1. From the Balcony
By Rosie Wheen, CEO Peter Cullen Trust
This balcony reflection was recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation, just a stone’s throw from the Birrarung. Standing here with the bellbirds ringing in my ears, I am reminded of how much we have to do to secure the long-term future of our remarkable lands and waterways.
It is our purpose to foster courageous leadership to tackle complex challenges in water and environment. And we know that those complex, wicked problems rely on collaborative approaches. In this edition of Bridging, we’ve invited our community to reflect on collective impact, which is core to one of our principles – “leading together”.
In the following pages you’ll find important reflections and insights from Fellows Kylie Collins, Liz Gadd, Brooke Kennedy and Rebecca Bartley, and a strong thought and leadership piece by our Chair and Friend of the Trust, Cynthia Mitchell, tackling the emotional reality of working in a rapidly shifting and sometimes terrifying world.
You will also find many opportunities to engage with the concept of collective impact, through our upcoming leadership programs, National Webinars, Professional Development day and the 2026 Peter Cullen Lecture, to be delivered in Canberra this November by Dr Emma Carmody, an outstanding Fellow and recently appointed South Australian River Murray Ambassador.
Image courtesy Paul Feikema
I also hope to see many of you at other sector events, which are plentiful – including Voices from the Bush in Alice Springs in September, where I’ll be joined by a number of Fellows and participants from our Connection to Country to deliver our workshop – “Two-way learning in practice”: experiences from our Connection to Country Program and beyond.
This edition is really about what it might mean and look like if we really want to go far together.
Enjoy the read.
2. In This Issue: Collective Impact
Leading Together is one of the PCT’s core Principles. Our world is complex and interconnected and we recognise that leaders need to embrace collaboration across all boundaries to draw in multiple viewpoints, deepen relationships and networks for change, and spark creativity.
Peter Cullen could – and did – work with anyone. First Peoples, farmers, academics, policy makers, business people, politicians, media, the Prime Minister — Peter included and respected everyone on the journey to change.
There is much written about the Collective Impact Model which unites cross-sector organizations to solve complex social challenges using five core pillars: a common agenda, shared measurement, mutually reinforcing activities, continuous communication, and a dedicated backbone organization.
Increasingly, modern collective impact initiatives are actively embedding racial equity and authentic community engagement into their governance and data collection.
This edition of Bridging invited our network to consider where the power of collective impact is evident in our work and in our communities. How does the principle of leading together sit in our current real world – and how, where can we do it better?
If You Want to Go Fast, Go Alone; If You Want to Go Far, Go Together – A Northern Territory Community Engagement Approach
By Kylie Collins (Fellow, 2022) and Elizabeth Gadd (Fellow, 2024)
When people think about successful programs, they often focus on the outcomes: the funding secured and spent, the KPIs hit, or the milestones achieved. While these results are important, they rarely tell the full story of lasting change and achievement. The NT remote water team believe that behind every successful initiative are the relationships, trust and collaboration that make those outcomes possible.
The proverb, “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together,” perfectly describes the journey of the Remote Water Team.
Image: Galiwin’ku engagement with Cultural Knowledge Providers, welcoming us to country, 22 April 2026; supplied by Liz Gadd
Formed to support the implementation of the Territory Water Plan, the Remote Water Team, was just that – a team. It brought together representatives from organisations with different roles, responsibilities and perspectives. On paper, the relationships were straightforward: client, contractor and regulator. In practice, however, these roles naturally came with different priorities, accountabilities and expectations. There were robust discussions and, at times, tensions behind the scenes.
Yet the Territory Water Plan provided something bigger than our individual roles. It gave us a shared vision, a common destination and a collective purpose. It became the glue that held us together and reminded us that our focus was not on organisational boundaries, expectations and customary approaches but instead on improving water security and outcomes for remote communities across the Northern Territory.
One of the greatest lessons from our work was understanding how communities see government. It is usual when government and all our agencies travelled to remote communities, residents did not see separate agencies or different organisations. They saw “government mob”. Questions were rarely confined to a single topic. Conversations about drinking water often expanded into discussions about housing, essential services, roads, environmental management, community aspirations and future opportunities.
By engaging as a team, we actually became their view of “government mob” and were able to respond in ways that would not have been possible individually. We brought together a broad range of expertise and experience. Someone around the table could answer a question, provide context, make a connection or commit to follow up. Collectively, we were able to have richer conversations and build stronger relationships with communities than any one of us could have achieved alone.
The success of the Remote Water Team was grounded in a set of shared values. We committed to collaborating openly. We listened, allowing people to speak and ensuring every voice was heard. We embraced transparency and adopted a “Yes First” mindset that focused on possibilities rather than barriers. We empowered one another’s skills and expertise, started with trust, maintained an open-door approach, and treated each other with kindness and respect.
These values created something more powerful than cooperation. They created synergy.
The true strength of the Remote Water Team was not that people worked alongside each other. It was that together we became better than our best selves. Different perspectives challenged our thinking. Different areas of expertise strengthened decision-making. Different organisational viewpoints ensured that plans were tested, refined and improved. The whole became greater than the sum of its parts.
The results speak for themselves.
After more than two years of dedicated effort, the Remote Water Team program concluded in June, leaving a significant legacy for remote communities and the agencies that supported them.
Together, the team:
- Secured more than $100 million in funding for major water infrastructure projects across remote Northern Territory communities.
- Delivered over 60 stakeholder engagements, including community forums, Local Authorities, Regional Service Delivery groups, and government and industry partners.
- Ensured that community priorities and local knowledge informed planning and investment decisions.
- Developed the Remote Water Infrastructure Prioritisation Framework and Priority List, creating a transparent, evidence-based and repeatable approach to future infrastructure investment.
