19 November 2025 State of the Nation

50 Years of Environmental Management Symposium
2:00pm – 5:30pm | S1, Stewart Building Lincoln University

Join us in celebrating 50 years since founding of Lincoln University’s Department of Environmental Management (DEM) was founded - a milestone that has shaped generations of environmental leaders, researchers, and practitioners.

This special symposium will honour the Department’s legacy and explore the future of environmental management in Aotearoa. The afternoon will feature alumni reflections, staff panels and forward-looking discussions on preparing the next generation for tomorrow’s environmental issues. The event will close with networking and reconnection among colleagues and friends.   

Programme:
2:00pm – 5:30pm | Stewart Building, Lincoln University
2:00 pm | Opening and Welcome – Professor Grant Edwards, Vice Chancellor, Lincoln University
2:05 pm | Reflections – Emeritus Professor Geoff Kerr
2:15pm | DEM a potted history – Dr Roy Montgomery
2:45pm | Lincoln University Staff Panel – Perspectives on the Department’s legacy and current priorities
3.15pm | Open Discussion & Q&A – Alumni and guests share memories, influences, and future directions
3:30pm – 4:00pm | Afternoon Tea
4:00pm – 5.30pm  | Distinguished Panel – The future of teaching environmental management: challenges and opportunities
5:30pm – 6:00pm | Networking & Reconnection – Celebrate 50 years of impact and reconnect with colleagues and friends

Help shape the conversation for the next 50 years of environmental thought leadership.

REGISTER HERE

What we don’t know about the state of NZ’s environment – and does it matter?
6:00pm – 8:00pm | S1, Stewart Building Lincoln University

Lincoln University is proud to relaunch the State of the Nation’s Environment Address.

This year’s keynote speaker is Simon Upton, Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment. His address will focus on gaps – things that we do not know about the state of our environment – and whether it matters. One of the leitmotifs during his tenure as the Commissioner has been the need for better environmental information.

Almost all of his reports have highlighted issues with environmental information in this country – be that incomplete coverage and limited accessibility or outright gaps – and called for improvement. High quality environmental information needs to be a key foundation for any policy or on-the-ground decisions.

Programme:
6:00pm – 6:30pm | Opening Ceremony & Welcome
Welcome from Lincoln University Vice Chancellor
Acknowledgements – Prof. Roy Montgomery to address Event Series Founder, Ian Spellerberg
6:30pm – 7:15pm | Keynote Address
Keynote Speaker, Simon Upton
Followed by a brief Q&A
7:15pm – 8:00pm | Refreshments

Join us for this renewed Lincoln University tradition as we look critically — and constructively — at the state of our environment and the challenges that lie ahead.

REGISTER HERE