PRE-CONGRESS TOURS
PRE-CONGRESS TOURS
PRE-CONGRESS TOURS
Five exciting Pre-Congress tours have been scoped with detailed itineraries developed and indicative costings provided. These will commence in different parts of Australia and end up in Adelaide, as well as an Adelaide to Adelaide Pre-Congress tour.
Tours will vary in length from 4 to 10 days. Some tours will commence with a full-day Forum engaging local communities. There will be a minimum number of delegates required for each tour before they can be confirmed.
Tour numbers are limited so please register your interest in pre-Congress tours via the Expression of Interest Portal or through the Registration Portal by November 30, 2024. Preference will be given to those who submit an Expression of Interest by this date.
Perth to Adelaide: Woodlands, Shrublands and Wine
This 8-day tour (24 to 31 May) will cover 2,900 km by road. From Perth on the Indian Ocean coast, the capital of the state of Western Australia, the tour will travel 600 km through extensive dryland agricultural areas and the Great Western Woodlands before reaching Kalgoorlie. After a day in Kalgoorlie learning about environmental management and mining in the area, the tour will head east for 1,350 km along the Eyre Highway across the vast semi-arid Nullarbor Plain, skirting the Great Australian Bight, with overnight stops at motels and a cattle station along the way. We will visit the Aboriginal Arts and Culture Centre in Ceduna before travelling 470 km to Port Augusta, visiting a sheep station and a conservation reserve enroute. From there, the tour will travel south for 380 km through rich agricultural lands pausing for a visit to the wine making district of the Barossa Valley before reaching Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, and host city for the XIIth IRC.
The indicative cost for the tour is $3,300 AUD inclusive of all transport, accommodation and meals. The coach will have space for 40 people, and for the tour to proceed, there will need to be at least 20 people to register.
Adelaide to Adelaide: Flinders Ranges and multiple land use tour
This 5-day tour (21 to 31 May) will cover 1,400 km visiting the picturesque Flinders Ranges and semi-arid region of South Australia.
From Adelaide, the capital of South Australia and host city for the XIIth IRC, the trip will meander through the productive farming lands of the mid north, into the semi arid grazing lands onto the rugged Flinders ranges and Wilpena Pound.
Whilst in the Flinders Ranges, guests will share in Aboriginal cultural experiences and learn about the landscape and biodiversity from the perspective of the Adnyamathanha people and the modern history from the early days of pastoralism through to the reintroduction of threatened native animals. Then it is onto Port Augusta, the crossroads of Australia, where delegates will visit alternative land uses in the arid zone including renewable energy, modern horticultural industries, and future green hydrogen industries. The tour will then return through rich agricultural lands before pausing for a visit to the historic wine making district of the Barossa Valley and then onto Adelaide.
The indicative cost is $2,500 AUD inclusive of all transport, accommodation and meals. The coach will have space for 30 people, with a minimum of 20
people for the tour to proceed.
Sydney to Adelaide: NSW and SA rangelands
This six-day tour (26-31 May) will cover 1900 km, travelling from Sydney to Adelaide. After passing over the Great Dividing Range, with a stop in the Blue Mountains, After a stay in Orange, we will pass through dryland farming areas, before arriving in Cobar in the semi-arid woodlands, 700 km west of Sydney. Around Cobar we will visit local pastoralists, managing invasive herbivores and woody plants, staying in Broken Hill) for two nights. Near Broken Hill we will visit the Fowlers Gap Arid Zone Research Station and experience the thriving art and movie scene (home of the Mad Max movies) in
the town. From there, we travel 300 km south to Mildura and board an historic paddle boat to hear about the Murray-Darling River system and the history of irrigated agriculture in the rangelands. We Will then enter South Australia, staying at a conservation property; Calperum Station with stargazing and spotlighting for nocturnal animals. The final day of the tour stops in the historic wine making district of the Barossa Valley,
with a range of options for wine tours and lunch. After that, it is a short trip into Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, and host city for the XIIth IRC.
