiative, supported by Lotterywest, allowed 19 regional participants, including 4 presenters, to attend the WA Wetlands Conference 2026.
These attendees brought critical perspectives from across Western Australia, representing diverse landscapes, conservation challenges, and community-led wetland restoration efforts. Their contributions enriched discussions by highlighting local challenges, Indigenous land management knowledge, and grassroots conservation projects.
We are grateful to Lotterywest for enabling regional attendees to attend the conference, ensuring a diverse range of voices from across WA were represented.
- Which regions?: We welcomed delegates from the Pilbara (South Hedland / Karlka Nyiyaparli Country; Karratha), the Gascoyne (Meekatharra / Yulga Jinna Country), the Mid West / Wheatbelt–Mid West (Geraldton/Waggrakine; Geraldton / Yamatji Nation Water; Cervantes/Jurien area), the Great Southern / South West (Denmark), and the South West via the Leschenault catchment (Bunbury/College Grove and Donnybrook).
Outcomes & Connections
Across the two days, delegates engaged through a mix of formal presentations, facilitated discussion spaces, practical sessions and informal networking, allowing both technical exchange and relationship-building to happen in parallel. Delegates used the conference as a working space: testing ideas in real time, sharing tools and case studies, and building new links and neworks between Traditional knowledge holders, practitioners, researchers, educators and community leaders.
The program intentionally brought multiple knowledge systems into the same conversation: First Nations-led perspectives were centred through Indigenous-led sessions and on-Country learning, alongside international contributions that added wider context on peatlands, restoration and biodiversity under pressure.
Regional participation, supported through Lotterywest RegionaLink, brought place-based experience into the room from the Pilbara, Gascoyne, the Mid West, the Great Southern, and the South West regions.
Overall, the conference strengthened relationships across regions and disciplines, and helped turn shared concerns into more connected, on-ground action. Photos and proceedings will be shared as they are finalised, and the learnings will be used to shape future seminars and the next WA Wetlands Conference.
WA Wetlands Conference 2026 unites Traditional knowledge, science and practice at Bibra Lake – WalliabupMedia Release
Feedback & Insights
Initial feedback from attendees has been overwhelmingly positive, with strong praise for:
✔️ High-quality presentations & expert speakers
✔️ Diverse program structure, balancing science & community engagement
✔️ Opportunities for networking & collaboration
✔️ Successful integration of Indigenous perspectives
✔️ Lotterywest RegionaLink’s impact in supporting regional participation
Further detailed feedback will be consolidated in the final survey results, which will help shape future Wetland Symposiums and the next WA Wetlands Conference.
