Keynote Presentation - Tiahni Adamson, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Engagement Manager, Bush Heritage Australia | Board Member, Green Adelaide
| Monday, November 24, 2025 |
| 9:15 AM - 9:55 AM |
| Hall C (Main Plenary) |
Overview
Proudly supported by Green Adelaide
Speaker
Ms Tiahni Adamson
National Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Engagement Manager
Bush Heritage Australia
Stewardship in Deep Time: First Nations Governance and the Future of Ecological Care
Abstract document
Since time immemorial, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have governed, nurtured, and restored the ecologies of this continent through sophisticated cultural, scientific and governance systems. Today, as Australia confronts accelerating biodiversity loss — with more than 1,900 species listed as threatened and ecosystems declining at unprecedented rates — First Nations stewardship offers not only ancient insight, but practical pathways for ecological renewal.
The session will share learnings across diverse landscapes, discuss how organisations can deepen cultural capability, and outline the systems shifts required to centre First Nations leadership in national restoration efforts. Ultimately, it argues that caring for Country is inseparable from caring for community, and that Australia’s ecological future depends on both.
The session will share learnings across diverse landscapes, discuss how organisations can deepen cultural capability, and outline the systems shifts required to centre First Nations leadership in national restoration efforts. Ultimately, it argues that caring for Country is inseparable from caring for community, and that Australia’s ecological future depends on both.
Biography
A proud Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander woman descended from the Kaurareg Nation of Thursday Island, Tiahni Adamson is a nationally recognised conservation biologist, science communicator and advocate for climate justice and equity. As the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Engagement Manager at Bush Heritage Australia, she works alongside Traditional Owners to embed cultural governance in environmental management. Tiahni is also a Board Member of Green Adelaide, a member of South Australia’s Premier’s Climate Change Council, and founder of her own business that supports organisations to centre Indigenous knowledge in their work. Named the 2024 Young South Australian of the Year and recipient of the University of Adelaide's Tirkapena Indigenous Distinguished Alumni Award, she has reached over one million people through national and international speaking engagements. Tiahni’s work spans grassroots activism, STEM education, and cross-cultural partnership building to foster healing-centred, community-led climate solutions.
