Dr Gina Newton, a specialist in ecological assessment and threatened species, has been involved in assessing the Murray River ecosystems under the EPBC Act.

Rod, from ANU, will discuss how orchids use specific floral volatiles to attract pollinators, highlight new insights on the evolution of Australia terrestrial orchids and outline his ongoing project on the pollination of the mysterious NSW underground orchids.

Dr Phillip Kodela is Botanist and Executive Editor of the Flora of Australia, Australian Biological Resources Study, Parks Australia Division, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

John, formerly with CSIRO, will trace the importance of trees from earliest times to the present day.

Bruno will talk about the biology of the Eastern long-necked turtles, their adaptations to flood-dry cycles in Australia, their active life in suburban areas, and recent findings in the turtle monitoring program in Canberra.