Seachange '05 conference

Managing our coastal waters and oceans is an excellent opportunity to highlight some key issues facing our oceans management.  Topics to be explored include managing the impacts of coastal development; marine activities; the protection of marine biodiversity and resolving conflicts over the use of marine resources.  We will gather together local and international coastal and marine scientists and academics; practitioners and managers as well as key stakeholders from local, regional and central government to critically review local knowledge and practices and identify how we can go forwards.  We also have some well respected international speakers to reflect on their experiences.

The conference has an outstanding line up of speakers at this event.  Joining the event from Australia are Professor Richard Kenchington, renowned international speaker and expert on the marine environment, and Philip Burgess, Director, International Marine in the Department of Environment and Heritage, Canberra. Other international speakers include Dr Sian Pullen.  Sian is the Director of WWF's European Marine Programme and is based in the UK.

Our other confirmed speakers include, Shane Jones, Chairman of Te Ohu Kaimoana and the Waitangi Fisheries Commission; Felicity Wong, Marine Conservation Unit Manager with the Department of Conservation; Chris Hatton, Manager of Environmental Research with the Auckland Regional Council; Dr Rick Pridmore, Chief Executive of the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research and Tony Bouzaid, acclaimed yachtsman and Chair of the Great Barrier Island Community Board.

The Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Palmer is our after-dinner speaker who will be sharing his experiences as the New Zealand Commissioner to the International Whaling Commission.

The Environmental Defence Society would like to take this opportunity to invite you to join them on 21-22 November 2005 at the Heritage in Auckland and to be a part of this stimulating and informative event.

You can download the Seachange 05 Conference Brochure (219K) or you can visit the conference website www.seachange05.com , where you can also register on-line.  There are some reduced cost places for students and non-government organisations.