L2A Bushfire planning 9, 16 and 23 September 2021

This course will deliver targeted skills development on climate change in bushfire planning. Guided by expert speakers from the research and policy communities and by case studies presented by practitioners, we will be considering how to manage bushfire planning under the influence of climate change.

Climate driven changes to Australia’s fire regimes have implications for a range of environmental planning and assessment activities, like the management of biodiversity offsets and planning for asset protection. Indigenous land management practices are informing responses to bushfires. Our focus is on the NSW jurisdiction, exploring themes that apply just as well elsewhere.

Who should attend?

This course has been designed for practitioners looking to develop a specialisation or update their skills in natural resource management and looking to develop specialised skills in regulatory, policy, consulting responses to climate change and bushfire planning.

Places are limited. L2A Bushfire planning will run with a maximum of 30 participants to ensure quality of learning, and adequate scope for networking and engagement. The program will not be recorded to encourage open discussion.

Expert Speakers

Session 1 - Climate change and fire ecology in NRM

9 September | 9.00am - 12.30pm

Our understanding of the influence of climate change on bushfire regimes, as one of many interacting pressures on species and ecosystems, is growing. We will explore how NSW policy makers are approaching climate change in the management of the ecological impact of fire and the restoration actions that may be needed.

• Dr Fabian Sack, Director, Sustainably Pty Ltd
  • Course introduction
• Dr Grahame Douglas, Senior Lecturer at University of Western Sydney
  • Conservation of natural areas and concepts of design: bushfire under the influence of climate change
• Polly Mitchell, Senior Team Leader - Cultural and Ecosystem Adaptation, Climate Change & Sustainability Division, NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment
  • Fire management in environmental adaptation
• Dr Jeremy Little, Director, Nature Wise Australia
  • Bushfire management in a changing climate
• Dr Hamish Clarke, University of Wollongong, Research Fellow
  • Bushfire risk, climate change and prescribed burning

Session 2 – Planning for bushfire recovery

16 September | 9.00am - 12.30pm

Climate change plays a key role in the increasing size, intensity, and destructiveness of bushfires, driving catastrophic impacts on smaller regional centres and threating urban areas. We will survey some of the policy and practice of building resilience to these events, minimising losses and promoting quicker recovery.

• Professor Barbara Norman, Chair and Professor of Urban and Regional Planning, Faculty of Arts & Design, University of Canberra
  • Australian bushfires and the future of urban settlements: pathways forward
• Brendan Pratt, Director, Alphitonia Pty Ltd
• Julie Pratt, Operations Manager, Alphitonia Pty Ltd
  • Lessons Learnt from Implementing Current Bushfire Statutory Obligations: Considerations for Climate Change Policy Makers

• Dr Rebecca Cunningham, Research Principal, University of Technology Sydney, Institute for Sustainable Futures

• Matthew Adams, Bushfire Knowledge Exchange Officer, Fire and Cultural Science, Science, Economics and Insights Division, NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE)
  • NSW Government Bushfire Risk Management Research Hub - Insights from monitoring and analysis using Social Network Analysis (SNA)
• Dr Jenny Scott, Sustainability Program Leader for Ku-ring-gai Council
  • Building resilience: Climate Wise Communities

Session 3 – Integrating traditional fire management into NRM

23 September | 9.00am - 12.30pm

Fire will continue to be part of all our relationship with Country. We will explore how Indigenous people are leading collaborations with modern science, fostering deeper engagement, contributing to ongoing resilience and maintaining ecological communities of which humans are a part.

• Jessica Wegener, Learning & Certification Coordinator, Firesticks Alliance Indigenous Corporation
  • Grandmother trees, Aboriginal women and fire
• Rohan Fisher, Charles Darwin University - Research Development
  • International best practice fire management practice developed in Northern Australia
• Geoff Simpson, NSW Department of Planning Infrastructure and Environment (Senior Scientist)
  • Restoring our relationships with nature (sharing an Aboriginal approach)

Full program attached below

Course delivery

• Online via zoom over 3 x half days
• Start 9.00am – finish 12.30pm

Series Education Partner

Student Member Supporter

Sponsorship

There are L2A sponsorship opportunities for: course partner and student member support. The Prospectus for L2A 2021 is available below or contact Fiona Gainsford, EIANZ NSW Division, Fiona@gainsford.com.au to discuss possible partnerships.