The indicative cost for the tour is $2,500 AUD inclusive of all transport, accommodation, and meals. The coach will have space for 30 people, with a minimum of 20 people for the tour to proceed.
Longreach to Adelaide: Damper, dinosaurs and desert
This 9-day tour (22-31 May) will cover 2,500 km travelling from Longreach, Queensland, to Adelaide. The tour will drive through three of Australia’s major deserts; the Simpson Desert, Sturt’s Stony Desert, and the Strzelecki Desert. The tour will start with a welcoming ‘Taste of Longreach’, including a brief tour of the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame, a sunset cruise, rail experience and a damper dinner on the banks of the Thomson River. The next day will start with a half-day rangeland forum with local pastoralists in the Qantas Founders Museum before enjoying a sunset dinner atop the mesas of the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum at Winton. The tour will continue on to Boulia for a meal with local pastoralists, the opportunity to experience the Min-Min Centre (and to discuss the possible origins of this mysterious glow), taking in key elements of the famed Channel Country. The deserts, organic beef production and indigenous culture of Birdsville will be a highlight before adventuring further into the arid landscapes of Innamincka. The fate of the early European explorers Burke and Wills can be witnessed at the ‘Dig Tree’, before continuing south to the Flinders Ranges and
into the winter rainfall sheep pastoral zones. The tour will join with the other groups at Port Augusta for dinner at the Arid Zone Botanical Gardens and finish by touring through premium wine vineyards enroute to Adelaide.
Minimum 18 passengers and maximum 30 people. The indicative cost for the tour is $6,390 AUD (per person twin share) or $7260 AUD (single), inclusive of all transport, accommodation, and meals.
Alice Springs to Adelaide: Visiting Uluru and the northern SA rangelands
This 10-day tour (21-31 May) will cover 3,200 km from Australia’s Red Centre to the South Australian coast. Starting at Alice Springs (population 26,486) in the majestic MacDonnell Ranges, the tour will visit spectacular gorges and waterholes while heading 468km south to the iconic Uluru (Ayers Rock), Kata Tjuta (The Olgas), and Watarrka (Kings Canyon) for spectacular scenery and to learn about Aboriginal culture before spending a spectacular evening dinner under the stars.
From there we will head south, visiting a number of and into Adelaide (population 1,367,000), the capital of cattle stations to find out about the opportunities and challenges they face before staying overnight at Marla (population 38), We then continue south to the unique opal mining town of Coober Pedy, staying in an underground motel (population 1,500). Passing numerous salt lakes and after spending a night on a cattle station, including a campfire discussion about station life, we will travel to Woomera (the largest rocket test range in the world) and hear about its history including atomic tests of the 1950s through to modern day satellite and RAM Jet tests. The 181km finale of our desert trek will be across a changing landscape of broad treeless saltbush plains with views of Lake Gairdner, Myall woodlands and into the town of Port Augusta (population 16,700) before travelling south 380
km through rich agricultural lands, pausing for a visit to the historic wine making district of the Barossa Valley, and into Adelaide (population 1,367,000), the capital of South Australia, and host city for the XIIth IRC.
The indicative cost for the tour is $5,000 AUD inclusive of all transport, accommodation, and meals. Minimum registration 20 and maximum 30 people.
2 - 6 June 2025
Adelaide Convention Centre
North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia
12 Stirling Street
Thebarton SA 5031
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Dr. Nicholas Webb is a Research Physical Scientist with the US Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) Range Management Research Unit, based at the Jornada Experimental Range in south-central New Mexico, USA. Nick’s research cuts across themes of rangeland ecology, soil erosion, and integrating decision-support tools with big data to inform adaptive management. He coordinates the US National Wind Erosion Research Network and co-leads the Landscape Data Commons - an effort harmonize and link standard rangeland monitoring datasets with digital technologies to enable data-informed understanding of rangeland ecological dynamics and management. Nick grew up in Brisbane, Australia and prior to moving to the US worked on projects across Queensland’s dry southwest and northern tropical savannas.
