WHY WE ASK FOR YOUR CONSENT
We are committed to protecting the privacy of all personal data you provide us for the 2026 Ecological Society of Australia Conference.

The following statements describe what we are doing with your data and how long we store it so you are fully informed prior to you submitting your personal information at this event.

DATA CONTROLLER
Nectar Creative Communications (appointed PCO)
Ph: 1300 878 815
Email: esa@nectarcc.com.au

WHY ARE WE PROCESSING YOUR PERSONAL DATA?
We ask for your personal data to facilitate your involvement in the 2026 Ecological Society of Australia Conference. Your data may be shared with other organisations and third parties in order to process your involvement. This will include:

● Conference venue (in instance of dietary and accessibility requirements)
● Accommodation hotel
● Stripe payment gateway
● Microsoft Azure

YOUR CONTACT DETAILS IN THE ATTENDEE APP
Your First Name, Last Name and Organisation will be shared on the conference app. You will receive your login details to the app closer to the event to adjust your profile and set your sharing preferences.

HOW LONG WILL WE STORE YOUR PERSONAL DATA?
Your personal data will be retained by us after the conclusion of this event and for promotion of any future ESA events.

You retain the right to ask us about your personal data at any time. Please contact us at esa@nectarcc.com.au with any enquiries you may have.

THE RIGHT TO WITHDRAW YOUR CONSENT
You retain the right to withdraw consent to use your personal data at any time.

Please be aware that a withdrawal of consent before the start of the conference will incur full event cancellation and cancellation fees as per the registration terms and conditions.

Please contact us at esa@nectarcc.com.au with any enquiries you may have.

To ensure a safe, welcoming, and inclusive experience for everyone, all delegates are required to read and abide by our Conference Code of Conduct. Please take a moment to review it here and tick the box below to confirm your agreement.

We are committed to hosting an inclusive and accessible conference. While we will make every effort to accommodate all needs, please note that not all requests can be guaranteed. 

Date:  Sunday, 29th November, 2026

Location:  QUT, Gardens Point Campus

Time:  9.00am to 5.00pm

Cost: $65

The Postgraduate Day is a dedicated pre-conference event designed to support, connect, and empower postgraduate students in ecology and related fields. Held the day before the ESA Annual Conference officially begins, it offers a welcoming environment for students to meet peers, gain insights into academic and career pathways, and develop key skills through workshops, panels, and informal networking sessions. Whether you're just beginning your research journey or nearing the end of your degree, Postgraduate Day provides valuable opportunities to engage with mentors, explore collaborative possibilities, and prepare for a rewarding and enriching conference experience.  

The program is still being finalised - you can purchase a ticket now and we will advise once the program is released.  There will be opportunity to purchase tickets for the Postgraduate Day at a later date.

Date:  Sunday, 29 November, 2025

Location:  Water Mall, Queensland Art Gallery, South Brisbane

Time: 6.00pm - 8.00pm

Cost: Included

Join us for Registration and Welcome Drinks at the Queensland Art Gallery’s Water Mall. This architectural masterpiece, featuring serene indoor ponds and cathedral-like ceilings, provides a stunning backdrop for our opening social event.

Connect with colleagues over local refreshments and light canapés in one of Brisbane’s most celebrated cultural spaces.

The Registration and Welcome Drinks are included in your ticket!

You can buy an additional guest ticket below 

To assist with catering, please indicate if you are going to attend below.

If you would like to purchase additional tickets to the Registration and Welcome Drinks, please select the quantity below: 

Date:  Monday 30th November, 2026

Time:  From 5.45pm (Program TBC)

Location:  Plaza Terrace Room Concourse - BCEC

Cost: Included

The Barbara Rice Memorial Poster Session returns as a premier highlight of the 2026 ESA Conference, uniting early-career researchers, students, and established scientists for an evening of insightful knowledge sharing and community building. Named in honour of Barbara Rice - a passionate advocate for ecological science and education - this session celebrates her lasting legacy by fostering a welcoming and supportive environment for high-level scientific exchange.

This year, the Plaza Terrace Room Concourse will transform into a vibrant hub of ecological innovation. Attendees are invited to wander through a diverse gallery of research, practice and stories where the concourse comes alive with thought-provoking discussions across a wide range of ecological disciplines. Presenters will be stationed at their poster to share key findings, answer questions, and connect with fellow delegates in a relaxed and collegial atmosphere.

Complemented by refreshments and a lively social setting, the Barbara Rice Memorial Poster Session is more than just a scientific showcase - it is a celebration of curiosity, collaboration, and the future of our field. Whether you are presenting your own data or exploring the breakthroughs of others, this session offers a unique opportunity to engage with the ideas and people shaping the next chapter of ecology.

The Barbara Rice Memorial Poster Session is included in your ticket! 

To assist with catering, please indicate if you are going to attend below.

