Program

*Please note this is a draft program and will be updated.

  • Wednesday, 3 December 2025

    Wednesday, December 3rd

    9:00am    Opening – The Lord Mayor of City of Adelaide

    9:30am    Keynote – Professor Chris Daniel – Green Adelaide goals, strategic plan, policy, activities.

    10:00am   Panel discussion

     

    10:30am   Tea break

     

    11:00am   Session I - TREES AND URBAN FOREST

    11:00am   Protecting urban trees from harsh summer – Prof Stephen Livesly (University of Melbourne)

    11:20am    Which plant where? Climate ready street tree trials – Prof Michelle Leishman (Macquarie University)  

    11:40am   Future trees project in South Australia – Dr Kate Delaporte (EI, Waite Arboretum)

                12:10    Panel discussion / Q&A  

     

    12:40pm    Lunch

     

    1:20pm      Session II – VALUING TREES AND GREENSPACE

    1:20pm     Learning from abroad – Modelling Nature-Based Solutions efficiency – Professor Prashant Kumar, University of Surrey, UK

    2:00pm     Multidimensional factors of green infrastructure – Gail Hall, the Australasian Urban Green Infrastructure Network  

    2:20pm      Valuing the benefits and cost of street trees – Dr John Kandulu (EI, Economics)

    2:40pm      Panel discussion / Q&A

     

    3:00pm      Tea break

     

    3:30pm      Session III – BUILT AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURES

    3:30pm     Learning from abroad – Implementing nature-based actions in cities: Learning from Varcities EU – Professor Denia Kolokotsa (Crete, Greece)

    4:10pm    Wholistic framework for a green and net zero carbon development – Prof Veronica Soebarto (EI, Architecture)

    4:25pm     Green and blue infrastructure - tbc

    4:40pm      Panel discussion / Q&A  

    5:00pm      End of Day 1

     

    5:00 – 8:00pm       Optional tour to Botanic Gardens and with a BBQ/drinks/canapes at the end.

  • Thursday, 4 December 2025

    9:00am     SESSION V – FROM BARCELONA TO LONDON

    9:00am     Urban Greening: Challenges, Goals, Strategies, Evaluation – Dr Angeliki Karanasiou, Spanish Research Council, Barcelona

    9:45am     London as National Park City – Abby Crisostomo, Head of Green Infrastructure, London Authority  

    10:30am    Panel Discussion / Q&A

     

    11:00am    Tea break

     

    11:30am    Session V – HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT

    11:30am    Mental health benefits of green space – Professor Xiaoqi Feng (UNSW)

    11:50am    Nature Positive: The link between biodiversity and health – Professor Sarah Bekessy (RMIT University)  

    12:10pm    Developing health-based green policy – Carmel Williams (EI/CHiAPRT)

    12:30pm   Panel discussion / Q&A – Chair Prof Craig Williams (HEAL Network)

     

    12:50pm   Lunch

     

    1:40pm     Session VI – GREENING AND COMMUNITY

    1:40pm      Community of practice of greening in Adelaide – Dr Tim Johnson, TREENET

    2:10pm      Respecting the cultural values of green – Assoc Prof Douglas Bardsley (EI, Social Sciences)

    2:30pm      Preparing the new generation of friends of trees – Dr Mark Kohler (EI, Psychology)

    2:50pm      Panel discussion / Q&A – Chair Prof Melissa Nursey-Bray

     

    3:20pm      Tea break

     

    3:40pm      Session VII – MAKING IT HAPPEN

    3:40pm     Learning from abroad - Singapore Green Plan 2030 – Professor Prof Tan Puay Yok, National Parks Board of Singapore   

    4:20pm     Greening Greater Adelaide Metropolitan - tbc

    4:40pm      Questions / Debate  

               

    5:00pm      Final thoughts Keynote

               

    5:30pm      END OF SYMPOSIUM