- Built enduring partnerships, shared knowledge and strategic planning foundations to support ongoing service delivery.
- Inspired future collaboration, with the Water Security Senior Officers Group (SOG) now exploring a Remote Engagement Community of Practice to continue shared learning, collaboration and continuous improvement in remote community engagement.
While the achievements were significant, the greatest outcome was not measured in projects or reports. The Remote Water Team showed that effective collaboration is not about removing differences but respecting and harnessing them to achieve better outcomes together.
The Territory Water Plan provided the vision and our shared values provided the foundation. Together, they enabled outcomes none of us could have achieved alone.
In the end, the proverb proved true: we may have moved faster alone, but by going together, we went much further, especially for the remote communities we serve.
Image: Galiwin’ku engagement, L-R: Rebecca Pink, Naomi Rea, Liz Gadd, Megan Purser (all Power and Water Corporation employees), 22 April 2026
The Out of Scope Trap: The Struggle to Publish Collective Impact
By Dr Brooke Kennedy (Fellow, 2024)
Afdhel Aziz, the purpose strategist and Forbes columnist, calls it the Hope Gap: the distance between the world as it is and the world as it could be. He argues our greatest sustainability failures are not failures of science or technology — they are failures of storytelling. We have the data. We often have the solutions. What we lack are stories powerful enough to move people from awareness to action, to catalyse change.
I understood this gap instinctively long before I had language for it — in the disconnect between government policy and farming families watching their paddocks go white with salt; in the chasm between corporate environmental commitments and extraction rates approved just upstream. That gap is where I have chosen to work, and where I believe consultants can do their most important work.
The promise of collective impact is transdisciplinary, but the research reality is often a lesson in systemic exclusion. My current struggle to find a home for my work highlights a frustrating truth: journals claim to value bridging gaps, yet their reviewers remain stubbornly siloed.
When I prepared my research on animal management in Aboriginal communities, a paper I am still fighting to find a publisher for, I hit a wall. To the animal science journals, the relational validity built through hanging out was too social. To the social science journals, the wildlife impacts were too niche. By refusing to value the social as the science itself, these institutions force researchers into a participation paradox: we are encouraged to work across disciplines, only to be rejected for being too difficult to categorise.
This fear of the messy is more than a publishing hurdle; it is a lowering of scientific standards. When journals decline papers because they dare to include the human dimensions of ecology, they prioritise reductionist protocols over the reality of Country. They often choose the safety of the plumbing over the complexity of the relative.
We talk about collective impact as a leadership gold standard, but until the academic industry unlearns its rigid gatekeeping, the most vital lessons in transdisciplinary science will continue to be silenced by out of scope notifications.
My search for a publisher continues, but the core issue remains: we aren’t failing the journals; the journals are failing the reality of the work.
Dr Brooke Kennedy
Senior Lecturer in Anthrozoology and Indigenous Knowledge, University of New England
PCT Fellow 2024
My orcID is: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1337-9705
AI declaration: A draft article was imported into AI to tighten the language and the word count.
Action brings Hope – Reef Trust Landscape Repair Forum
by Rebecca Bartley, CSIRO (Fellow, 2017).
At the end of April 2026, more than 60 stakeholders came together in Mackay for the Reef Trust Landscape Repair Forum. Participants included representatives from all Great Barrier Reef NRM organisations, along with staff from the CSIRO, the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), the Queensland Government, and local landholders and delivery partners.
The forum focused on sharing progress and lessons from the first 18 months of projects implemented under the $200 million Reef Trust Landscape Repair Program (LRP). This Program aims to improve water quality flowing to the Great Barrier Reef ($200 million to repair land and improve Reef water quality – DCCEEW). CSIRO provides technical advice to the LRP Program and they coordinated the event.
The keynote address was delivered by Dr Andrew O’Neill (Fellow, 2017), a familiar figure to many within the PCT, who shared valuable insights and practical experience from his work with Healthy Land and Water in Southeast Queensland.
On the third day of the Forum, Reef Catchments NRM hosted a field tour showcasing both established and newly implemented vegetation and erosion control sites in their Region. These works are improving landscape condition and have already prevented nearly 6,000 tonnes of sediment from reaching the Great Barrier Reef, with local landholders pleased with the results and enthusiastic about being involved.
It was encouraging to see such a diverse group of partners and stakeholders come together with a shared commitment to improving water quality for the Reef. Witnessing the alignment of research, policy and planning with tangible on-ground actions and outcomes provides optimism that we are making meaningful progress in protecting and restoring Australia’s unique landscapes and ecosystems.
Cynthia Mitchell AO on leadership in a warming world
As climate change intensifies, the water community is navigating more than operational pressure. It’s also carrying the emotional reality of working in a rapidly shifting and sometimes terrifying world.
PCT Chair, Professor Emerita Cynthia Mitchell AO says the work demands leadership that is as internal as it is external: building the capacity to hold multiple truths.
Here, we’re sharing a recent Q&A with Cynthia, published by the AWA in their April 2026 edition of Current magazine and reproduced here with their support and our thanks.
3. On Leadership
2027 Leadership Program – March-may
From Natasha Davis, Programs Director
Applications are OPEN for the 2027 Peter Cullen Trust Leadership Program—Australia’s premier leadership experience for emerging and established leaders across the water, climate and environment sectors.
Designed to build courageous, connected and influential leaders, the Program combines immersive learning experiences, deep personal development and lifelong professional connections through the Trust’s Fellowship network of more than 350 leaders.