María E. Fernández-Giménez is a Senior Research Scholar and retired Professor in the Department of Forest & Rangeland Stewardship at Colorado State University, where she led the Rangeland Social-Ecological Systems Lab from 2003-2021. She works with ranchers and pastoralists in the western US, Spain and Mongolia to support sustainable and equitable rangeland management through knowledge co-production and participatory research. Major themes of her work include traditional/local ecological knowledge; rancher and pastoralist decision-making; participatory research, knowledge integration and co-production; community-based and collaborative rangeland management; rangeland governance; and gender and social justice in rangeland social-ecological systems. María and her students develop and evaluate practical tools and approaches such as state-and-transition models, participatory rangeland monitoring, and collaborative adaptive rangeland management that engage diverse rangeland users and stewards directly in research and tool development. As an ecologist and social scientist, she uses a broad range of methods from field ecology studies to ethnography and poetic inquiry. María has received numerous awards for her community-engaged research, including Honorable Champion of Agriculture (2014) and the Order of the Polar Star (2016), from the Government of Mongolia, Senior Fulbright Scholar (2010-2011) and Global Fulbright Scholar (2018-2022). She has published over 130 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters.
Susi Vetter is an ecologist in the Department of Botany at Rhodes University. Her research interests are interdisciplinary and include vegetation change, rangeland dynamics, plant-herbivore interactions, fire ecology and the cultural importance of nature and biodiversity. While based on fundamental work to understand vegetation dynamics and human-environment interactions, her research also has a strong applied dimension aimed at informing policy and management. She serves as the President of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa and as a member of the Working Group on Afforestation that supports the UN-sanctioned 2026 International Year for Rangelands and Pastoralism.
Dr. Tungalag Ulambayar (Tungaa) leads the Zoological Society Luujin, a Mongolian conservation NGO. She holds a Ph.D. in Rangeland Ecosystem Science from Colorado State University, where her award-winning dissertation examined social outcomes of community-based rangeland management in Mongolia. Tungaa also holds an MA in International Development from the International University of Japan. She has extensive experience with various international organizations, including leading the Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction team at the United Nations Development Programme in Mongolia from 2005 to 2012. Tungaa was one of the pioneering facilitators of Participatory Rural Appraisal for community-based natural resource management in Mongolia.
Professor Appolinaire Djikeng is the 4th Director General of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and Senior Director for the Livestock-based systems of the CGIAR. Prior to ILRI and the CGIAR, Professor Djikeng was Director of the Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health (CTLGH) and based at the Roslin Institute, and Professor and Chair for Tropical Agriculture and Sustainable Development at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. Professor Djikeng has over 20 years’ research, research management and institutional development experience in academia and in international not for profit research institutions in Africa, Europe and the USA.
Professor Djikeng’s work and interests have been primarily centred around bioscience (and particularly genomics and related disciplines) and their applications in agriculture (both animals and crops), animal, human and environmental health. Professor Djikeng co-founded the African Animal Breeding Network (AABNET) with the aim to drive the development and dissemination of livestock improved and most suitable genetics and broader sustainable genetic improvement solutions in Africa. Professor Djikeng also co-founded the African Biogenome project (AfricaBP) – a community of practice of scientists and related professionals, policy makers and stakeholders with the aim to harness the power of genomics for the characterisation, conservation, and sustainable use of biodiversity in Africa.
Professor Djikeng is Honorary Professor at the University of Queensland, Center for Animal Science (Australia), Professor at The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh (UK), and Distinguished Professor at the University of South Africa.
Professor Djikeng serves on numerous science advisory boards and has received many awards including the Nelson Mandela Peace Award and his recognition by the Decade of Health as one of the 10 people in the United Kingdom changing health outcomes.
