9th National NRM Knowledge Conference – 8-12 September 2025

The 9th National NRM Knowledge Conference will be held in Cairns in September this year. Co-hosted by North Queensland regional NRMs (Cape York Natural Resource Management, Gulf Savannah NRM, Terrain NRM, NQ Dry Tropics NRM & NRM Regions Queensland) and running from the 8-12th in and around Cairns, our sector’s conference is for anyone working, participating or interested in natural resource management – to share, learn and inspire.

This year’s conference theme ‘Changing Landscapes and New Horizons’ reflects both the challenges we face in caring for our changing environment, and the profound impact that integrated landscape management can have in restoring Australia’s unique natural places. It will also explore the innovation and ingenuity that the sector is embracing as we move to tackle the wicked problems of our times. 

Our sector’s conference is for anyone working or interested in natural resource management – an opportunity to share, learn and inspire. We’d love you to be involved no matter where you come from and how you contribute to natural resource management – in your local bush group, on your tractor, crunching data, managing Indigenous lands, running grants programs… We all play diverse roles across the country and we want to hear from you. 

We look forward to seeing you in Cairns!

Conference: 8-12 September 2025

Calling for abstracts:

• Abstract submissions closed
• Notification of acceptance: mid June 2025

Early Bird registrations available until 2 August 2025

Thank you to all those that submitted an abstract. Our reviewers are now considering all submissions and will be in contact by 9 June 2025.

The conference will follow a theme arc across the two days:

1. Where we stand; seeing the landscape clearly. Understanding our environmental, social and economic reality and the trajectory of our landscapes. What helps us to understand our current situation and the challenges we face?
2. Rethinking the future; shifting the trajectory. What is critical in shifting the trajectory of the nature and climate crises? Let’s challenge conventional approaches and reimagine systems.
3. Turning vision into action; catalysing investment, delivery and transformation. How do we fund, scale and implement solutions through finance, innovation and partnerships? How are we innovating to make new opportunities and create change?

• Monday – Workshops (in and around Cairns) and Welcome reception
• Tuesday & Wednesday –  Conference sessions at Cairns Convention Centre 
• Tuesday evening – Conference dinner
• Thursday & Friday – Field trips

Join us for our 9th National NRM Knowledge Conference – ‘Changing landscapes and new horizons’ and celebrate 25 years of NRM.