“This is one of the most profound experiences of my life. I got a deep understanding of myself and bonds with my peers that I hope continue to the day I die.” 2025 Leadership Program Graduate
The challenges facing Australia’s water, climate and environment sectors require leaders who can build trust, work across boundaries and lead meaningful change.
Sector professionals working across policy, science, research, operations, engagement, advocacy, planning and management are encouraged to apply.
Interested in learning more – or know someone who fits the bill?
Join a free online information session for prospective applicants and sponsors:
When: Tuesday 25 August, 12.30–1.30 pm AEST
Find out more, register for the information session and apply via the Peter Cullen Trust website – https://www.petercullentrust.org.au/pct-leadership-program/.
Applications close 18 October 2026.
2027 CONNECTION TO COUNTRY PROGRAM
From Natasha Davis, Programs Director
Sunday 11 April – Friday 16 April 2027
Early Bird registration for PCT Fellows is OPEN. Eligible attendees have been emailed the link to register – contact Natasha Davis at natasha@petercullentrust.com.au to confirm your eligibility status.
Early Bird closes on 30 September and any remaining places on the program will be available to all interested parties from 1 October.
Building on the success of two Connection to Country Programs in Northern NSW, designed and facilitated by PCT First Nations Fellows, allies and staff, we are delighted to offer a new Connection to Country experience across Victoria and South Australia in April 2027.
The third program in April 2027 will include:
- Five nights on Country to meet Traditional Owners and visit culturally significant sites – from Sunday 11 April – Friday 16 April
- Starting and finishing in Mildura and visiting several Nations including Latji Latji, Nyeri Nyeri, Ngintait, Ngaiwang, Ngawait, Erawirung, Bindjali, Ngarket, Potarawutj, Boandik, Gunditjmara, Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagulk.
- Facilitated reflection and leadership development activities by PCT pre-, during, and post-program.
The lead Program designer and facilitator is Darren Perry (Fellow, 2016).
This is a special opportunity to engage with and learn from Indigenous people and worldviews in respectful and authentic ways, and to plot new paths forward for water and environmental management.
“This has lit a fire in me, through supported learning experiences and mentoring by the facilitators. I feel more comfortable to share my experiences and ideas for positive change. The program introduced me to a powerful group of allies and professionals, providing inspiration and impactful ways to embed Aboriginal culture into everything we do.”
Shane Adderton, 2026 C2C participant
“Connection to Country has changed how I understand collaboration. Aboriginal knowledge of Country including water, seasons, species, and sacred places is not supplementary to technical data; it is irreplaceable alongside it. I now have a clear framework for building genuine partnerships with Aboriginal communities from the earliest stages of a project, ensuring their knowledge shapes outcomes rather than being simply acknowledged and set aside.”
Olish Dany, 2026 C2C participant
2026 PETER CULLEN LECTURE
To be delivered by Dr Emma Carmody, SA River Murray Commissioner (Fellow, 2013)
The prestigious Peter Cullen Lecture is jointly presented by the University of Canberra, Griffith University and the Peter Cullen Trust. It showcases the profound legacy of Professor Peter Cullen AO and seeks to advance and call for action on critical issues in water and environmental management.
First held in 2008, many significant contributors to the water and environment sector have graced the stage.
In 2026 we are proud to announce that Dr Emma Carmody (Fellow, 2013) will deliver the Peter Cullen Lecture at The Shine Dome this November. The Lecture is open to Fellows, Friends, supporters and the public.
Event Details
Date: Wednesday 11th November 2026
Time: 6.00pm – 8.00pm (arrival 5.45pm, 7.00-8.00 Drinks and canapes)
Venue: Ian Wark Theatre and the Jaegar Room, The Shine Dome, National Science Academy, ACT
Dress: Business attire
To Register: Attendance is free; please REGISTER HERE to assist us with catering.
This year will focus on what it means to give rivers voice, through the lens of one of the Trust’s key principles – speaking truth to power. This was Peter Cullen’s mantra and Dr Carmody’s work as South Australia’s River Murray Commissioner is strongly aligned with both the principle and the practice.
Dr Emma Carmody is an international environmental lawyer and environmental entrepreneur with particular expertise in wetlands, freshwater and the intersection between human rights and water. She is a PCT Fellow (2013).
Emma has a rich history of advising international organisations, treaty bodies, First Nations peoples, farmers, large conservation groups and community groups in Australia and globally. She served as sole Legal Advisor to the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention Wetlands for 5 years (2017-2022), a position which required her to advise during complex multilateral negotiations between nation states, as well as intersessionally.
Dr Carmody is highly regarded as an expert on the environmental challenges facing the Murray-Darling Basin and the legal frameworks governing water use within it. Her recent appointment as the SA River Murray Commissioner will be crucial for the reviews of the Basin Plan and the Water Act 2007 – helping to engage with key stakeholders across the basin and providing independent advice to the State Government.
The 2026 Peter Cullen Lecture will be co-hosted by Trust Chair Professor Emerita Cynthia Mitchell AO; Professor Fiona Dyer, Executive Dean (Interim), Professor in Water Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Canberra and PCT Fellow; and Griffith University’s Professor David Hamilton, Institute Director, Australian Rivers Institute. The 40-minute presentation will be followed by facilitated Q&A, and guests are invited to join our speaker and hosts for drinks and canapes from 7.00pm.
AWARDS AND APPOINTMENTS
Fellows and Friends of the PCT are widely acknowledged for their individual achievements and contributions on many fronts, including:
Professor Jennifer McKay, Friend of the Trust
Professor McKay is conducting research into environmental human rights defenders and recently conducted a workshop at Danubuis International University in Romania.
Environmental Human Rights Defenders (EHRDs) are individuals, communities, Indigenous Peoples, activists, lawyers, scientists, journalists, and civil society organisations who peacefully protect the environment and the human rights that depend on it.
