Professor Melissa Nursey-Bray selected as Australian Government Representative for Global IPBES Workshop

We’re proud to share that Environment Institute member Professor Melissa Nursey-Bray has been selected by the Australian Government to represent the country at a prestigious international workshop hosted by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).

Professor Nursey-Bray is one of only twenty experts chosen worldwide, a remarkable achievement that highlights her leadership in environmental and Indigenous knowledge research.

The upcoming IPBES workshop will focus on developing future scenarios to support the translation of Indigenous and local knowledge into effective biodiversity policy. The meaningful participation of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) is crucial in this process.

It ensures that IPBES assessments and other activities recognise the vital role of Indigenous knowledge systems in biodiversity conservation, reflect the current challenges IPLCs face, and help identify pathways forward. This approach strengthens the relevance of IPBES outputs not only for policymakers, but also for IPLCs themselves.

IPBES is an independent intergovernmental body that works to bridge the gap between science and policy on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Its mission is to promote the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, long-term human well-being, and sustainable development.

Bringing together leading experts from across disciplines, IPBES delivers timely, evidence-based insights to inform policy at all levels, from government to civil society. Its core work spans four key areas: assessments, policy support, capacity-building and knowledge generation, and communications and outreach.