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Conference Program & Keynote Speakers
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CONFERENCE PROGRAM - CLICK HERE TO VIEW.
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KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
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Rachael McFadyen
Dr Rachel McFadyen was raised in the UK, gaining her first degree at Cambridge University. She then spent seven years in Trinidad in the West Indies, working for the (British) Commonwealth Institute of Biological Control, and received her PhD at the University of the West Indies on potential biocontrol agents for the weed chromolaena. She then spent 3 years in north-west Argentina with the CIBC, finding and testing insects to control harrisia cactus for Queensland.
Dr McFadyen came to Australia in 1976 and worked in the Queensland Government weed biocontrol unit in Brisbane. She worked on harrisia cactus, parthenium, annual ragweed, rubber vine, and then chromolaena again (in Indonesia and the Philippines), in 1977 becoming manager of the Pest Management Research group in Queensland. In 1999 she was awarded the Council of Australian Weed Science Societies Award for Excellence in Leadership for her work in biological control of weeds.
In 2003, Dr McFadyen was appointed Director (CEO) of the Cooperative Research Centre for Australian Weeds Management. She is based in Brisbane although the Weeds CRC head office is in Adelaide, with scientists in every major Australian city from Darwin to Perth.
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Les Robinson
Les Robinson is an independent strategist, trainer and facilitator working in the fields of social marketing, community development and social change. His approach combines social psychology with rigorous planning.
His work includes training agency and council staff in concepts, methods and tools for effective community engagement.
Les believes that success in social change and community engagement projects depends on the community feeling they have shared genuine control over the process. He therefore has a strong interest in exploring the role of collaborative decision-making in agency-community partnerships.
His website www.enabling-change.com.au is a great resource for community engagement and change practitioners.
Les is the author of CoCreate: a guide for facilitators of multi-stakeholder processes.
Les was formerly the social marketing director at Social Change Media in Sydney where he spent over 10 devising social marketing, education and public involvement programs for government and community sector clients. |
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FIELD TRIPS
Half Day field trips featuring a tour of the rural hinterland, an urban bushland and beach tour, and a visit to the Bluescope Steelworks will provide delegates with a range of industrial, rural and urban perspectives unique to the Illawarra region of New South Wales. Delegates will have the opportunity to see first hand the issues faced by each of these sectors in dealing with the noxious and environmental weed problems confronting them. They will also learn first hand about the practical solutions being implemented.
Rural Hinterland tour
Take a relaxing tour through the rural countryside south of Wollongong to see first hand two of the rural communities worst weeds. Giant Parramatta Grass and Lantana. Demonstration trials established at two separate sites will showcase a variety of control options being used on each weed including some new and innovative techniques.
Urban Bushland and Beach tour
Situated within the urban jungle of Wollongong City are some hidden jewels - Mangerton Park and Hill 60. Learn how these respective communities with support from the local council, private industry and other agencies have turned the tide on controlling a range of invasive weed species and returning the remnant native vegetation to its former glory.
This tour will end with a practical demonstration of aerial spraying for Bitou Bush at Hill 60 courtesy of Precision Helicopters (weather permitting). Spectacular views of the City and the Illawarra coastline from Hill 60 lookout are not to be missed.
Bluescope Steel Industry World Weed Tour (Limited to 80)
See how Australia’s biggest industrial establishment is dealing with an ever increasing weed problem and how it is successfully rehabilitating degraded areas with native vegetation.
This tour will finish with an Industry World Tour of the Port Kembla Bluescope Steelworks.
Grow Me Instead Seminar
As part of the Conference program the Nursery and Garden Industry Association of NSW & ACT (NGINA) will be hosting a Free Public Open Session on Wednesday afternoon (26th September) from 1pm in the McKinnon Building Theatrette at the University of Wollongong. The NGINA will be running one of its popular “Grow Me Instead” seminars that offers practical information on avoiding plants that escape from garden cultivation and become invasive, or discourage native wildlife or require lots of water and chemicals to thrive.
Delegates to the Conference are welcome to attend this session should they choose not to partake in one of the three field trips on offer.
For more information go to their events page at www.ngina.com.au
CHEMCERT ACCREDITATION COURSES
DAVID POTTS - ACCREDITED RURAL CHEMICAL INSTRUCTOR
In support of the 14 th Biennial NSW Weeds Conference to be held at the University of Wollongong, Wollongong 25-27 September 2007, CHEMCERT trainer David Potts will be providing a 1-day reaccreditation course on Monday 24 th September. The full 2-day course is also offered, by arrangement around the conference dates. Note that CHEMCERT or SMARTtrain accreditation cards expire after 5 years.
As a special offer all current financial members of the NSW Noxious Weeds Officers Association will get a 10% discount off the booking price.
Places are strictly limited to a maximum of 20 participants. A minimum of 8 participants is required for the course to proceed.
FOR FURTHER DETAILS AND BOOKINGS UP TO 14TH SEPTEMBER 2007:
Contact David Potts on 0417 060847, home 42572433, dpotts@speedlink.com.au
David has had 20 years experience in Horticultural and Pesticide training since graduating from Charles Sturt, Wagga Wagga, in 1986.
BREAKFAST EXPO
A feature of this conference will be the early morning breakfast expo at the Wollongong Botanic Gardens, directly opposite the University. Here delegates will be able to observe static displays and practical demonstrations of air, land and water based weed control equipment.
A not to be missed opportunity to view some of the latest developments in technology, as well as witness demonstrations in best practice.
SMALL FARMS AND RURAL LIVING FIELD DAY
On Sunday 23 rd September 2007 the Small Farms Network in support of the 14 th Biennial NSW Weeds Conference will be holding a Small Farms and Rural Living Field Day at Berry Showground, Berry between 10.00am and 3.00pm.
Featuring hands on demonstrations, talks, farm machinery and equipment and lots more the Small Farms Field Day is a south coast community event allowing the regions rural businesses and organisations to showcase their products and services.
Situated at beautiful Berry, one of the regions best dairying and grazing areas, the Small Farms Field Day caters to the air of optimism evident amongst the farming community of the NSW south coast.
The NSW Weeds Conference organizers and the Small Farms Network extend a warm invitation to all delegates and their families to visit Berry on Sunday 23 rd September 2007 and share in the experience that is part of the Small Farms and Rural living Field Day.
For enquiries contact Andrew Briton, Small Farm Coordinator on 42 323200 or visit www.smallfarms.net.au
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