Contemporary research places EHRDs at the intersection of environmental protection, climate action, human rights, and democratic governance.
Case studies are being sought from Australia.
The next research meeting will be at the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) colloquium in Cape Town in December.
A book output is being planned with Prof Trevor Days Winterbottom (NZ) and Prod Stellina Jolly (Cape Town).
4. Around the Network
Fellows Committee STRATEGIC PLANNING
From the PCT Fellows Committee
The Peter Cullen Trust Fellows Committee recently came together for its 2026 strategic planning session to reflect on progress, consider the impact of its work and identify where the Fellows Network can make the greatest contribution in the year ahead.
A strong theme throughout the discussion was collective action for impact. With the Fellows Network described as “the jewel in the crown” of the Trust, the Committee recognised the opportunity to better harness the experience, expertise and influence of Fellows and Friends to amplify the Trust’s work and influence outcomes beyond the network.
Four strategic priorities were identified for 2026–27:
- Continue and strengthen Professional Development Days – maintaining two high-quality opportunities each year while capturing and sharing learning more widely.
- Promote PCT programs and strengthen sustainability support – helping raise awareness of leadership programs and supporting the Trust’s evolving value proposition.
- Increase impact through knowledge sharing and ‘ripples’ – turning learning into practical resources, communities of practice, white papers and nationally significant conversations.
- Improve Fellows engagement and network activation – better understanding what Fellows value and creating opportunities for local connection, fireside chats and collaborative activity.
The Committee’s future focus will be on high-impact activities that strengthen Fellows engagement, extend the influence of the network, support excellence in professional development and contribute to the Trust’s long-term success.
November 2026 pROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY
AI technology + human connection = positive, lasting change
From PD Day Organising Committee – Emma Collins, Hannah Feldman, Baihua Fu and Chris Golding
The next PD Day in Canberra (Thursday November 12) will explore how we as leaders can combine AI technology and human connection to create positive, lasting change.
SAVE THE DATE – Thursday 12 November, Canberra
As artificial intelligence transforms how we analyse, communicate and make decisions, the qualities that define great leadership become even more important: judgement, trust, curiosity, courage and connection. The future belongs not to humans or AI alone, but to leaders who can harness both to create meaningful impact.
AI can help leaders work faster, analyse more information and generate new ideas, However, it cannot replace the leadership responsibilities of:
- setting direction
- exercising judgement
- building trust
- managing risk
- engaging people
- making ethical decisions
- being accountable for outcomes.
For Fellows working on complex water and environmental challenges, AI has the potential to support better analysis, reveal emerging risks, explore future scenarios and enhance communication. Yet human leadership remains essential for navigating uncertainty, balancing competing values, building trust, and making decisions that shape communities, ecosystems and future generations.
Join us to explore how we as leaders can combine technology, wisdom and human connection to create positive, lasting change.
More to follow – watch out for PD Day emails coming soon.
RIPPLES – maximising our impact
From the PCT Fellows Committee
Great conversations often don’t end when a Peter Cullen Trust event does. They continue through new connections, ideas and collaborations – creating ‘ripples’ that can amplify the impact of PCT programs and contribute to positive change across Australia’s water and environment sector.
The Fellows Committee is keen to support Fellows to harness the enthusiasm and energy generated at PCT Programs and events and turn it into ongoing courageous conversations, leadership and action.
So, what could a ‘ripple’ look like? It might be an idea for a future Fireside Chat, a topic or contributors for a Nationally Significant Conversation or white paper, or suggestions for future Fellows Professional Development days. It could be developing a Community of Practice or learning network, bringing Fellows together to brainstorm ways to influence change, or connecting with your Fellows Network City Lead to explore an event or conversation.
We have already seen ripples lead to significant outcomes – including the development of the Connection to Country program, ongoing conversations around decolonising and ethical leadership, and a collective PCT contribution to the National Water Agreement and Basin Plan Review.
Have an idea? We’d love to hear it. The Fellows Committee can provide advice, connections, encouragement and advocacy to help your ripple get started – without taking over the idea. You can also use Bridging to test an idea and see who else might be interested in joining you.
Contact Lesley Ryall, Fellows Network Coordinator, at lesley@petercullentrust.com.au to have a chat.
OTHER FELLOWS INITIATIVES AND EVENTS
Rethinking Leadership: Navigating Complexity in a Changing Climate
By Dr Nicola Nelson (Fellow, 2025) and Dr Annalisa Contos (Fellow, 2024)
How do we lead when the future is uncertain? As climate change continues to reshape our communities, economies and natural systems, this question formed the centrepiece of the Peter Cullen Water and Environment Trust’s recent leadership conversation, Rethinking Leadership: Navigating Complexity in a Changing Climate, hosted by Atom Consulting in Chatswood.
Facilitated by PCT CEO Rosie Wheen, the panel brought together Peter Cullen Trust alumni Dr Annalisa Contos (Principal, Atom Consulting), Dr Nicola Nelson (Head of International and Industry Programs, Australian Water Association) and Dr Phil Duncan to reflect on their leadership journeys and explore what it takes to lead with courage, humility and adaptability in an increasingly complex world.
To capture the audience’s perspectives on leadership, participants were invited to contribute a single word that best represented leadership to them. The resulting word cloud revealed vision, courage, empower and trust as the most prominent themes, reflecting the qualities discussed throughout the evening. Other contributions, including authenticity, responsibility, kindness, mentorship, adaptability and humour, highlighted a shared view of leadership as both purposeful and people-centred. The diversity of responses reinforced the importance of creating the environment for others to contribute, building trust, and leading with courage in the face of complexity and change
The panel reflected on their PCT journeys and what they had taken from the PCT Leadership Program. The panellists shared stories of the moments that had shaped their leadership experience, highlighting the importance of embracing uncertainty, working across disciplines and knowledge systems, and building trust among their peers. A key insight that came through was that leadership today is less about having the right answers and more about asking the right questions, listening deeply and bringing people together to navigate complexity.