If you would like to purchase additional tickets to the Barbara Rice Memorial Poster Session, please select the quantity below:

Date:  Tuesday 1 December 2026

Time:  6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Location:  The Ship Inn Beer Garden, Sidon Street, South Brisbane

Cost: Own Expense

Date:  Tuesday, 1st December, 2026

Time:  5.30pm to 6.00pm

Location:  Location TBC

Cost: Included

Join us for an inclusive and vibrant Queer Mixer—a welcoming space for LGBTQI+ attendees and allies to connect, share stories, and build meaningful networks. Whether you’re here to meet new friends, find collaborators, or simply celebrate queer joy, this social event is for you.  Expect a relaxed, affirming atmosphere with conversation that honours diversity, intersectionality, and the power of community. Allies are warmly invited—this is a chance to strengthen bonds, broaden perspectives, and champion inclusivity in our professional and personal lives.

To assist with catering, please indicate if you are going to attend below.

Proudly Sponsored by The University of Melbourne

Date:  Tuesday, 2nd December, 2026

Time:  5.30pm to 6.15pm

Location:  BCEC

Cost: Included

Malleefowl: The most unlikely of birds - Documentary

Malleefowl — the most unlikely of birds brings you into the world of these incredible animals, and tells the tale of the conservationists and scientists working to save them from an uncertain future.

There is nothing ordinary about malleefowl.

Rarely seen or heard, their enigmatic lives unfold in some of Australia's most unforgiving landscapes. They neither sit on their eggs, nor raise their chicks. Instead they build a giant mound out of sand from which their young will emerge.

They truly are the most unlikely of birds.

For countless generations they have shaped the mallee dunes, performing the cycle of mound-building, egg-laying, and birth under a harsh outback sun. But the world around them is changing quickly, and the smoke of devastating wildfires fills the mallee sky.

Now it is up to those who love malleefowl to discover the bird's secrets; to connect their dwindling populations across fragmented lands; and to help ensure the ancient cycle of this extraordinary bird continues.

This will be followed by a Q&A discussion with the movie producers. 

Date:  Wednesday, 2nd December, 2026

Time: 7.00pm - 11.00pm

Location:  Eat Street Northshore

Cost: $150 per person

After a full day of sessions, join us for a fun-filled evening of networking and storytelling at Eat Street Northshore. Located on a historic wharf overlooking the Brisbane River, this vibrant outdoor precinct is built from repurposed shipping containers - a perfect backdrop for our community to unwind and relax.

Rather than a formal sit-down dinner, this evening is designed for movement and connection. Enjoy the riverside breeze, live local music, and a diverse range of global cuisines while catching up with colleagues from across the country.

Purchase your Conference Dinner tickets below: 

*Please note: Tickets for the Conference Dinner are limited. We encourage you to secure your ticket early to avoid disappointment

If you would like to purchase additional tickets to the conference Dinner, please select the quantity below:

Field Trips are currently being arranged by the Local Organising Committee.

Please SEE HERE a list of current proposed Field Trips. Dates, times and costs will be finalised in the coming weeks.  Click below to indicate below which of these you would be interested in attending and we will send you more information when details become available. Choosing one of these doesn't represent a booking, just an intention of participating.  

If you have a suggestion for a field trip, please contact us via email so we can discuss with the committee.

Date:  Tuesday 1 December, Wednesday 2 December, Thursday 3 December, Friday 5 December

Location:  Meeting point TBC

Time:  Early morning

Cost: No charge

Start your conference mornings with a dose of urban ecology. This daily, informal bird walk invites delegates to explore the surprisingly rich avian diversity of South Brisbane and the South Bank Parklands. Just steps from the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC), the city’s green corridors serve as a vital laboratory for understanding how native species adapt to and thrive within a bustling metropolitan landscape.

Led by local ecology enthusiasts, we will traverse the riverfront and the South Bank "rainforest" walk, observing the fascinating behaviors of species that have made the city their home. From the iconic, mournful calls of the Bush Stone-curlew to the industrious mound-building of the Australian Brush-turkey, this walk offers a serene yet scientifically engaging start to your day.

Spots are limited so get in quick to secure yours!

Interested in ESA Workshops? A key highlight of the conference is our range of ESA workshops, most of which will run on Friday, 4 December 2026.

If you are interested in presenting a workshop, please note that the Call for Abstracts will be announced shortly. Keep checking the ESA2026 website so you don't miss the update!

We are proud to partner with both Watergum and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation to champion a more sustainable future for our terrestrial and marine ecosystems. As part of your registration, we invite you to make a voluntary contribution to our sustainability offset program.

To maximise our environmental impact, all funds raised will be split equally between these two organisations. Your support will directly fund Watergum’s vital restoration of native bushland and wildlife habitats, while also powering the Great Barrier Reef Foundation’s critical work in reef protection and coral restoration.

If you are able, please consider contributing to help us reduce our collective footprint and leave a lasting, positive legacy for our natural world.

Thank you for registering to attend the ESA Conference 2026.

A confirmation email will be sent to you shortly. Please allow up to one hour for delivery before checking your junk or spam folder. If you have not received your confirmation after this time, please contact the Conference Organising Team on 1300 878 815.

We will be in touch closer to the event with further information.

We look forward to welcoming you to our ESA Conference from 29th November to 4th December 2026 at Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre

For more information visit our website esa2026.org.au