Past Events
ENVI Industry night
On the evening of Wednesday 31st August, EIANZ Victorian committee members Gordon Young (SEP coordinator) and Michael Lambden represented EIANZ at the 2011 Bachelor of Environments Industry night run by Envi (The Environments Student Society at the University of Melbourne).
The EIANZ, alongside 21 other businesses, professional associations and government departments, talked to dozens of students about careers in the environment profession, the opportunities, and the challenges. The evening was a huge success and helped to provide an excellent platform from which students could be introduced to all relevant industries.
NGERS Presentation
On the morning of Friday 5 August 2011, EIANZ Victorian members were given the opportunity to attend a workshop with the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency (DCCEE) to discuss the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007 (the NGER Act) and its application to the 2011-2012 Reporting Period.
Also provided was a direct opportunity to ask the Business Outreach Team questions and recommendations in applying the NGER Act.
Victoria draft Biodiversity Strategy – EIANZ submission
The EIANZ Victorian Division, in conjunction with the Ecology Special Interest Group recently provided a submission to the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) for the draft of Victoria’s Biodiversity Strategy.
The draft Victorian Biodiversity Strategy 2010-2015, Biodiversity is Everybody’s Business, was released by the DSE earlier this year and open for a short public consultation period. The draft strategy is a renewal of the original 1997 version, rather than a replacement and fulfils the requirement of the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.
The EIANZ sought input from members, from which it developed a submission on the draft strategy, the consultation process and broader biodiversity issues. Based on the input received, the submission raised the following issues summarised below:
• Consultation with stakeholders was limited, including timeframes and publicity.
• The link between the original 1997 version and revised document unclear.
• It was unclear as to whether actions items specified have been costed, resources identified and allocated to ensure that all commitments are achievable.
• The current legislative framework is inadequate for achieving sustainable biodiversity outcomes
• Clear standards are required for biodiversity management, policy and assessment.
• Knowledge co-ordination and management is critical.
• Biodiversity conservation requires commercial drivers to be successful.
• The current and proposed management relies on ineffective allocation of resources focussed on threatened species, rather than integrated biodiversity management.
• Conservation programs partially achieve sustainable biodiversity outcomes, with commercial extensions to these encouraged.
• Victoria’s Native Vegetation Management – A Framework for Action is a great example of offset policy, but omits critical aspects of biodiversity in decision-making.
• The critical role riparian ecosystems play in management of threatened ecosystems and water quality.
A copy of detailed submission can be obtained by contacting Sue Oliver Vic Events Co-ordinator on email vic-events@eianz.org.
9th March - "It's the Feds" Compliance and Enforcement under the EPBC Act
The Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand in conjunction with Biosis Research held a seminar on compliance and enforcement under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The EPBC Act contains strong compliance and enforcement provisions – with civil penalties of up to $5.5 million for corporate entities and criminal penalties of up to seven years imprisonment. Given the weakness of much Australian biodiversity legislation, these potential penalties often come as a real surprise to proponents. Through real case studies from industry this seminar analysed the practical implications of complying with the EPBC Act and how enforcement is undertaken. It also explored the potential risks to project delivery and how to deal with them.
Mark Beaufoy - Partner , DLA Phillips Fox
Daniel Gilmore - Senior Consultant Zoologist, BiosisResearch
Travis Riches - Infrastructure Environment Officer, Colac Otway Shire Council
Drew McLean - Assistant Director, Compliance, SE WPaC
is a proud sponsor of the Compliance and Enforcement under the EPBC Act event.
23rd February- Members Networking Drinks Event
On 23rd of February the EIANZ held its annual Members Networking Drinks where Young Environmentalist of the Year and Executive Director of Beyond Zero Emissions (BZE), Matthew Wright, joined us to talk about his achievements and vision for the future.
The members drink is proudly sponsored by
and 
20th February- Sustainable Living Festival Debate
Our feisty EIANZ team matched wits against Young Engineers Australia (YEA-V) at the Sustainable Living Festival. This year’s hot topic: “Bikes,Trains and Automobiles. Connecting the burbs of the future. Bikes are the Future of Melbourne Transport”.
Victorian Election 2010 - Environmental Debate
On the 4th of November the EIANZ Victorian in conjunction with the Office of Environmental Programs presented a forum for representatives of the political parties vying for power in the 2010 Victorian Elections to explain their policy platform and respond to any questions raised by the community.
¨The debate was chaired by Dr Peter Christoff of Melbourne University, Vice-President of the Australian Conservation Foundation and, former Assistant to the Commissioner to the Environment in Victoria, and featured;
• Hon. Gavin Jennings, Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Innovation, ALP
• Greg Barber, Environment, Finance & Indigenous Affairs Portfolio, Greens
• Mary Wooldridge, Shadow Minister for Environment & Climate Change, Liberal Party
To click here to listen to the recording of this debate.
Starting a Career in the Environment Industry - 23 September 2010
The EIANZ Victoria Student and Young Professionals committee hosted an informative session on how to get your Career in the Environment Started. Recent graduates and recruitment specialists, were speaking and sharing some good tips and tricks and there was plenty of opportunity for networking afterwards.
Speakers:
* Scott White – Director, Principal Consulting Group
* Sara Redmond-Neal – recent graduate and working at URS Consulting
* Gordon Young – recent graduate and working for VLGA
* Harry Hilt – currently studying and looking for work in the field
Meet the Policy Drivers II - 12 August 2010
On the 12th of August 2010 the EIANZ has hosted the second annual Meet the Policy Drivers event, featuring leading policy makers from the Victorian Government. The inaugural event was like last year a huge success. EIANZ members and guests did have the unique opportunity to meet these inspiring and accomplished leaders, and hear them discuss their latest policy initiatives and directions in this election year. The forum focussed on current issues and future policy and regulatory directions in environmental, planning, climate change, transportation and natural resource management in Victoria.