The discussion also reinforced that courageous leadership is rarely about individual achievement. Rather, it is about creating environments where diverse perspectives are welcomed, difficult conversations can be had respectfully, and collaboration becomes the foundation for lasting change. These qualities are becoming increasingly important as the water sector responds to the interconnected challenges of climate resilience, environmental stewardship and community wellbeing.
The evening concluded with each panellist offering a challenge to the audience. While the messages differed, they shared a common thread: be curious, create space for others to share their perspectives, and don’t be afraid to lead with courage even when the path ahead is uncertain.
PCT National Webinar SERIES – supported by
‘WaterShip: How can water help cool the climate quickly, safely, and at scale?’
- Guest Presenters: Dr Katie Ross and Professor Emerita Cynthia Mitchell AO
- When: Wednesday 19 August 2026, 10.30am-12.00pm AEST
- Where: Online via Teams
- Hosted By: Rosie Wheen
B: Speaker presentations will be recorded and available to view post-event; Q&A following will not be recorded and Chatham House rule will apply.
This event is open to Fellows, Friends and supporters of the Peter Cullen Trust.
The PCT is thrilled to invite you to a learning and imagining session exploring what it could mean to rebuild local water cycles.
Our focus is the science behind and possibility enabled by a simple (!) expansion of our perceptions – a mindset shift if you will: that water – when cycled between land and sky by the processes of life – is a powerful driver of climate.
This is a mind-expanding story of how ecology and climate science come together around the water we cannot see, told by two exceptional scientists and storytellers, Dr Katie Ross and Professor Emerita Cynthia Mitchell AO.
It’s a heart-expanding story too, because it offers extraordinary agency alongside a Vaclav Havel kind of hope for shifting the dial on climate change.
We do hope you can join us.
Please note local times:
- AWST – 8.30-10.00am
- ACST – 10.00-11.30pm
- AEST – 10.30am-12.00pm
MEET OUR SPEAKERS:
Professor Emerita Cynthia Mitchell AO
is an internationally recognised leader in sustainability, systems change and regenerative futures. With more than 30 years’ experience spanning engineering, sustainability, leadership and institutional transformation, Cynthia has helped shape practical change across government, industry and academia. She is the founder of the good ancestor, was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2024 and currently serves as Chair of the Peter Cullen Water and Environment Trust.
Dr Katie Ross is a leader, researcher, writer and educator with almost 20 years’ experience advancing sustainability and systems transformation. As an independent consultant and Adjunct Fellow, she leads transdisciplinary research and learning initiatives that support meaningful change across communities, organisations and governance systems. Katie is particularly recognised for her expertise in transformative sustainability learning and collaborative approaches to creating regenerative futures.
Lunch (AND OTHER MEALS) with a Leader Series
Darwin: Breakfast with a Leader – Michelle Andrews, former Director General, DWER
By Kylie Collins (Fellow, 2022) and Clare Taylor (Fellow, 2010)
Our recent NT (Darwin) Breakfast with a Leader featuring Michelle Andrews, former Director General of Western Australia’s Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, was a wonderful gathering of Peter Cullen Trust Fellows and Friends. We were particularly delighted to welcome one of our Alice Springs Fellows to her first Breakfast with a Leader, making the morning even more special and reinforcing the value of bringing our leadership community together across such vast distances.
Rather than presenting a traditional leadership talk, Michelle shared a series of leadership vignettes from across her career; moments that seemed ordinary at the time but, through reflection, became defining leadership lessons. Woven together, these stories painted a picture of a career built on trust, relationships and a deep commitment to service. What resonated strongly with the group was Michelle’s reflection on identity and how it evolves throughout a career. She described moving through different stages and identities – an environmental advocate, public servant, leader and now, in semi-retirement, as a helper and mentor. Her reflections prompted many of us to consider our own leadership journeys. Are we firmly in one stage, or do we carry elements of several with us at once?
One story that particularly resonated was Michelle’s reflection on power. She challenged the notion that power is only linked to position or authority. Instead, she reminded us that everyone carries a metaphorical backpack of leadership tools and sources of influence. We all have the power to ask questions, seek support, challenge ideas respectfully, and clearly articulate what we need to succeed. Often, the challenge is not a lack of power but our reluctance to use it. The conversation sparked thoughtful discussion around resilience, self-awareness and the importance of drawing not only on our own experiences and strengths, but also on the knowledge, perspective and support of others.
Another memorable leadership lesson centred on the idea of “never wasting a crisis.” Under Chattem House rules, we will not dwell on the details of the crisis in question, she did generously share the lessons it taught her. In times of uncertainty, leaders need to create a vision, make a plan and, when necessary, redefine the scope of the challenge in front of them. She spoke about bringing the horizon closer: focusing on the next decision, the next day, and the next achievable step rather than becoming overwhelmed by the size of the problem. It was a powerful reminder that leadership during a crisis is often less about having all the answers and more about providing clarity and momentum.
Michelle concluded with a message that many of us will carry forward. At various points in our careers, someone has seen potential in us and invested their time, trust and encouragement to help us grow. As leaders, we have the opportunity and responsibility to do the same for others. By recognising potential, creating opportunities and supporting emerging leaders, we not only strengthen individuals but contribute to the future of our organisations, communities and the water sector as a whole. It was an insightful and inspiring morning, full of lessons that will continue to resonate long after breakfast was over.
