April 2008

President's Report

I promise that this will be the last message that deals with the 2008 National Conference!! 

For those members (old and new) who attended, thanks for making it a really terrific two days in Perth.  I was completely blown away by the quality of our speakers and their presentations.  At the beginning of the Conference I said that I hoped that people would find it challenging and thought provoking.  Well it certainly was that and I'll add INSPIRING as well.

Many themes arose out of the Conference - the pace of climate change and the development in scientific knowledge since the release of the IPCC Fourth Assessment Reports in 2007; the need to look at our planning systems and principles to encourage better land use; the need to look beyond our own national borders to learn from our neighbours; proper consideration of the suite of options to respond to climate change from emissions trading schemes to better incentives for renewable energy development; understanding the new issues for property transactions; and looking forward to the future and understanding what implementation of the precautionary principle and intergenerational equity really means in the context of adapting to climate change.

I was inspired listening to the speakers and the issues and questions they raised.

I said at the end of the Conference that with all that talent in the Conference room, we had an opportunity to really make a difference.  I genuinely believe that and am keen to maintain the momentum created by the Conference to start tackling some of the tricky issues that responding and adapting to climate change poses.    Stay tuned - but as always, if you have any ideas please let me know!

I would also like to formally thank the Conference Committee.  Time did not permit me to name everyone at the Conference, but I will do so here -

• The WA Conference Committee: Andrew Disney (President), Kathryn Barras (Treasurer), Lisa Ranford (Social functions - and the Rottnest Tour was wonderful!!), Chris Sullivan (Speakers); Merinda Logie, Gemma Nugent, Lindsey Phelong-Beck, Matthew Pudovskis, Sara Vanden Hoogen, Anna Wasylkewycz, Simon Taylor, Tim Macknay and Sally Raine

• Our Conference Liaison and Logistics Team: Daniel and Jackie Eigenmann from MarketFirst

• Our NELA National Secretariat: Jillian Smith, Howard Grant and Sue Hart

You were all marvellous!!

Robyn Glindemann

President