Dr Anika Molesworth is a thought-leader of agro-ecological systems resilience and international farming development. With a passion for rural communities and healthy ecosystems, she is committed to help create sustainable and vibrant rural landscapes now and for the future. She is a Founding Director of Farmers for Climate Action – a national network of nearly 8,000 Australian farmers undertaking climate change action. She has presented the TEDx talks “Farmers are key to a better future” and “Repairing the Broken Food System.” She is the author of her book, Our Sunburnt Country, which won the Royal Societies of Australia and New Zealand Writer’s Award for Outstanding Writing on Social Change. Awards include Young Farmer of the Year (2015), Young Australian of the Year, New South Wales Finalist (2017), and Young Conservationist of the Year (2022).
Joe Morrison is Dagoman and Mualgal and has over 30 years’ experience working with Indigenous people in northern Australia, nationally and more recently globally. He has extensive experience in public policy, governance, research, Indigenous development, native title, land rights. land and sea management and economic development.
He is currently the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation (ILSC).
Prior to this he was the Chief Executive Officer of Australia’s largest land rights authority, the Northern Land Council and the founding CEO of the North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance (NAILSMA). He is currently a Director of the Reef and Rainforest Research Centre, International Savanna Fire Management Initiative, National Centre for Indigenous Excellence, Primary Partners Pty Ltd, Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia and a member of the AFL Indigenous Advisory Council.
Mrs. Odongerel Davaasuren (Odnoo) is a herder from the Bayanbulag Community-based Organization (CBO) in the Khoid Mogoin Gol-Teel Local Protected Area (LPA) in Bulgan district of Arkhangai province, Mongolia. She was born in a herding family in Arkhangai, and after completing her secondary education and working as a cashier, she started herding in 1997. She is married and has three children aged 13 to 24 years old. Odnoo joined Bayanbulag CBO in 2018 and has been serving as a secretary of the CBO, responsible for all the administrative matters of the CBO and its Savings & Loan Fund, including taking the meeting notes and loan and saving records. As a herder woman, along with her daily household chores, she herds primarily cattle, sheep, and goats, and makes all the dairies, for which Arkhangai has been famous across Mongolia. As a CBO member, she has been participating in the conservation of endangered wildlife and rangelands in the mountain forest steppe in the LPA.
The Grosvenor Hotel Adelaide is an economy hotel superbly situated on North Terrace in the heart of the city, close to Adelaide Convention Centre, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Festival Centre and Rundle Mall shopping precinct. Offering a wide range of rooms & suites makes this the ideal choice for business & leisure travellers. Facilities include 24 hr reception, complimentary WiFi and parking available.
HOTEL DETAILS
Distance from Congress Venue: 180m
Check In/Out: Check in 14:00 - Check out 11:00
Website: https://www.grosvenorhoteladelaide.com.au/
Address: 125 North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia
ROOM DETAILS
Superior Queen Room - $139 per night
The Superior room, ideally suited for the corporate traveller, has preferred positioning around the perimeter of the hotel in the heart of Adelaide central business district. Enjoy either a queen size bed or two single beds with fluffy feather duvets and pillows, modern furniture and amenities, iPod docking station, slim lined LCD televisions with pay to view movies, Free Wi-Fi, work desk, hairdryer, iron and ironing board. Rollaway beds are subject to availability.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
Less than 30 days notice for cancellations will incur a penalty equal to the first night’s accommodation cancelled. Less than 7 days notice for cancellations or ‘No Shows’ will incur a penalty equal to 100% of the total accommodation. A ‘Grab N Go’ continental breakfast can be added on for an additional $15 per person. All guests are required to provide a credit card authorisation or cash deposit of $50 per room per night to cover any incidental charges, the balance will be refunded on departure. Undercover car parking is available to in-house guests at a charge of $20 per car per day.
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InterContinental Adelaide is the city’s leading luxury hotel. Located in the heart of the city, guests can access everything from world-class restaurants and lively bars, to cultural and nature-based experiences. Spacious guest rooms are well-appointed, offering expansive city or river views. Exceptional culinary experiences await at our award-winning restaurants, Riverside Restaurant and Shiki. Experience the height of luxury, personalised service, and elegance at InterContinental Adelaide.