Where are you now?
Help us to stay connected. Have you had a career change recently?
This is an invitation for all Fellows to update us on your current roles, titles, preferred emails, contact details etc. Please share your details with Lesley Ryall, Fellows Network Coordinator, at lesley@petercullentrust.com.au.
Positions Vacant
Peter Cullen Trust – Expressions of Interest – Board Directors
Help Shape the Future of Leadership in Australia’s Water and Environment Sectors
EOI Closes: 25 September 2026
The Peter Cullen Water and Environment Trust is at an exciting point in its journey.
Guided by Our Strategy 2025–2030, we are seeking Expressions of Interest from outstanding leaders to join the Board of Directors of Peter Cullen Water and Environment Limited, Trustee of the Peter Cullen Water and Environment Trust.
2026 Peter Cullen Trust Board – L to R: Dr Lisa Ehrenfried, Professor Emerita Cynthia Mitchell AO (Chair), Ruth Kesterman, Susie Williams, Kylie Collins. Not present: Dr Andrew O’Neill
Why Join the Peter Cullen Trust Board?
Serving on the Board of the Peter Cullen Trust is an opportunity to contribute to one of Australia’s most respected leadership organisations in the water and environment sectors.
Our Directors help shape the strategic direction of an organisation that has developed 350+ leaders who are influencing policy, organisations and communities across Australia. Together, they champion courageous leadership, informed debate and meaningful collaboration to address some of the nation’s most complex water, environment and climate challenges.
As a Director, you will have the opportunity to:
- Make a lasting impact by helping shape the future of leadership across Australia’s water, environment and climate sectors.
- Work alongside exceptional people by joining a highly engaged Board and connecting with an influential national network of Fellows, Friends, partners and sector leaders.
- Contribute strategically by applying your expertise, governance experience and professional networks to support the Trust’s next phase of growth and impact.
- Support a purpose that matters by helping build courageous, collaborative leadership to tackle the big challenges in water, environment and climate.
This is an opportunity to contribute your experience to an organisation with a strong reputation, an ambitious strategy and a genuine commitment to creating positive change for future generations.
If you believe that the most enduring change comes through courageous leadership, genuine collaboration and learning together, we invite you to consider joining our Board.
About the organisation
Peter Cullen Water and Environment Limited operates as a Company Limited by Guarantee and is the Trustee of the Peter Cullen Water and Environment Trust.
Established in 2009, the Trust exists for public charitable purposes:
- protecting and enhancing Australia’s natural environment, in particular aquatic environments and their catchments; and
- providing and facilitating learning, communications and informed debate about aquatic environments and their catchments, and about the things that influence them.
For more than fifteen years, the Trust has delivered on this purpose through its flagship Leadership Programs, national Fellows Network and bespoke initiatives that respond to emerging opportunities and challenges across the water, environment and climate sectors.
Today, the Trust recognises that business as usual is no longer enough. Our Strategy 2025–2030 provides a clear direction for the future, while the current operating environment calls for fresh thinking and bold leadership. We have identified 2027 as the year for “shifting the dial”—building on our strong reputation and trusted partnerships while embracing new opportunities for growth and impact.
About the role
The Board of Directors is responsible for guiding the strategic direction of the organisation, ensuring strong governance, overseeing organisational performance, maintaining financial sustainability, and planning for future leadership.
Our Directors are active contributors, encompassing both their core governance responsibilities, whilst actively sharing their expertise, strategic thinking and professional networks to help the Trust achieve its ambitious goals.
Appointments will be confirmed at the 2026 Annual General Meeting for an initial term of three years, with the opportunity to serve a maximum of three terms.
Formal Board meetings are held four times each year—twice in person and twice online. In addition, Directors participate in relevant committee meetings, strategic initiatives and key Trust events. Directors are expected to embody the Trust’s five guiding Principles, meet the standards set out in the Director Code of Conduct, and contribute in a timely and collaborative manner.
Remuneration
Board positions are voluntary (pro bono).
Directors are not remunerated; however, the Trust reimburses reasonable travel and accommodation expenses incurred by Directors performing their duties on behalf of the Trust.
Particular skills and experience sought
The Board seeks to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and welcomes applicants with a broad range of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives, including but not limited to diversity in gender, geography, Indigenous heritage, professional disciplines and lived experience.
Guided by our five year strategy, the current context and our Board skills matrix, we are particularly seeking candidates who bring expertise in one or more of the following areas. Our intention is to appoint 2-3 new Directors this year.
- First Peoples leadership
One of our five guiding Principles is Be led by Country. Our Strategy commits us to listening to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander leaders and supporting the journey towards reconciliation and self-determination.
We seek a Director who identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and brings demonstrated community leadership and cultural knowledge together with strong governance capability and strategic intent. Experience on Boards, committees or Land Councils is desirable, together with a genuine or rapidly developing connection to water, environment and climate. To ensure we are not complicit in identity fraud, if shortlisted, we will seek a community reference, preferably from an Elder, to support the application.
The successful Director will not be expected to speak on behalf of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples or communities, nor carry sole responsibility for the Trust’s First Nations relationships or commitments. These responsibilities are shared by the Board and organisation as a whole. - Government relations
We seek a Director with strong, current relationships across Federal and/or State Government within the water, environment or climate portfolios who can help maintain and strengthen the Trust’s longstanding government connections.
