Cross-Border Breakfast Celebrates Women in Conservation

Close to 70 women and male allies gathered on 5 March 2026 at The Lincoln in Albury-Wodonga for the Celebrating Women in Conservation Breakfast, co-hosted by local Murray Landcare groups and supported by the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust.

Attendees were inspired by a livestream of the sold-out Bush Heritage and Trust for Nature “Celebrating Women in Conservation” event in Melbourne, which featured an uplifting keynote by Lisa Miller, Founder and CEO of Wedgetail.

Yet it was the local stories that resonated most with the audience. Conservation covenant landholders, Judy Frankenberg and Raylene Brown, shared personal experiences of managing land and safeguarding biodiversity on their properties. These stories underscored the importance of grassroots conservation and the vital contribution of private landholders to environmental stewardship.

The breakfast also offered significant opportunities for networking and collaboration, with many participants noting that forming connections with fellow conservationists was the highlight of the morning.

Paula Sheehan (Regional Landcare Coordinator - Murray, Holbrook Landcare Network), emphasised the value of coordinated efforts: “Events like this don’t happen by accident. They are made possible by the incredible work of Landcare Coordinators, who bring people together, build partnerships, and help turn local passion for conservation into real outcomes on the ground.” She added, “We thank our Landcare Coordinators and the NSW Landcare Enabling Program for building capacity and partnership opportunities across New South Wales.”

Event organiser Claire Birch (Local Landcare Coordinator, Corowa District Landcare) said, “Conservation is built on connection and care. When people come together and support each other, we really make a difference. The energy at the breakfast, and throughout our work in general, shows just how powerful that is.”

This event was support by the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust.