Friends of the Australian National Botanic Gardens

Dr Veronica Briceno Rodrigez ‘From lab coats, hiking boots, and hot desks to plant conservation at the ANBG’
2026-08-13 12:30 - 13:30 (Australia/Sydney) | ANBG Theatrette, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
Join Vero, Conservation Horticulture Manager at the ANBG, as she shares her journey from plant ecophysiology research to conservation policy, and ultimately bringing it all together with hands-on plant conservation at the ANBG.
Biography
Dr Veronica Briceno Rodriguez is a plant ecologist, with experience spanning Chile’s temperate rainforests, the Southern Andes, and Australia’s alpine, desert, and rainforest ecosystems. After completing her PhD at the Australian National University and holding postdoctoral roles in both Chile and Australia, she shifted into conservation policy with the ACT Government to help bridge the gap between science and on ground action.
Vero is now the Conservation Horticulture Manager at the Australian National Botanic Gardens, where she leads the development of the ANBG Threatened Species Conservation Framework and oversees the Living Collection Strategy. Her work brings together research, policy, and practical conservation to deliver meaningful outcomes for Australia’s unique flora.
Booking Link: https://www.trybooking.com/DKZGL
Booking
Lunchtime talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November. Talks last for 1 hour. We welcome donations by gold coins, notes, or electronically. The Friends use donations received at each talk to support Gardens’ programs and development and we thank all those who have donated.
Unless otherwise indicated, talks are held in the ANBG Theatrette.
It is a good idea to reserve a seat at the talks that you wish to attend; talks may be booked out very quickly. Bookings can be made from about 30 days in advance until the night before the talk or until seating limits are reached.
The Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Many summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG library. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au.

Seeds of Wonder Themed Walks
2026-08-17 11:00 - 2026-08-23 14:00 | Clock near the bridge, ANBG, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra, ACT, 2600, Australia
Science week in 2026 has the theme ‘Seeds of science: Nurturing knowledge for all’. Seeds of plants come in all shapes and sizes. Seeds, with their packed lunch on board, are a place where time can stand still. But seeds don’t stand still, they move around the environment. Come for a free guided walk in the Gardens and discover some of the amazing properties of seeds.
These one-hour guided walks are held at 11am and 2pm each day, from Monday 17 August to Sunday 23 August.
Meet at the flag near the café bridge.
No booking required for individuals, but groups of more than six people should contact walks@friendsanbg.org.au a week before the planned walk.

Jo Harding ‘Bush Blitz Driving New Approaches to Working with Traditional Owners’
2026-08-27 12:30 - 13:30 | ANBG Theatrette, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
Jo, from Bush Blitz, will share how Bush Blitz is improving the way they work with Traditional Owners and the practical approaches that have made these partnerships successful.
Abstract
Bush Blitz is Australia’s leading species discovery program, uncovering more than 2,000 species new to western science since 2010. Working closely with Traditional Owners and indigenous rangers, recent expeditions—from Nitmiluk in the NT to the Pilliga region of NSW—have revealed species not previously recorded and strengthened scientific understanding of culturally significant landscapes.
This presentation will share how Bush Blitz is improving the way they work with Traditional Owners and the practical approaches that have made these partnerships successful.
Biography
Jo Harding is the Manager of Bush Blitz, leading national biodiversity expeditions that bring together scientists and Traditional Owners to uncover species new to western science. She champions collaboration across communities and disciplines, emphasising the value of shared knowledge in revealing and protecting Australia’s unique natural heritage.
Booking Link – https://www.trybooking.com/DKZGN
Booking
Lunchtime talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November. Talks last for 1 hour. We welcome donations by gold coins, notes, or electronically. The Friends use donations received at each talk to support Gardens’ programs and development and we thank all those who have donated.
Unless otherwise indicated, talks are held in the ANBG Theatrette.
It is a good idea to reserve a seat at the talks that you wish to attend; talks may be booked out very quickly. Bookings can be made from about 30 days in advance until the night before the talk or until seating limits are reached.
The Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Many summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG library. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au.
