Keynote Speaker – Deirdre Griepsma
Deirdre is the Regional Biodiversity Recovery Programme Coordinator with Parks Victoria. She is coordinating the delivery of Parks Victoria’s the Bushfire Biodiversity Response and Recovery program post the 19/20 bushfires in Eastern Victoria. This involves working collaboratively with other agencies to find opportunities and synergies through strategic oversight to integrate the recurrent, reactive, and emerging biodiversity recovery projects.
Deirdre holds a Bachelor and a Master’s degree in Applied Science, has been an EPA Victoria Independent Expert Witness, a signatory for National Association of Testing Authority and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Directors. She is a qualified Industrial Chemist and has spent 28 years working mostly in the environment , water, and natural resource management sector.
Before coming to Parks Victoria Deirdre worked for 10 years in Victorian local government as the Sustainable Environment Manager and has 18 years in the private commercial and not-for profit sector. Deirdre has a diverse background. She has managed water quality laboratories, worked in industrial waste research, the petrochemical industry and natural resource and environment management.
Deirdre is a skilled leader with a professional brand who makes a positive contribution to the teams, people and places she works. She builds and facilitates strong partnerships and relationships resulting in collaboration to solve complex problems.
Monday 21 March 2022
Time
Title
3:00
Registration desk opens Albury Entertainment Centre
3:00
WeedMap Pro users group meeting – Albury Entertainment Centre, Theatrette Room
5:30
Conference Welcome Function – Albury Entertainment Centre Proudly sponsored by NSW Weeds Officers Association
Tuesday 22 March 2022
Time
Presenter
Presentation Title
8:20
Chair - Housekeeping
8:35
Welcome to Country
8:45
The HON Sussan Ley
Minister for the Environment
Minister for the Environment
Official Opening & Welcome
8:55
Deirdre Griepsma
Collaborating after fire - Working together to manage threats to biodiversity following the 2020 fires
9:35
Elissa Van Oosterhout
Plenary Speaker - Pathways to prohibited matter
10:00
Morning Tea Break - Meet the Sponsors
Concurrent sessions
Time
Presenter
Presentation Title
10:30
Chris Jackson
Talking weeds - Leading the way for a new regional approach to weed management on state agencies in central tablelands
10:55
Kaitlyn Height
Talking weeds - Insights from stakeholder perspectives for more effective area-wide management of herbicide resistance in weeds of cropping systems
11:20
Sonia Graham
Talking weeds - Measuring the success of collaborative weed management: insights from practitioners
11:45
Bianca Gold
Talking weeds - Learning about weed management after fire through webinars
10:30
Jane Kelly
Search and eradicate - Weeds managers guide to remote detection: Understanding opportunities and limitations for remote detection of weeds
10:55
Wendy Menz
Search and eradicate - Finding hawkweed in NSW utilising drones and GIS
11:20
Ed Coney
Weeds and fire - Weed management after fire in the South-East
11:45
Kathryn Sheffield
Search and eradicate - Automated detection of alligator weed (Alteranthera philoxeroides) from aerial imagery
12:10
Lunch
Plenary session
Time
Presenter
Presentation Title
13:10
Julia Rayment
Managing the invasion Exotic Perennial Grasses in native communities: development and case study of a new Risk Assessment tool
13:35
Nicola Dixon
A risky business- Biosecurity and the cut-flower industry
14:00
Greg Holland
New Incursions - Community efforts to halt the spread of an early-invader weed - Karamu
14:25
Lyn Coulston
Victorian Blackberry Taskforce - Community Connections and Response/Recovery
14:50
Afternoon Tea Break
Plenary session
Time
Presenter
Presentation Title
15:30
Mark Hamilton
Strategy - Proactive adaptive management is critical to weed eradication: Learnings from the NSW hawkweed eradication program
15:55
Aimee Freimanis
Strategy - Plant Sure: Making it easier for everyone to Garden Responsibly
16:20
Kerrie Guppy
Efficacy of Steam Weed Management on Mother of Millions (Bryophyllum species), Singapore Daisy (Sphagneticola Trilobata) and Butterfly Heaven (Dyschoriste Depressa)
Day One Concludes - 4:45pm
16:45
NSW Weed Officers Association meeting
18:30
Casual Dinner - Kinross Hotel
Wednesday 23 March 2022
8:20
House keeping
Plenary session
Time
Presenter
Presentation Title
8:30
Jodie Bartlett-Taylor
Training pathways for weeds professionals
8:55
Rod Ensbey
Parthenium
9:15
Rae Kwong
Biological control of weeds in Victoria: an overview of current R&D programs
9:40
Morning Tea Break
Concurrent sessions
Time
Presenter
Presentation Title
10:10
Andrew McConnachie (Main Theatre)
Progress on the biocontrol of Ox-eye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) in Australia
10:35
Greg Lefoe (Main Theatre)
Biocontrol: the search for new agents - Assessing potential new biocontrol agents for silverleaf nightshade
11:00
Ben Gooden (Main Theatre)
Biocontrol - assessment and implementation - Release of the leaf-smut fungus (Kordyna brasiliensis) to help control wandering trad (Tradescantia fluminesis) - an update on progress in NSW and Victoria.
