Members may login to this website to read reports, listen to and watch podcasts and look at photo galleries of AEGN events.
2011
Sylvia Earle presentation at Melbourne Museum, November 2011
2009
Harvey Locke address on landscape scale conservation, Melbourne – October
Harvey was brought to Australia by AEGN members The Thomas Foundation. The purpose of his address was to discuss philanthropy’s role in landscape scale conservation. Harvey is globally known for his work on wilderness, national parks and landscape scale conservation from Yellowstone to Yukon and beyond. Named by Time magazine as one of Canada’s leaders for the 21st century, his resume is filled with premier publications, keynote speaking engagements and leadership and advisory roles for well-known conservation organisations. Harvey has led work on major private lands conservation projects for connectivity, national park creation and management. He now plays a leadership role in a global effort to mitigate and adapt to climate change through nature conservation.
Harvey Locke Video Linking Landscapes – October
As an inspiring resource for our members who could not attend the AEGN event we have posted a copy of Harvey Locke delivering the Thomas Foundation’s Conservation Oration, as a keynote speaker at the Linking Landscapes Conference. Harvey is introduced by AEGN & Thomas Foundation Director Max Bourke
Field Trip, Landscape conservation in South West NSW & Western Victoria – October
Each year the AEGN holds a field trip to showcase environment and climate change issues and the work being done to find solutions or manage problems. The trip is especially designed to highlight philanthropic support for these issues and explore what has worked, what hasn’t worked and consider gaps . 19 members and friends of the AEGN traveled with a resident environmental expert on a private charter bus. We explored Scotia Sanctuary, Ned’s Corner, The Little and Big Desert National Parks, Lakes Hindmarsh & Hattah, Mallee Fowl & Bush Stone Curlew Nests and Jigsaw Farms. We looked at private and public protected areas; landscape scale vs. small scale approaches to conservation; water – ecological flows, wetlands, irrigation, management, policy and solutions; invasive species; threatened and endangered species; agriculture – sustainability and environment; Indigenous aspirations for the region; climate change – implications, solutions, adaptation; how change happens and community involvement.
AEGN Members can login to view photographs and read more about the trip in the November 2009 AEGN newsletter article written by Max Bourke, and the report to participants.
Antje Toennis of the German GLS Bank Foundation, Melbourne – September
Antje is the Communications Manager for the GLS Foundation. She is a geographer by training and has a PhD in sustainable forest management. Antje discussed the work of the GLS foundation including what they fund, how they make these decisions and the different ways donors can choose to give. The GLS Charitable Trust Foundation was founded in 1961 and is an umbrella body for more than 288 charitable foundations. It operates as both a wealth manager for individuals, families and corporations and as a re-granting organisation. Last year it distributed between 6-7 million euros to around 500 projects. It operates as a consultant for donors and has a range of different funds including the Foundation for New Energy as well as offering opportunities for collaborative funding and research.Antje also talked about her experience of philanthropy in Germany.
Annual General Meeting, Melbourne – August
Our first Annual General Meeting went very smoothly and was over with 15 minutes to spare! Our Annual Report, 2007-08 and 2008-09 accounts and changes to our constitution were approved and all members of the Board elected. If you would like a copy of the AGM minutes please let us know.