HOTEL DETAILS
Distance from Congress Venue: 110m
Check In/Out: Check in 15:00 - Check out 11:00
Website: https://www.ihg.com/intercontinental/hotels/us/en/adelaide/adlha/hoteldetail?cm_mmc=GoogleMaps-_-IC-_-AU-_-ADLHA
Address: North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia
ROOM DETAILS
King Classic City View - $240 per night
Sink into a luxurious King Bed or Twin Bed, and enjoy a restful night’s sleep, or marvel at the stunning City or River views from your spacious (35sqm) Classic Room. Select a Classic City View Room for breathtaking views across Adelaide’s vibrant cityscape, or a Classic River View Room for an enchanting outlook over the River Torrens, Elder Park, and St Peter’s Cathedral.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
All cancellations must be made in writing via email or full booking charges will apply. Bookings cancelled up to 30 days prior to arrival – no penalty applies. At 30 days prior to arrival payment of 1 night’s accommodation will be processed by the hotel, this is non refundable. At 7 days prior to arrival full payment will be processed and all cancellations and no shows are non-refundable.
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Oaks Adelaide Embassy Suites offers contemporary serviced apartments in Adelaide’s vibrant west end. Combining stylish apartments with the comfort of first-class amenities and facilities just a short walk from the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Oaks Adelaide Embassy Suites is an easy choice for travellers looking to stay in central Adelaide with easy access to local attractions and hot spots. With an onsite Coffee Club for your convenience, Oaks Adelaide Embassy Suites offers everything you could want from accommodation in the Adelaide CBD.
HOTEL DETAILS
Distance from Congress Venue: 270m
Check In/Out: Check in 14:00 - Check out 10:00
Website: https://www.oakshotels.com/en/oaks-embassy?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjNqq4aHh-wIVRYfCCh3ldANkEAAYASAAEgKgovD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
Address: 96 North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia
ROOM DETAILS
1 Bedroom Deluxe Apartment - $199 per night
Our spacious 1, 2 and 3 bedroom serviced apartments offer full hotel services and are a popular choice for singles, groups and families seeking great-value Adelaide CBD accommodation for leisure or business. All apartments are fully self-contained with kitchen and laundry facilities and boast contemporary furnishings, cable TV, internet access, direct dial telephones, writing desks and individually controlled reverse cycle air conditioning. The 1 and 2 Bedroom Executive Apartments also feature the added luxury of an in-room spa bath.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
All cancellations must be made in writing via email or full booking charges will apply. Bookings cancelled up to 30 days prior to arrival – no penalty applies. Between 30-14 days prior to arrival cancellation fee equal to 1 nights of accommodation applies. All rooms cancelled within 14 days of arrival or no shows will be charged at the agreed rate for number of nights cancelled. Hotel to take a deposit equal to one night’s accommodation on credit card provided within 30 days of arrival.
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Oaks Adelaide Horizons Suites is a spacious and stylish apartment-style hotel conveniently located on North Terrace in the heart of Adelaide’s CBD, opposite the Adelaide Convention Centre, Sky City Casino, Royal Adelaide Hospital and The Adelaide Oval. Choose Oaks Adelaide Horizons Suites when seeking a serviced apartment in the Adelaide CBD and enjoy the best that the South Australian capital has to offer.
HOTEL DETAILS
Distance from Congress Venue: 210m
Check In/Out: Check in 14:00 - Check out 10:00
Website: https://www.oakshotels.com/en/oaks-horizons?utm_description=GoogleMyBusiness&utm_campaign=GMBHorizons&utm_source=GoogleMyBusiness&utm_medium=GMBHorizons
Address: 104 North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia
ROOM DETAILS
1 Bedroom Deluxe Apartment - $199 per night
The perfect base for business or leisure travellers seeking self-contained apartment accommodation in Adelaide, Oaks Adelaide Horizons Suites offers a range of modern 1 and 2 bedroom apartments with fully-equipped kitchen and laundry facilities, a private balcony with city views, writing desk, cable TV, broadband internet access, air-conditioning and an in-room safe.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
All cancellations must be made in writing via email or full booking charges will apply. Bookings cancelled up to 30 days prior to arrival – no penalty applies. Between 30-7 days prior to arrival cancellation fee equal to 1 nights of accommodation applies. All rooms cancelled within 7 days of arrival or no shows will be charged at the agreed rate for number of nights cancelled. Hotel to take a deposit equal to one night’s accommodation on credit card provided within 14 days of arrival.