The Trust is proudly apolitical and advocates for courageous leadership rather than particular policy positions. - Philanthropy
We seek a Director with an established philanthropic network and demonstrated success in securing strategic funding partnerships, philanthropic investment and sustainable revenue opportunities that will strengthen the Trust’s future impact. - Marketing
We seek a Director with demonstrated expertise and experience in strategic market analysis and marketing to help guide the Trust’s next phase of development and delivery in line with Our Strategy 2025-2030.
Selection criteria
Essential
Governance
- Sound governance knowledge and, for Government Relations and Philanthropy candidates, experience of governance and compliance requirements within the not-for-profit sector.
- A good understanding of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of Directors in Australia.
- Demonstrated understanding of the distinction between governance and management.
- Experience leading organisational and financial strategy and overseeing successful implementation.
- Understanding of the Trust’s operating context and its opportunities and challenges.
Networks
- Relevant professional networks and the ability to engage existing and new relationships for the benefit of the Trust.
Passion
- A genuine commitment to the Trust’s purpose and principles through collaboration, diversity of thought, identity and experience, and allyship.
- The capacity and willingness to devote the necessary time to the role.
Desirable
Demonstrated leadership and significant experience within the water, environment, climate and/or land management sectors, together with the ability to understand, communicate and influence the key issues facing these sectors.
How to nominate
If you are motivated by purpose, strategic leadership and helping shape the future of Australia’s water, environment, climate and land management sectors, we encourage you to submit an Expression of Interest.
Nominations close 25 September 2026.
Please email your EOI to ceo@petercullentrust.com.au, including:
- a brief Curriculum Vitae; and
- a one- to two-page cover letter addressing the selection criteria.
Successful applicants will be required to obtain an Australian Director Identification Number (DIN).
For further information, please contact Rosie Wheen, CEO via ceo@petercullentrust.com.au.
Professor Emerita Cynthia Mitchell AO, Chair of the Peter Cullen Trust, is also available for informal conversations with prospective applicants. These can be arranged through the CEO.
We encourage you to share this opportunity with exceptional leaders in your networks who are committed to shaping the future of leadership in Australia’s water, environment, climate and land management sectors.
5. What’s On
PCT EVENTS
- 19 August – National Webinar #2 – WaterShip
- 21 October – National Webinar #3 – Fairness
- 9-13 November – Graduation Week in Canberra:
- 11 November – Recharge Workshop; Peter Cullen Lecture
- 12 November – PD Day
- 12 November – Leadership Program Graduation and Graduation Dinner
PCT PROGRAMS
- 11 August – EARLY BIRD Applications OPEN (by invitation) to 2027 Connection to Country Program
- 25 August – Leadership Program Information Session
- 7-11 September – Leadership Program Session 1
- 30 September – 2 October – Executive Leadership Immersive – Confluence
- 1 October – Applications OPEN to all for 2027 Connection to Country Program
- 18 October – Applications CLOSE for 2027 Leadership Program (March-May)
PCT GOVERNANCE
- 17 August – Audit, Finance and Risk Committee
- 26 August – PCT Board meeting
CONFERENCES, Consultations AND other events
IWA webinar Guardians of Water: Indigenous Women as Knowledge Holders and Stewards
From Dr Annalisa Contos (Fellow, 2024)
Join a thought-provoking webinar exploring the leadership of Indigenous women in water stewardship, governance, and climate resilience. Hear inspiring case studies and practical insights from global leaders, practitioners, and advocates. Discover how Indigenous knowledge supports water security, biodiversity, and equitable partnerships, while amplifying women’s voices in shaping a sustainable water future.
PCT Fellow, Dr Annalisa Contos, will be facilitating the webinar and Vanessa Cook from the Connection to Country Program will be presenting.
AWA Voices From the Bush
The program for Voices from the Bush 2026 is now live, and registrations are open.
Held in Mparntwe (Alice Springs) on 16–17 September 2026 this is a unique forum dedicated to advancing water security, equity and sustainability across rural, remote and very remote Australia.
Under this year’s theme, Stronger Together – Creating Change, the newly released program brings together Traditional Owners, operators, community leaders, researchers, industry practitioners and government partners to share practical solutions, real-world outcomes and lessons from the ground. With First Nations leadership woven throughout, delegates will explore community-led approaches, intergenerational leadership and cross-sector partnerships creating meaningful and lasting change.
PCT Fellows and participants from the PCT Connection to Country Programs will facilitate a workshop as part of the Program. The workshop – “Two-way learning in practice”: experience from our (PCT) Connection to Country Program and beyond.
This workshop will include the sharing and discussion of two-way learning experiences, cultivated during on-Country leadership programs with the Peter Cullen Trust (PCT).
In 2026 PCT Fellow Jason Wilson co-lead the second PCT Connection to Country Program alongside Fellows Darren Perry and Kirsty Savage with PCT staff Rosie Wheen and Natasha Davis. The program included online yarns before and after the On-Country experience which was a physical, emotional and spiritual journey across Wiradjuri, Gamilaraay, Wailwan and Yuwaalaraay Country.
During this workshop, a panel will share their experiences of the program, then invite and facilitate discussions in the room about two-way learning: what it is, how to cultivate it, what it can create and more.
We will also have an informal gathering of Fellows and Friends on Tuesday 15th September after the welcome drinks. Please be in touch with Rosie Wheen for further details.
The 12th Australian Stream Management Conference (12ASM) will be held from Sunday 6th September to Wednesday 9th September 2026 at Mantra on Salt Beach, Kingscliff, New South Wales. This 12th edition will be a significant event in the history of the Australian Stream Management conferences, as the 30th anniversary of these vital forums for our community of practise and the advancement of catchment management in Australia. The conference will also be held in conjunction with the Awards Gala dinner and ceremony, celebrating the amazing achievements in Australian stream management.
