“Celebrating World Wetlands Day”
Join us at our state-of-the-art Centre amidst the Beeliar Wetlands for
The 21st Annual Western Australian Wetlands Conference
that will be held from Wednesday, 6th February to Friday, 7th February 2025at The Wetlands Centre Cockburn, 184 Hope Road, Bibra Lake, Western Australia 6163
Early Bird Registration Portal
Click the link to register your participation.
Call for Registrations
The Wetlands Centre Cockburn invites you to attend its 21st Annual Western Australian Wetlands Conference. We are delighted to welcome you to the Cockburn Wetlands Precinct and our leading-edge eco-focused facility for a two-day conference on the 6th and 7th of February 2025. This conference commemorates World Wetlands Day, marking the anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands in Ramsar, Iran, on 2nd February 1971.
Our conference typically draws over 200 attendees from across Western Australia and neighbouring regions, bringing together professionals and enthusiasts from all fields connected to wetland conservation. The event will feature keynote addresses, expert presentations, case studies, research sharing, plenary discussions, guided tours, and ample networking opportunities. Early Bird Registrations are now open.
Objectives of our conference
“To increase knowledge, awareness, understanding and commitment to the conservation, interpretation and management of Wetlands.”
“And, to provide an annual networking forum for organisations and individuals involved in the above”.
Conference Themes
The overarching conference theme follows the Ramsar theme for 2025 of ‘Protecting wetlands for our common future.’ The two day conference is divided into 4 half-day sessions, which are set to incorporate the following focus areas – Leadership and Partnerships; Scientific Research & Innovation; Sustainability & Climate Resilience; Workshops; Case Studies & Success Stories; Reconciliation & Indigenous Knowledge; Ramsar Theme or International Perspectives; Education, Humanities & Community Engagement; Wetland Restoration, Assessment or Monitoring; Policy, Governance & Practical Management.
Conference Structure
We believe that each and everyone has a stake in the conservation of our wetlands and the issues that surround them. So, this year, we have structured our conference to allow for broader participation from all walks of our community. The conference program is divided into 4 half-day phases, each of which is based on the following themes.
01.
EMERGING HORIZONS
Pathways to Resilient Wetlands
This session will explore forward-thinking approaches to bolstering wetland resilience in the face of emerging challenges. Anchored in innovation and adaptability, it will delve into strategies that address the dynamic complexities of wetlands in a changing climate.
Keynote by Professor Anne Poelina
02.
SHAPING THE FUTURE
Partnerships, Policy, and Practice
Highlighting the transformative potential of collaboration, this session will examine how leadership, policy, and community action intersect to drive meaningful change. It will showcase the synergies required to build a sustainable future for wetlands.
Keynote by Dr. Jane Chambers
03.
CHALLENGES INTO TRIUMPHS
Wetlands Success Stories
This session will celebrate inspiring examples of conservation efforts that have turned obstacles into opportunities. By spotlighting achievements and lessons learned, it will provide a platform for shared experiences and enduring impacts in wetland restoration.
Keynote by Dr. Tim Storer
04.
FROM IDEAS TO ACTION
Building Skills and Capacity
Along with presentations, this session will include workshops focused on practical tools and innovative strategies. It will underscore the importance of translating ideas into impactful solutions, empowering participants to contribute effectively to wetland sustainability.
Keynote by Luke Bently
Registration Fees
All participants are required to officially register to attend the conference (including presenters). The fees are payable online on our Registration Portal by PayPal or Credit/Debit Card. If you wish to make a payment by an alternate method, or for bulk bookings of greater than 10 delegates, kindly contact us to arrange your registration. Thanks to the generous support of our sponsors, fees are kept to a minimum to enable all sectors of the community to attend this conference.
Concessional Registration is applicable to students, unwaged, pensioners and concession card holders.
*All fees inclusive of GST
| Type | Both days | One day |
| Early bird registration: | $ 250 | $ 140 |
| General registration: | $ 380 | $ 200 |
| Concessional registration: | $ 180 | $ 95 |
| Members registration: | $ 300 | $ 165 |
| Presenter registration: | $ 50 | $ 50 |
Early Bird Registration Portal
Click the link to register your participation.
Early Bird Registrations Close
We encourage you to register well before the closing date to avoid disappointment.
13th December 2024
Friday
The Venue
Located 15 km south of Perth, The Wetlands Centre Cockburn is located on the bushland west of the resplendent Bibra Lake. It is easily accessible by freeway, about a 30-minute drive from Perth CBD. If you plan on driving down, please note that there is limited on-site parking is available. Where possible we encourage the more sustainable option of carpooling (please opt-in when you register if you are interested). If you plan on taking public transport, the nearest train station is Murdoch. However, there are fewer bus options, with the closest bus stops about 1km away from the centre by walk.
Link to view directions on Google Maps: The Wetlands Centre Cockburn, 184 Hope Rd, Bibra Lake WA 6163
The Program
The program will be made available this website in early December 2024. At the start of each of the four themed sessions, our distinguished keynote speakers will set the stage with their inspiring stories, fresh perspectives and pioneering concepts. They will be followed by exemplary guest speakers who, with their presentations, will keep up the energy and vibrancy of the sessions, flowing into plenary discussions that will bring every session to a close with a fusion of ideas and a merger of minds. There will be plenty of networking opportunities during well-timed breaks, with refreshments being served.
The Audience
The conference is intended to bring together a community of volunteers, landowners, students, local and state government officers, industry and private sector environmental officers, educators, academics, community leaders, aboriginal representatives and cultural stakeholders involved with wetland-related work and endeavours. Our past conferences have fostered meaningful interactions, discourse and exchange between the audience. We hope that our new two-day format allows for rich, deep, and diverse conversations and engagement among all attendees.
Photographs and Recordings
Important: Please note that we retain your implicit permission to capture/record and use your photographs and video recordings during the conference. We will do our best to accommodate image takedown requests post publication, but it will be at the organiser’s discretion.
Conference Proceedings
Papers, presentations, workshop session recordings and takeaways will be collected and be available on our website www.thewetlandscentre.org.au/conference. You are welcome to review the 2022 Conference Proceedings as an example at www.thewetlandscentre.org.au/conference/proceedings-2022/
Sponsors
We would like to thank and acknowledge the generous support of our sponsors, who make this event possible. If your organisation would like to consider sponsoring this event, please visit our sponsorship webpage to know more.
For further details
please contact the conference organisers
The Wetlands Centre Cockburn
184 Hope Rd, Bibra Lake WA 6163
(08) 9417 8460
conference@thewetlandscentre.org.au
www.thewetlandscentre.org.au/conference
