Conference Presentations
Exploring the Roles of Botanic Gardens in Plant Conservation
John Arnott has been with the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne as Manager Horticulture since April 2008. Previously, John worked in a number of significant public gardens. For over 20 years, John worked at the Melbourne Zoo facilitating a number of roles both technical and managerial; during this time, the Melbourne Zoo was transformed to be one of the world’s leading exponents of zoological horticulture.
John joined the team at the Geelong Botanic Gardens in 2000 and played a key role in the delivery of the 21st Century Garden project - the catalyst for the rejuvenation of the gardens.
Currently John leads the team of horticulturists at the Royal Botanic Garden Cranbourne at a challenging and exciting time in the history of the gardens.
Conference presentation
How are Urban Landscapes Important to People?
Dave Kendal has been a researcher at the Australian Research Centre for Urban Ecology, a division of the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, since 2011. In February 2016, Dave started a new role at the Burnley campus of the University of Melbourne as part of the Clean Air and Urban Landscape hub of the National Environmental Science Program. He has developed an international research profile exploring how people interact with nature, and the ecology of cultivated landscapes.
Conference presentation
Something’s Happening! Citizen Science in the Brisbane Ranges
Cathy Powers is a member of Friends of Brisbane Ranges and co-leader of its Citizen Science project; her flora photography is published widely. An interest in Australian flora began with terrestrial orchids but flourished after moving to the eastern slopes of the Brisbane Ranges in 1994; Cathy has been President /Vice-President of the Australian Plants Society Victoria for six years. Now retired from nursing, Cathy pursues an understanding of what nature provides in such a unique place as the Brisbane Ranges. “Understanding where I live, bordering the Brisbane Ranges National Park, gives me inside knowledge to share”.
Conference presentation
Geelong Regional Growth:- Threats to Flora and Ecosystem Sustainability
Graeme Stockton originally comes from the Grampians but now lives on a small, rural property at Bellbrae on the Surf Coast. He has a science degree in horticulture (1985) and then developed West Coast Indigenous Nursery specialising in local flora of the Bellarine and Torquay regions - servicing local land managers, businesses and community groups wanting to restore local habitat. Graeme is involved with Surfers Appreciating Natural Environment (SANE) and with Jan Juc Coast Action. Graeme worked in Guatemala (1996 – 1999) with communities living in the rainforest. On return, he completed postgraduate study in International Development. In 2007 he founded the Surf Coast Energy Group (SCEG); 200 members focusing on climate change and sustainability issues.
Conference presentation
Connecting with Social Media
Professor Tim Entwisle is a scientist, scientific communicator and botanic gardens director. He took up the role of Director and Chief Executive of Royal Botanic Gardens in March 2013, following two years in a senior role at Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, and eight years as Executive Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust in Sydney. Tim writes for a variety of science, nature and garden magazines and maintains an active social media profile (including his popular ‘Talkingplants’ blog). He is a regular contributor to ABC Radio National, hosting the show Talking Plants over Summer.
Conference presentation
The Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria recently (April 2016) released a document outlining how they will respond at Melbourne Gardens to the predicted changes in climate through to 2090. It is a twenty-year plan, guiding planting, water management and education.
Read more about the Landscape Succession Strategy
Bat Watch (or Grey Headed Flying Fox Camp)
Grant Baverstock, Manager of Parks and Gardens with the City of Greater Geelong, has keenly studied Australian fauna for the past 40 years with a particular interest in Bats. This interest has resulted in Grant travelling across much of Australia observing fauna and assisting in field surveys, and Grant has authored the results through papers in various scientific journals. Grant has monitored the colony of Flying Foxes in Eastern Park since their arrival in 2003.
