First Annual Symposium a ‘Landmark Moment’ for Centre

A comprehensive poster display provided talking points and opportunities networking (Image: Philip Sen/WSU)

More than 100 academic researchers and government end-users attended the first BNHRC symposium on 20 May 2025.

Delegates were briefed on all 25 co-designed projects currently underway or starting this year, and also viewed a poster display with contributions from Higher Degree Research students, Post-Doctoral Research Fellows and DCCEEW scientists.

The symposium held at the UTS Aerial Centre in Ultimo began by highlighting the Centre’s continuity with work conducted under the Centre’s previous iteration, the NSW Bushfire Risk Management Hub.

Falling a few days before National Reconciliation Week, the Centre’s work alongside Aboriginal people was another highlight. During the morning session, Taya Barrett and Oliver Costello from partners Jagun Alliance gave an overview of the Indigenous research framework; while in the evening there was a keynote talk on the legal barriers to cultural burning.

“Today was a landmark moment for us,’ said Centre Director A/Prof Rachael Nolan, “with researchers and end-users clearly collaborating and sharing insights through professional relationships inspired by our co-design roadmap.”

“We are now beginning to deliver some early results and publications are in the pipeline already – expect to see much more over the coming years”

(Images from the day by Philip Sen and Rachael Nolan)