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Sofitel Adelaide is perfectly positioned in the heart of the CBD and is an easy walk to some of the city’s most popular tourist attractions including Rundle Mall, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Festival Centre, River Torrens, the Art Gallery and more. Sofitel Adelaide is a convenient 15-minute drive from Adelaide Airport and is surrounded by easily accessible public transport. South Australia’s famous wine regions, Adelaide Hills and Barossa Valley, are only 30 minutes and 50 minutes away respectively.
HOTEL DETAILS
Distance from Congress Venue: 500m
Check In/Out: Check in 15:00 - Check out 11:00
Website: https://www.sofiteladelaide.com.au/
Address: 108 Currie Street, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia
ROOM DETAILS
Superior King Room - $295 per night
Escape the bustling city center of Adelaide and discover a haven of tranquility at Sofitel Adelaide. Our Superior Rooms provide a stylish and peaceful retreat, transporting you far from the city’s hustle and bustle. Enjoy the latest in smart entertainment system and exquisite design throughout your stay. Sink into the embrace of our luxurious Sofitel MyBed™. Ensure a blissful night’s sleep with our curated pillow menu and deluxe linen range. Choose between a king bed or twin bed arrangement to cater to your preferences. Indulge in breathtaking views of Adelaide from the comfort of your room, and take full advantage of our central location in the heart of the city. Explore the nearby Riverbank precinct, immerse yourself in the shopping delights of Rundle Mall, delve into the cultural haven of North Terrace, or savor the flavours of the renowned Central Markets – all only a short walk away. At Sofitel Adelaide, we take immense pride in delivering a luxurious and welcoming experience that will leave you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. Book your stay with us today and discover the pinnacle of luxury accommodation in Adelaide. Unwind in unparalleled style and embrace a truly memorable experience.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
From 7 days prior to arrival any room nights cancelled will incur a charge equivalent to the full duration of the booking. Non arrivals will incur a fee equal to 100% of the accommodation not utilized. 30 days prior to your arrival, a deposit equal to one night’s accommodation will be charged to the individuals credit card on file. 7 days prior to arrival, the remaining balance of booking will be charged to the individuals credit card. 30 days prior to arrival, guests will be charged the full cost of accommodation on the credit card provided in the portal plus credit card surcharges. Payments and non-refundable. All cancellations and/or amendments must be received in writing via email to the organiser at conference@aomevents.com
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The Playford Adelaide, MGallery by Sofitel, is a boutique AAA accredited 5 star hotel in the heart of Adelaide which offers the perfect blend of classical style and contemporary luxury. We are an organic and continually evolving Art Nouveau property with an eclectic feel, individually-appointed rooms and award-winning cuisine.
HOTEL DETAILS
Distance from Congress Venue: 170m
Check In/Out: Check in 14:00 - Check out 11:00
Website: https://theplayford.com.au/
Address: 104 North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia
ROOM DETAILS
King Guestroom - $292 per night
Playford Guest Rooms are comfortable and elegantly designed. Bedding configuration is either 1 king size bed with walk-in shower or twin room with 2 queen size beds and shower over bath combination.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
30 days before arrival, bookings may be cancelled without penalty. Within 29 days of arrival date including non-arrivals will incur a full cancellation penalty. All cancellations must be received in writing via email to All Occasions Group or full booking charges will apply. For any modification to your reservation, please contact conference@aomevents.com.
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