The theme of 12ASM will be “Living and evolving with change”, recognising the development and maturing of the stream management industry and science that supports it, particularly since the first ASM conference, and how we consider living rivers.
Rosie Wheen will be one of the keynote speakers. She will deliver a keynote and interactive workshop that will invite participants to strengthen the courageous and adaptive leadership required for this moment. Grounded in the Peter Cullen Water & Environment Trust’s distinctive leadership principles—Speak truth to power; Use knowledge wisely; Be led by Country; Lead together; Forge new paths—this session will blend short provocations, practical tools, and authentic stories from Peter Cullen Trust Fellows.
National Regional Challenges 2026
Regional people are already doing remarkable things to solve our greatest challenges. The National Regional Challenges exist to surface that work, connect the dots, and move together toward something bigger. Regional communities across Australia face complex, interconnected problems that no single organisation, policy, or intervention can address alone. The Ready Communities National Regional Challenges connect sectors, organisations, and people over a 12-month cycle to focus attention on measurable impact.
Together we will get informed about each challenge – we will commit to a set of targets, and then we will act!
Each year we ask our national conference (SIITR) host community what matters most locally. From here we form a set of ‘focus areas’. We then conduct further conversations to better understand nuances of this focus area and how we can support learning and resource development in the host community and simultaneously contribute to a national conversation. The ‘challenge statement’ is carefully designed to ensure a productive and action oriented conversation.
More information about the National Regional Challenges can be found here: Ready Communities – National Regional Challenges – A place to prosper
About the identified sustainability challenge 2026
Tell us how your region keeps tourists coming even when the water is running low
Australia is the driest inhabited continent on Earth and among the most drought-exposed nations globally. The OECD’s 2025 Global Drought Outlook found that the average drought today carries economic impacts up to six times greater than in 2000, with costs expected to rise by at least 35% by 2035. Australia is listed among the most severely affected countries.
The cycle of drought is inevitable, though inconsistent in onset, duration, geography, and intensity. Individual droughts have reduced national GDP by more than one per cent, while local economies can contract by as much as 15 per cent. Public funds dedicated to addressing drought exceed $15 billion. The economic impact must be considered alongside equally significant social, environmental, and institutional impacts related to mental health, social cohesion, ecosystem services, community infrastructure, and vulnerable populations.
When a region is in drought, staying away may seem like the right thing for visitors to do. But that’s exactly when regional economies need visitors most. The communities figuring out how to welcome visitors sustainably, manage water across the full visitor economy, and make water stewardship part of their story are doing something the rest of Australia can learn from.
Case study submissions open to 23 July, Submit HERE: Challenge – Sustainability – Ready Communities – National Regional Challenges
Social Impact in the Regions 2026
Social Impact in the Regions (SIITR) is the only national event for people who are creating and investing in change in regional Australian communities. The conference will run in Stanthorpe QLD 2-4 September. www.socialimpactintheregions.com.au
We are currently calling for submissions to join several panels:
- Main stage panel related to the identified challenge areas: “Tell us how your region keeps tourists coming even when the water runs low”
- Speakers to join our Impact Lab on the related challenge and
- Speakers to participate in a broader conversation on water which will also include a local audience
Please send applications here https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SIITR26speakercallout2 or for further information contact kerry@readycommunities.com.au
Celebrating Excellence: Leading the Way Forward
This year’s VicWater annual conference theme – Celebrating Excellence: Leading the way forward will highlight accomplishments, leadership and impact across the water industry, as we go back to basics with a renewed focus on our core business of managing and providing essential water and wastewater services to the Victorian community.
Designed for senior leaders, the program will spotlight what we do best; from delivering major capital projects and high-performing customer service to advancing water security and other leading practices shaping a resilient future.
Water Act Review Discussion Paper: consultation now open
The Water Act Review Discussion Paper has been released and input is invited from across Australia.
This Review is a key opportunity to consider whether the Water Act 2007 remains fit-for-purpose in addressing current and emerging water challenges, including climate pressures, water security and the balance of environmental, social and economic outcomes.
How to get involved
• Public consultation is now open via the Have Your Say page
• Submissions close 11:59pm (AEST) Monday 31 August 2026
• A draft report is expected in November 2026 with additional consultation to follow
• The final report will be delivered to the to the Minister by 28 February 2027
For more information please visit the website.
You can also email questions to wateractreview@dcceew.gov.au .
Your input will help inform the Review’s findings and recommendations to government.
National Water Week: 19-25 October
National Water Week returns from 19–25 October 2026, inviting Australians to celebrate one simple truth: Water is Life
We all have a role to play.
This National Water Week, take time to:
- Learn how water works in your community.
- Value the people and systems that deliver safe water and sanitation.
- Care for the waterways and catchments that sustain life.
Because Water is Life
Visit the National Water Week page to find out how to get involved!
6. Recommended Reading
Articles, Publications and Presentations
Insight #6: Playing with Fire – Is Global Warming an Existential Threat?
From Professor Nick Schofield, Friend of the Trust
Global warming is a rapidly escalating challenge, with the United Nations calling for fast and decisive worldwide action, most urgently to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from human activities to avoid even more dangerous climate change in the future. In Insight 6 we recommended a focus on biophysical climate system indicators to assess global warming status and trends as these can be measured scientifically.
In this 2026 GFR Climate Change Indicators Update, we present nine indicators, of which seven are observational and two are ‘driver’ and ‘impact’ indicators. It is important to note that the selected biophysical indicators are not mutually exclusive, but rather different climate system descriptors of the same problem. Hence it would be unexpected if these indicators did not align in their trends.
At the conclusion we present a brief discussion on the observed indicator trends, why climate change is accelerating, and why our response is insufficient.