11:25
Jackie Steel (Main Theatre)
Biocontrol - assessment and implementation - Validating the New Zealand Biocontrol Risk Assessment Model for Australia
10:10
Matt Bell (Theatrette)
Weed control methods - Save water, save time, maximise efficiency with Sprayrite
10:35
Tom Pickering (Theatrette)
Weed control methods - Hume highway granula flupropanate trial aerial in collaboration with RMS
11:00
Charles McClintock (Theatrette)
Knowledge and assistance - Introducing Clipper Herbicide
11:25
Professor Victor Galea (Theatrette)
Stem implanted herbicides and bioherbicides – improved efficiency and sustainable outcomes for woody weed management
11:50
Lunch
Plenary session
Time
Presenter
Presentation Title
1:15
Claire Lock
WeedScan - a website and smartphone app for identifying, reporting and managing priority weeds in Australia
1:40
Jennifer Cunningham
Where weed management begins: a report on a joint agency educational pilot program.
2:05
Lily Berry
Voluntary compliance - Chain chain change part 3 - behaviour change strategy to Lantana on the far south coast NSW
2:30
Megan Wyllie
Online sales and digital solutions - Crime Stoppers Campaign - the emerging online trade of weeds
14:55
Afternoon Tea Break
Plenary Forum - Bridging Borders
Time
Presenter
Presentation Title
15:30
Nicola Dixon
Working with weeds in NSW
15:40
Alexei Rowles
Working with Weeds in Victoria
15:50
Rod Ensbey
Queensland NSW Cross-border taskforce a long-term model for collaboration
16:00
Matt Sheehan
Consultation on a National Established Weeds Framework: Building and Improving on Weeds of National Significance
16:10
Forum discussion
16:45
Conference Wrap up
Day Two Concludes - 5.00pm
19.00
Conference Dinner - Albury Entertainment Centre Proudly Sponsored by Quikcorp
Thursday 24 March 2022
8.00
Assemble for coach departures – Albury Entertainment Centre
8.30 to 10.30
Coaches depart for field trips
Field Trip 1
The Natural Beauty of Nail Can Hill and The Murray River – Albury
This trip includes a walk and talk along Yindyamarra Sculpture Walk which features a series of stunning contemporary Aboriginal sculptures created by local Aboriginal Artists that line the Wagirra Trail along the Murray River from Wonga Wetlands. After lunch, a short bus trip to Albury’s high conservation area of Nail Can Hill will take you for a journey to enjoy its diverse and beautiful annual display of wildflowers.Field Trip 2
Gold Country - Victoria
Relive the glory days of the gold rush as we tour through the historic towns of Chiltern, Eldorado and Beechworth. We will meander along Old Coach Road through Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park where we will visit the spectacular Woolshed Falls. Within the park, we will meet with rangers from Parks Victoria and members of the Friends of Chiltern Mt Pilot NP to hear about local invasive species issues and see the success of the biocontrols against prickly pear and wheel cactus. The tour will conclude with an opportunity to wander around the beautiful town of Beechworth at your leisure, where you may wish to visit The Old Beechworth Gaol, Mayday Hills Asylum or partake in a refreshing ale at the Bridge Road Brewery.Field Trip 3
Fire recovery in the Upper Murray – Victoria
Following the 2020 bushfires, invasive plants and animals have presented a significant threat to the biodiversity values in the Upper Murray district of Victoria. The landscape is characterised by mountains, foothills and floodplains, with large tracts of park, reserve and state forest interspersed with agricultural land and timber production. Mitigating the impacts of invasive species requires partnerships between government agencies, landholders and community groups. In this field trip, we will travel through the country which links the Murray River to the Victorian Alps, visiting scenic locations to hear how collaborations are helping the landscape recover after a fire. We will learn about the integrated programs in parks and reserves tackling pest plant and animal issues, and visit the Pheasant Creek Flora and Fauna reserve to see first-hand how various activities occur in concert to protect critical habitatField Trip 4
Murray & Greater Hume NSW - Burrumbuttock/Tabletop/Holbrook
Rolling Hills and Rugged Bushland sitting at the gateway of the Upper Murray-Holbrook/Woomargama. From drought to fires to relentless downpours. The past 5 years has definitely tested this productive Agricultural and Environmental landscape. The trip includes a visit to the Wirramina Environmental Education Centre, inspection of the Macspread herbicide demonstration site, and a demonstration at Woomargama Common by Skylos Ecology detection dogs. Along the way, we will meet the local champions who work tirelessly on projects in this area to showcase the invaluable resource of information this region has to offer. The trip will conclude with refreshments in Holbrook.Field Trip 5
Training day – Weed Practitioner Essentials
If you’re new to the weeds industry or need to improve and update your skills this is the option for you. You’ll be out and about covering work related activities such as: • identify and visit a high-risk site • undertake a weeds inspection • learning about community engagement tips and tricks • weed identification – how to get help, what if I find something, prohibited matter weeds • what training and is out there and can I get a qualification? • stakeholder engagement and networking skills (over a beverage!).16.00
Coaches begin arriving back at Albury Entertainment Centre and conference concludes