Graduation Week – 13-15 November 2024

As our 15^th Anniversary year comes to a close, Fellows and Friends of the Peter Cullen Trust will gather in Canberra from 13-15 November 2024 for three remarkable days of leadership, learning (and unlearning), networking, collaboration and celebration.

Many events are open to Fellows and Friends, some are Fellows Only and some by invitation; the 2024 Peter Cullen Lecture, to be delivered by Dr Jody Swirepik, is open to the public.

To streamline the booking process, we have set Graduation Week up conference style, with one Registration link (“The Lord of the Links”) that will allow individuals to choose the “sessions” they want to attend.  We’ll share a Registration Code where necessary (via email) to unlock events that only Fellows or invited guests can select.

Venues:

Please note that most events will be held at The Shine Dome, 15 Gordon Street, Acton, BUT Fellows Professional Development Day will move to the Yarramundi Cultural Centre, 245 Lady Denman Drive, Acton; attending Fellows are asked to find their own way in the morning, but buses will be on hand to return to The Shine Dome in the afternoon, to facilitate attendance at the Graduation Ceremony that evening.

Registration Link:

https://events.humanitix.com/pct-graduation-week-november-2024-canberra

Note that individual Registration Codes to unlock eligible events will be shared via email.  Please contact Linda at office@petercullentrust.com.au if you need assistance.

FULL EVENTS PROGRAM:

Wednesday 13 November

2023 Women in Water RRR (Reconnect, Reflect and Renew)

BY INVITATION

• Wednesday 13 November, 10.00am – 4.30pm
• Becker Room, The Shine Dome

One year on from their leadership program it’s time to bring our adventurers back together to find out how the next chapter in their story has unfolded.

2024 Peter Cullen Lecture – Delivered by Jody Swirepik.

PUBLIC EVENT

The prestigious Peter Cullen Lecture is presented annually by Griffith University and the University of Canberra, in partnership with the Peter Cullen Trust.  In the spirit of Professor Peter Cullen, the Lecture showcases contemporary leaders who seek to advance critical issues in water management and inspire action.

The 2024 Peter Cullen Lecture will be delivered by Jody Swirepik, Friend of the Trust and current Chair of the Goyder Institute.

The Lecture will be hosted by the University of Canberra.

“Working in contestable NRM spaces: insights to challenges and responses”

• When:  5.45 for 6.00-8.00pm, Wednesday 13 November 2024
• Where:  The Shine Dome, Australian Academy of Science, 15 Gordon St, Acton ACT 2601
• Register:  This is a FREE public event, but registration is essential.  Register HERE.

More often than not the management of natural resources throws up situations where it’s difficult to keep everyone happy. As a manager looking for solutions, the typical polarisation of issues doesn’t help find a practical way forward.

In the 2024 Peter Cullen Lecture, Jody will provide some case studies from her roles as the Director of National Parks and the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder and from working at MDBA and the Clean Energy Regulator that examine confronting or controversial situations and the responses.

Speaker Bio:

Jody Swirepik has over 30 years’ experience in the water sector including recent senior government roles across natural resource management as the Director of National Parks and the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder.

Prior to these roles, Jody spent three years with the Clean Energy Regulator and over a decade working on Murray Darling Basin issues.

In her earlier career, Jody worked for NSW EPA for a decade and for the ACT Government in planning, policy, and regulatory roles.

Jody is the recipient of a Public Service Medal, has an honours degree in applied science from the University of Canberra (when Peter Cullen was at his most influential), and undertook a masters on the impact of carp with NSW Fisheries.

Thursday 14 November

Fellows Professional Development Day – Decolonising Leadership

Presented in partnership with Icon Water

FELLOWS ONLY

• Thursday 14 November, 9.00am – 4.30pm
• Yarramundi Cultural Centre
• $75pp

Theme: Decolonising Leadership

Purpose:

To challenge Fellows to decolonise thinking and ways of working – looking at the systems we work in through a colonial lens and exploring how we can unlearn some of this and learn new ways drawing on First Nations knowledge and wisdom.

This is a day for challenging questions and self-reflection, with opportunities to share and learn together, as well as build commitment to each other to continue the journey.

This is more than a day’s work!  So there is an expectation of pre-work and details of resources to explore will be shared beforehand.

Detail:

Reflecting the intent that this is a PD Day with a difference – we are moving location. PD Day will be based at the Yarramundi Cultural Centre in Canberra, where we will have time on Country with our First Nations guides Tyrone and Ronnie.  Buses will be in

place to return Fellows to The Shine in time for Graduation.

Note: there is a small cost to Fellows PD Day, reflecting the engagement of our First Nations guides, Tyrone and Ronnie, and local Indigenous caterers, Ribanas Catering.  We thank them for their support.

Registration Link:

https://events.humanitix.com/pct-graduation-week-november-2024-canberra

2024 Leadership Program Graduation Ceremony and Graduation Address

FELLOWS, FRIENDS AND INVITED GUESTS

• Thursday 14 November, 5.00 – 7.30pm
• Ian Wark Theatre and Jaeger Room, The Shine Dome

The centrepiece of Graduation Week is the Graduation Ceremony where the current cohort will deliver their group presentation, respond to questions from the audience and be welcomed into the Fellows Network.

We are honoured that the Graduation Address will be delivered by Professor Ross Thompson, Fellow (2014) and Professor, Centre for Applied Water Science, University of Canberra.  In this final “coming together” in the Trust’s 15^th Anniversary year, Ross is uniquely qualified to reflect on the Trust’s journey over this time, on the “Cullen legacy” and on the opportunity that Fellows and the Fellows Network have to step into the space that Peter occupied, to lead with courage and to speak their truth.  What is the legacy that the Fellowship and the Trust will be remembered for, fifteen years from now?

In his Panel Presentation at the 2024 Peter Cullen Trust Water Symposium, Ross said “We look backwards to Peter’s legacy but ignore at our peril Peter’s true legacy which is to seek that consensus which allows us to look forward.”

In this important address, Ross will discuss how leadership is about vision, but also about impact.  And about how we can achieve change.

Gather afterwards for drinks and canapes.

This event is hosted by The Peter Cullen Trust and is free to attend for Fellows, Friends and Invited Guests.  For those unable to attend in person, this event will be RECORDED.

Registration Link:

https://events.humanitix.com/pct-graduation-week-november-2024-canberra

Friday 15 November

Fellows Networking Breakfast

FELLOWS ONLY

• Friday 15 November, 8.00 – 10.00am
• Jaeger Room, The Shine Dome
• $25pp

The Fellows Networking Breakfast provides a warm and informal space to welcome the newest Fellows to the Network, to establish new connections and renew existing ones.  Conversations are rich and unguarded, Chatham House rule of course.  Always a popular event on the Trust’s calendar with limited places available,so be quick to secure your seat at the table.

This event is hosted by the Fellows Committee.

Registration Link:

https://events.humanitix.com/pct-graduation-week-november-2024-canberra

Meet the Graduates

GRADUATING COHORT AND TRUST BOARD

• Friday 15 November, 9.00 – 9.30am
• Dorothy Hill Room, The Shine Dome

Small group conversations with the PCT Board Directors and the Graduating cohort.

PCT Board Meeting

TRUST BOARD AND STAFF

• Friday 15 November, 9.30am – 2.00pm
• Becker Room, The Shine Dome

This quarterly meeting of the Trust’s Board includes the Annual General Meeting and presentation of the audited accounts for the previous financial year.