Speakers:
- Mr Jim Betts - Secretary, Department of Transport
- Dr Richard Aldous - Deputy Secretary, Energy and Earth Resources, Department of Primary Industries
- Prue Digby - Deputy Secretary of Planning and Local Government, Department of Planning and Community Development
- Adam Fennessy - Executive Director, Environmental Policy and Climate Change, Department of Sustainability and Environment
is a proud sponsor of the "Meet the Policy Drivers" event.
EIANZ (Vic)’s Practical Skills Training for Climate Change Workshop at ENVIRO2010
On 21st of July the EIANZ Victoria hosted a full day Practical Skills Training for Climate Change at the ENVIRO 2010 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The workshop provided environmental professionals with a broad grounding in climate change issues. The workshop focussed on providing attendees with practical skills to help them to respond effectively to climate change, with a particular focus on climate change adaptation. Knowledgeable professionals from industry, consultancy, government and academia presented at the workshop.
• A panel discussion about climate change adaptation issues across different sectors
• Regulatory and policy context for climate change adaptation
• Conducting climate change risk assessment and preparing risk management strategies
This workshop is part of a national climate change skills program being run by EIANZ, which is partly funded through the Federal Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency (DCCEE) through its ‘Climate Change Adaptation Skills for Professionals Program.
Student and Young Professionals Speed Networking Event - 22 April 2010
A networking event was held for student and young professionals in the environmental field
The event was aimed at:
• Anyone studying an environment-related degree
• Anyone in the first 5 years of an environment-related career
EPA – EIANZ launch of new licencing reforms in Victoria
For more information on this event click here.
Members Networking Drinks
2010 has been kicked off by the Victorian Division with our Annual Members Networking Drinks. This time our members had the opportunity to bring a friend along and to listen to the COP15 experiences of Former EIANZ President, Simon Molesworth, AM, QC, FEIANZ,CEnvP and current EIANZ Victoria Vice President Alison Dodd.
Simon and Alison gave an exclusive insight into - what it was like to attend COP15 as an observer - what was the outcome of COP15 - what does (or could) COP15 mean for Australia, the environment movement and environmental professionals.
Breakfast with the New Commissioner and New EPA Chair
On Thursday 15th October the EIANZ hosted a breakfast for the new Chair of the EPA, Cheryl Batagol, and Dr Kate Auty, the new Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability at the Melbourne Convention Centre at South Wharf.
At lot of environmental professionals took this great opportunity to meet these inspiring women, and hear them discuss their motivations, aspirations and areas of focus for their respective new roles.
The Department of Sustainability and Environment is a proud sponsor of the breakfast event
Members Drinks and Networking Night
On the 30th of July we had our Members Drinks and Networking Night. A cold and wintry Melbourne evening conspired to prevent some of our members attending this informal, yet highly informative evening, but those who ventured out were rewarded with some excellent and thought- provoking information from our guest speakers, Dr Crispin Butteriss from Bang the Table and Jasmine Hoye from GA Reseach.
Bang the Table’s presentation was a visual portrayal of the philopsopical underpinnings of community engagement.
According to Dr Crispin Butteriss, “online community engagement reaches many more people than most other methods of engagement. It is affordable, easy, safe, respectful and the community likes it.”. For more information go to www.bangthetable.com
GA Research’s presentation looked at survey results regarding community attitudes to different sources of energy, as well as the importance of being able to correctly analyse survey results and how attitudes to certain issues can change over time. www.garesearch.com.au
Parsons Brinckerhoff is a proud sponsor of the Members Drinks and Networking Night.
Meet the policy drivers
This event was held on 11th of June 2009 and was a sellout!
The objective of the event was to raise member's awareness of developing policy that will impact on future environmental management in Victoria. The event was opened by Mr Peter Harris, Secretary, Department of Sustainability and Environment. Other speakers were directors of relevant government departments involved in environmental policy development and implementation;
Terry A’Hearn – Environment Protection Authority
Ben Furmage – Melbourne Water
Anita Roper – Sustainability Victoria
Jeff Gilmore – Department of Planning and Community Development
Paul Flowerdew – Department of Premier and Cabinet: Office of Climate Change
More information on this event will be in the Winter newsletter.
is a proud sponsor of the "Meet the Policy Drivers" event.
Carbon trading in the Australian Context & the Global Financial Crisis
On March 31st The Victorian Division in conjunction with the ACEA presented a succesful evening seminar on carbon trading and what this means for Australia in the current economic climate. The key speakers at this seminarwere Dr Ian McPhail (inaugural commissioner for environmental sustainability in Victoria) and Dr Ben Wheaton (Executive Director Wheatonbeer).
Other Past Events
EIANZ Victorian Division Members Drinks and Networking Evening - March 09
EIANZ joins the "Car Free CBD" debate at the Sustainable Living Festival - February 09
Sustainable Event Management Forum - September 08
Sustainability Youth Forum: Sustainability and Australia - What's your opinion? - September 08
EIANZ Annual Trivia Night - July 08
Ethics panel discussion “Standing on our own feet - The Environment Profession gets active' - May 08
Members Drink and Information Night - April 08
Presentations of Past Events
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Biosis Presentation (9.8Mb)
Corporate Social Responsibility: Public & Private Perspectives (922Kb)- Design for Sustainability - Sustainability Victoria (1.85Mb)
- DLA phillps fox (536Kb)
- EINZ presentation (2.56Mb)
- ENVI - 2011 Bachelor of Environments Industry night (2.61Mb)
- Environment and Resource Efficiency Plans EREP (1.22Mb)
- NGERS Presentation (1.05Mb)
- SEWPAC Presentation (5.31Mb)
