:: Beyond Declarations - Working Partnerships for Sustainability National Conference

Invitation To The Conference

In a world increasingly at risk from unsustainable western lifestyles, society is increasingly looking for answers. Sustainability practitioners come from diverse backgrounds and have invaluable perspectives on how to achieve the ESD transition. Because the issues are complex, involving behavioural and technological solutions, team building and the development of effective partnerships is essential.

The Baton Forum is a network which encourages local practitioners to keep going. It knows that team-building, up to date information, and methods for genuine government, business and community partnering are fundamental to good sustainability practice.

So if you are a local practitioner, or someone who recognizes that your sustainability work or ideas will benefit from forming a partnership, the Baton Forum invites you to come to the "Beyond Declarations ‚ Working Partnerships for Sustainability National Conference" and meet an outstanding group of people with whom you have the potential to forge new partnerships that will benefit your programs and your organisation.

I hope to see you there.

Professor Garry Smith
President
Baton Forum

Director, Institute of Environmental Studies
The University of New South Wales
gj.smith@unsw.edu.au

Message from the Chair of the Organising Committee

Creating successful partnerships takes time, energy, dedication and commitment. It's not an easy road, but in terms of achieving sustainable outcomes, the results can be outstanding.

Now is the time for all sustainability practitioners to move past declarations and start down the road to establishing real, innovative partnerships between organisations who have common sustainability objectives.

The Beyond Declarations Conference Steering Committee are incredibly excited about the potential this event has to assist delegates in developing partnerships that will allow their organisations to achieve amazing sustainability outcomes where it really matters ‚ on the ground.

This Conference has the potential to inform, encourage, support and mentor those delegates who want to move forward in this area, but in order to make this happen, we ask that you come to the event ready to actively participate.

The 'Beyond Declarations ‚ Working Partnerships for Sustainability' National Conference has been designed to enable you to share experiences and learn from fellow practitioners who have faced the challenges and overcome them. So start thinking now about the partnerships you want to form and those you already have in place. If you come to this conference ready to work, ready to listen, learn and build partnerships , I guarantee you will be richly rewarded.

Skye Addison
Conference Chair
Branch Manager Natural Resources
Manly Council
skye.addison@manly.nsw.gov.au

Baton Forum Conference Steering Committee

Adam Davis
Manager Environmental Health & Protection
Hornsby Shire Council
adavis@hornsby.nsw.gov.au

Dan Garlick
Western Port Greenhouse Alliance Coordinator
City of Casey
dgarlick@casey.vic.gov.au

Garry Hankinson
Principal Sustainability Officer
Coffs Harbour Council
g.hanko@chcc.nsw.gov.au

Kendal Hodgman
Principal Partner
Hodgman and Lancaster
K.Hodgman@murdoch.edu.au

Clr Dr Judy Lambert
Co-Director
Community Solutions
judy@communitysolutions.com.au

Dr Peter Mitchell
Director
Groundtruth Consulting
groundtruth@optusnet.com.au

Dr Tavis Potts
Postdoctoral Researcher
Australian Expert Group In Industry Studies
University of Western Sydney
tavis_potts@ihug.com.au

Robert Verhey
Strategy Manager - Environment
Local Government Association of NSW and Shires Association of NSW
robert.verhey@lgsa.org.au

For further information please contact the Conference organiser:

Julie McGraw
GEMS Pty Limited
PO BOX 1221
BURWOOD NSW 1805
Ph: 02 9744 5252
Fax: 02 9747 8366
Email: jmcgraw@gemspl.com.au