Annual Conference, Melbourne – August
The AEGN extends our sincere thanks to the Royal Botanic Gardens for hosting this year’s Conference. It was a well attended and interesting day, with a range of stimulating sessions on environmental issues and informative workshops including
- Welcome to Country, Trevor Gallagher, Kulin Nations
- Debate – It’s the year 2080: What does the Australian environment look like, how did we get there and what was philanthropy’s role? With Martin Copley, AEGN Chair; Professor David Karoly; Professor Ian Lowe; Professor Hugh Possingham
- Skills Workshop – Our Story: How did we get here, what have the lessons been and what does the future hold? A discussion on grantmaking skills facillitated by Rob Purves, Purves Environmental Fund, with Annie Grindrod, John T Reid Charitable Trust; Rob Pallin, Paddy Pallin Foundation; Gib Wettenhall, Norman Wettenhall Foundation. Followed by Funders Cafe (small table discussions)
- Knowledge Workshop – Eating the Earth: Sustainable agriculture and food systems – the future of food in Australia. Hosted by Eda Ritche, RE Ross Trust, With presentations from Dr Rosemary Stanton & Fiona McKenzie
- Optional Tour of the National Herbarium of Victoria and talk on the Millennium Seed Bank Project by Dr David Cantrill
AEGN Climate Change Working Group, Melbourne and via teleconference – May
In May the first AEGN member’s Climate Change Working Group meeting was held. The Climate Change Working Group has been established to assist the AEGN to build the knowledge and skills of members on the issue of climate change and to examine how philanthropy may effectively address this issue. This assistance might include recommendations for speakers, workshops, newsletter articles, website information and other activities or actions as they arise. It was a successful meeting and another is planned for June 9 2009.
If you are a climate change funder and would like to be involved please let us know.
Climate Change Workshop – Building relationships & Forging funding directions, Melbourne – April
The AEGN Climate Change Workshop was held with members from the NGO community and climate change specialists. It aimed to build relationships between the NGO and philanthropic sectors and to develop shared ideas about the best direction for projects aimed at dealing with climate change. The workshop brought together a fascinating mix of people from the NGO sector. Detailed notes were sent out to participants but the following is a summary of the day:
- Ideas for project areas which emerged from discussion fell broadly under the following headings-collaboration, vision, education & communication, research, policy & advocacy, resources & events
- It was agreed that the AEGN would form a Climate Change Working Group that would continue with the momentum catalysed by the workshop
- The working group could come up with its own focal areas based on the workshop and consider projects that NGOs might have that fit with these areas
Please login to read more about the workshop
Climate Change and Protected Areas Workshop, Sydney – March
In late March we held a seminar for Sydney members and others. We heard from the Nature Conservation Council NSW about the NSW Community Climate Summit
and agreed that the summit had played an important role in catalysing the public’s interest in climate change into influencing local and state governments.We then discussed the issues around private and public land protection with Penny Figgis from the International Union Conservation Network and Atticus Flemming from the
Australian Wildlife Conservancy.
We all found the seminar useful but all agreed that we need to try to build a stronger network of Sydney funders interested in environment and climate change issues.
Climate 101 Workshop, Melbourne – March
Prof David Griggs, Director, Monash Sustainability Institute and Erwin Jackson, Director, Research and Policy, The Climate Institute, guided members through the basics needed to understand and follow the current climate change debate and so be effective climate change grantmakers. 2009 is a critical year in Australian and International Climate Change policy with big decisions being made that we now better understand and are able to act on.
Victorian Commissioner for Sustainability, Melbourne – February
The AEGN hosted Dr Ian McPhail, Victoria’s Commissioner for Sustainability to discuss Victoria’s first State of the Environment report. Over 30 people attended to hear Dr McPhail speak, to learn first hand about the findings critical to our future wellbeing and to discuss community and philanthropic responses to the report. Please login to read more.
Other Previous Events
- 2008 Member’s Mornings, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne
- 2008 USA Environmental Grantmakers Association Annual Fall Retreat
- 2008 Gondwana Link Field Trip, South West Western Australia
- 2008 AEGN Annual Symposium, hosted by ABL
- 2008 Dr Michael Conroy, US Funder
- 2008 Jenn Fox, ClimateWorks
- 2008 Ted Smith, US Funder
- 2008 Climate Change & Philanthropy Workshop
- 2008 Coorong Mini Field Trip
- 2008 Website Launch
- 2008 Water Seminar
- 2008 AEGN Sydney Event
- 2007 Annual Symposium, held at the Abbotsford Convent
- 2006 Annual Symposium, held at Cranlana
- 2006 Field Trip to Cape York, North Queensland
