The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), in partnership with the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), hosted a New Colombo Plan (NCP) Momentum event in Townsville on 5th August 2022.
The focus at this Momentum event was Climate, Reef Restoration, and Indigenous Partnerships, with thought leaders and subject matter experts providing their insights into the latest research in marine ecosystem restoration and highlighting the benefits of connecting with Indigenous communities and private sector partners to tackle climate change, establish shared learning and knowledge pathways and create jobs across the sector.
A diverse range of speakers deepened participants' understanding of the importance of individual and collective action in the region, including the role of private sector contributions.
Current NCP Scholar, Kayla Row was one of those speakers, joining Harriet Richards, Head of Corporate Affairs, Tata Consulting Services (TCS), AIMS Executive Director Libby-Evans Illidge, AIMS researcher Manuel Gonzalez Rivero and Research Director at the Reef and Rainforest Research Centre, David Souter, on a panel to discuss climate issues impacting the Indo-Pacific.
NCP alum Mika Bighin, who was selected to travel to Queensland said that despite the enormous challenges climate change brings, she left the panel discussion feeling optimistic.
“I learnt that ecosystems and organisms on this planet are more adaptable than we fully understand and will bounce back from human pressures in some form,” she said.
“An astonishing amount of positive research and development is being undertaken around the world so, no matter what happens, there is a strong community of people looking out for the planet.”
For NCP alum and current postgraduate Marine Biology student Naema Gros-Dubois, it was the presentation on reef restoration that had the most impact.
She said the program highlighted the importance of coral cover and coral diversity.
“Resilient reefs require diversity to continue to survive, which unfortunately is beginning to decline,” she said.
“I learnt a lot about the status and current threats to the reefs, which was difficult to hear, but I also learnt a lot about the projects underway in combating these threats to build more resilient reefs.”
Naema and Mika were two of five NCP alumni selected to attend the seminar, which is part of the NCP's Momentum series. The series sees DFAT, NCP alumni and key business partners work together to deliver events across Australia that explore challenges and opportunities in the Indo-Pacific.
Bungalung man and NCP alum Jordan Ivey was an integral part of the Townsville Momentum event's success. Jordan, who completed his NCP program in Fiji, now works at AIMS as Indigenous Partnership Coordinator.
He was part of the final panel at the event, which explored the importance of Indigenous partnerships in the marine space.
Fellow NCP alum Tim Harmsen, who is currently undertaking his economics honours thesis researching the seaweed Macrocystis pyrifera and its ability to provide economic, natural and cultural benefits to the environment and communities, said the collaboration between the panellists and the Traditional Owners of the land was inspiring.
“Through the discussion, it became strikingly clear how much value Indigenous partnerships can bring from a cultural, social and environmental perspective, and this has shed new light on my research,” he said.
“My work has already been modified to better reflect the value of Indigenous partnerships in marine ecosystem restoration. I hope to continue learning more about our Indigenous past going forward and expect to see more Indigenous partnerships established in the future.”
The NCP Momentum seminar Climate, Reef Restoration and Indigenous Partnerships was the final Momentum event of 2022 with more Momentum events being planned for 2023.
