Co-Designing with Country through Respectful Collaboration скачать в хорошем качестве

Co-Designing with Country through Respectful Collaboration

Abstract: Co-designing landscape restoration projects with First Nations communities means more than consultation, it requires showing up on Country, understanding historical context, and building genuine relationships. This talk shares lessons from a Cultural Restoration Strategy co-developed with Traditional Owners in the Upper Hawkesbury, where restoration planning focused on flood-impacted cultural sites. By centring cultural priorities and working collaboratively from the ground up, we can create more meaningful, lasting outcomes for both people and Country. Dr Eliza Middleton: Dr Eliza Middleton is a senior ecologist with almost 20 years of experience in biodiversity assessment, insect ecology, and making science accessible to a wide audience. She has a PhD in Entomology and is passionate about turning complex ecological data into clear, practical strategies that support both conservation and development goals. Before joining Water Technology, Eliza worked at the University of Sydney, where she led projects focused on koala habitat protection, environmental accounting, and helped the university become the first in Australia to adopt nature-related financial disclosures. Her work has taken her across Australia, delivering flora and fauna surveys, impact assessments, and restoration planning, often in close partnership with Indigenous communities. Eliza is also an experienced science communicator, regularly contributing to radio and television, and is driven by a strong belief that good environmental decisions come from collaboration, clear communication, and respect for Country.