2026 Cumberland Plain Research Symposium
About the Event
Join us for the 2026 Cumberland Plain Research Symposium, a one-day event bringing together researchers, policymakers, practitioners and community partners to explore how we can better connect knowledge, practice and people to improve conservation outcomes across Western Sydney.
The Symposium focuses on the relationships between people, on-ground restoration and conservation actions, and applied research, and how these can collectively inform decision-making and real-world outcomes.
Hosted by the Cumberland Plain Research Program, the event will feature keynote presentations, invited and selected talks, and opportunities to engage with leading work across government, research and delivery organisations.
The 2026 Symposium brings together diverse perspectives, including research, policy, and on-ground experience in conservation and restoration.
What to Expect
The 2026 Symposium will bring together a diverse range of perspectives across:
Government and policy
On-ground restoration and conservation delivery
Research and applied science
Community and knowledge holders
The program will include:
Keynote presentations
Invited and selected talks
Opportunities to connect across sectors
THURSDAY, 6 AUGUST 2026
WESTERN SYDNEY UNIVERSITY, PARRAMATTA CITY CAMPUS
Bringing together researchers, practitioners, policy and community to share insights, connect across sectors and support evidence-based conservation.
Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea are included in the registration fee of $50 + GST.
Program Overview
The 2026 Symposium program is currently in development and will bring together invited speakers and presentations across the following themes:
Morning:
Engaging people to strengthen knowledge and practice
Midday
On-ground restoration and conservation actions
Afternoon
Translating evidence to inform decisions and practice
Further program details and speakers will be announced soon. To get an idea of the Symposium format and previous speakers, visit the 2025 Symposium page.
Call for Abstracts
We invite expressions of interest from researchers, practitioners and partners to present at the 2026 Cumberland Plain Research Symposium.
We welcome submissions for:
Oral presentations
5-minute or 15-minute talks
Poster presentations
Ideal for sharing projects, emerging findings and applied practice
Topics may include:
Applied ecological research
On-ground restoration and conservation delivery
Knowledge exchange and collaboration
Caring for Country approaches
Policy, planning and decision-making
Key dates:
Talk submissions close: 10 June 2026
Poster submissions close: 26 June 2026
Outcomes: late June – early July
Our Sponsors
We gratefully acknowledge the support of our sponsors, whose contributions help make the 2026 Cumberland Plain Research Symposium possible.
Supporting sponsorship opportunities are now available.
For sponsorship enquiries, please contact Vera Brinkel at v.brinkel@westernsydney.edu.au.