Annual forum
When: Monday 13 May 2013
Where: Four Points by Sheraton (10-14 Eastern Beach Road), Geelong
The 2013 VCCCAR Annual Forum, Innovations for liveability, resilience and adaptation, will focus on innovations in research, industry and government in order to address the impacts of climate change and identify the research required to address future challenges. The up-to-date program is available here.
Our climate is changing and communities are already starting to adapt to the changes they are experiencing. This is driving innovation in our personal behaviours, our workplaces and the way we design and interact with our built and natural environment. Adaptation will be important in maintaining the future liveability and resilience of regional and metropolitan communities and environments.
All welcome to attend associated event: Geelong regional community forum - Sunday 12 May
VCCCAR is pleased to partner with the City of Greater Geelong to host a conversation with members of the Geelong regional community about the changing environment and future impacts on Geelong. Transforming the future: Geelong regional community forum is a free public event and residents are invited to share knowledge and understanding of options for a future Geelong under climate change and strategies to achieve this. A panel discussion led by Rob Gell will canvas regional climate change adaptation challenges and opportunities. The community forum will be followed by refreshments. Download the program for more information or contact VCCCAR at enquiries-vcccar@unimelb.edu.au or Doug Scobie on 8344 3095.
Program highlights:
Rob Gell will MC the forum. This is the third year Rob has hosted the Forum and VCCCAR is delighted to welcome him back. Rob began his career teaching Geography and Environmental Science at Melbourne State College and Melbourne University, then for thirty-one years presented television weather. He is now a Director of the consultancies World Wind Pty Ltd, bhive Group Pty Ltd and the International College of Environmental Sustainability; Chairman of the UNESCO Western Port Biosphere and Wildlife Victoria, is a member for the Victorian Coastal Council and the Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability’s Reference Group.
Keynote Address from 2013 VCCCAR Visiting Fellow, Prof. Jonathan Overpeck, on how research supports innovation in adaptation overseas. ‘Peck’ as he prefers to be called, is the founding co-director of the Institute of the Environment at the University of Arizona, professor of geosciences and of atmospheric sciences, and his work focuses on terrestrial systems. He has published over 130 papers in climate and environmental sciences and served as a Coordinating Lead Author for the Nobel Prize winning UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fourth Assessment (2007). He was the founding director of the NOAA Paleo-climatology Program and also the World Data Center for Paleo-climatology. He has active research programs in North America, South America, Africa and monsoon Asia, commonly focused on providing paleo-environmental insights on how key aspects of the Earth’s climate system may change in the future. Peck is the director of the University of Arizona Program in Translational Environmental Research, and commits significant time as principal investigator of the Climate Assessment for the Southwest Project (CLIMAS).
Keynote Address from Prof. Roz Hansen entitled 'Future planning – resilient neighborhoods'. Roz is chairperson of the Ministerial Advisory Committee for the Melbourne Metropolitan Strategy and an urban and regional planner with more than 30 years experience working both in Australia and the Asia Pacific Region. From 1986 to 2011 she was a director and then the managing director of a multi award winning consultancy, Hansen Partnership. In 2012 she established Roz Hansen Consulting Pty Ltd to work on international projects offering expertise and skills in strategic planning at the local, provincial and national levels; master planning of existing urban centres undergoing substantial growth as well as new towns; formulation of urban management systems and techniques underpinned by sustainable development principles and practices; stakeholder/community consultation processes and training of professionals in urban and regional planning approaches and practices. Since 1995 Roz has worked on several planning and development related projects in Vietnam including various government and international aid funded projects focused on managing and guiding the future growth and development of Hanoi City and its region.
Government decision-makers will lead a discussion about Victoria's Climate Change State Adaptation Plan, the role of research in adaptation policy development and decision-making and how research can support future activities within individual Victorian government departments and across the whole of government.
The following workshops will take place in the afternoon, bringing together a range of researchers from VCCCAR projects as well as stakeholders and collaborators for active engagement and discussion:
Urban and regional resilience and liveability
Tools and capacity
Communication and engagement
Registrations for the forum are now closed.
Map
Click on the link to see a map showing the location of Four Points by Sheraton in Geelong.
Travel and accommodation
There are numerous options for visitors to Geelong. A list of accommodation can be accessed here.
One of the easiest ways to travel to Geelong from Melbourne is by train. Follow the link to see the Vline train timetable or visit this page.
For information on how to travel to Geelong from Melbourne by car see map.
Parking
Inexpensive parking is available at Cunningham Pier (approx 5 mins walk from venue): $6 all day.
More convenient parking is available at a premium in the Geelong CBD at Westfield (formerly Bay City) shopping centre: $30 for the day.
