Sheryn has long worked in the field of bringing people and nature together. Currently leading the Adelaide National Park City project with Green Adelaide, she previously led the state’s Green Infrastructure and Sustainable Landscapes programs hosted by the Botanic Gardens of SA, the Inspiring South Australia program hosted by the SA Museum, and habitat restoration projects with Greening Australia. She has also worked as creative writer, and as an educator in schools and universities. Sheryn’s PhD in Ecological Literacy explored some of the complex relationships people have with the natural world along with ways to cultivate an informed population with the capacity to make effective and sustainable environmental decisions. With a 30-year history of environmental volunteering in the Carrickalinga district of the Fleurieu Peninsula, she has worked closely with Carrickalinga Community Association volunteers and local government to co-lead and achieve certification for Carrickalinga Dark Sky Community with DarkSky International, the first Dark Sky Community in Australia.

Dr Nerkez Opacin is a Research Fellow at RMIT University’s Centre for Urban Research, working across the fields of urban health, nature-based interventions, and community resilience. His research focuses on how inclusive, culturally grounded approaches to urban nature can support social connection, mental well-being, and environmental belonging, particularly for those individuals who are often excluded from mainstream systems. As part of the EU Horizon RECETAS project, Nerkez co-leads the Melbourne-based intervention with LGBTIQA+ asylum seekers and refugees, co-designed with community partners and tested across diverse urban green and blue spaces. With a background in peacebuilding and post-conflict recovery, Nerkez brings over a decade of experience working in trauma-affected communities. His work often sits at the intersection of research and lived experience, combining ethnographic methods, co-design, and creative practice to explore how people relate to place and each other. He has received national and international recognition for his contributions to social change research, including the Ambassador of Peace award from the Centre for Peacebuilding. Nerkez is currently developing new projects focused on nature-based approaches to disaster recovery and climate adaptation. His work contributes to conversations about what makes cities not only nature positive, but also socially just, inclusive, and healing.

Mukesh Basnet is a doctoral student in the Department of Sustainability Science, with a background in Environmental Engineering. He earned his M.Sc. (Tech.) in Circular Economy in 2022. His research interests include sustainable solutions and innovations, LCA, biodiversity, and sustainability transition. In his thesis, he evaluated the potential of brewery wastewater for growing hydroponics hops. His current research focuses on sustainable urban mobility, aiming to contribute to the development of a carbon-neutral city.

BSc (2018), The Open University, Sri Lanka, MConBio, MEnv (2021), MRes (2022), Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia. PhD candidate, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia. My current research focuses on understanding the relationships between species' climatic provenance, soil additives (biochar & microbial inoculant), and plant performance in water limited hot environments.

Belinda is an emerging ecologist currently undertaking an Honours year in Science at the University of Melbourne, where her research focuses on using urban wildflower meadows as a sustainable source of native seed. She holds a Bachelor of Conservation and Environmental Science from Federation University, along with qualifications in conservation and land management and sustainable living. Her passion for native flora and ecological restoration is reflected in both academic achievements and ongoing volunteer work. Committed to applying science to real-world conservation challenges, she aspires to a career in ecological restoration and applied research, contributing to resilient ecosystems across Australia.

I am a PhD candidate broadly focused on the cohabitation of wildlife and people in urban areas. I am interested in all things management and conservation, and love discovering new things about the plants and animals in our backyards. I have previously studied the resource requirements of native and wild herbivores in the Australian rangelands.

Cris has over 15 years of experience in regenerative design and is one of the authors who first coined the term regenerative placemaking. She has a PhD in Biodiversity Inclusive Design from RMIT, a process to bring non-human voices into 'city-making' processes. Cris's passion for learning and sharing knowledge and her system-thinking skills translate into an evidence-based and nuanced understanding of your place. Cris is currently working for industry, strategising how to help places and communities, and as a tutor at RMIT.

Born and raised in Italy, he completed his degrees in Natural Science at the University of Milan (Bachelor’s) and the University of Pavia (Master’s). After a few years working in research—primarily focusing on bird ecology in modified landscapes—and freelancing in wildlife conservation for private companies and NGOs, he moved to Berlin (Germany) to pursue his PhD. Since May 2024, he has been a doctoral student at the Freie Universität Berlin and the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB). His PhD project investigates the social-ecological network connecting birds, bats, mosquitoes, management and human health at urban blue and green spaces.

Philippa is in the final stages of her PhD at the University of Melbourne where she is investigating the social and ecological value of gardens on road verges. With a focus on bee, beetle and butterfly biodiversity, Philippa is interested in the benefits of gardens on road verges as a space for effective insect conservation in cities. As cities are a human dominated landscape, Philippa also seeks to understand the attitudes and perceptions of residents and councils towards gardens on road verges. Through this work, Philippa aims to encourage gardening on road verges for the benefit of people and nature.

Mr. Davide Siclari is a third-year PhD candidate studying plant physiology at Western Sydney University (WSU). He is a former press officer of the city council of Florence, Italy and gained experience as a research assistant at WSU. He holds a master’s in environmental management from Bath Spa University (UK) and a bachelor’s in political sciences from the university of Florence ‘Cesare Alfieri’ (IT), major in communication media and journalism. He is certified in data analytics and journalism. He was a Climate Mentor at the 50 °C climate summit in Parramatta 2025 (AU). Passionate about nature and conservation, his particular focus is on coastal and urban environments.