Over four days spanning late September into early October, the Murray Darling Association (MDA) held its 2025 National Conference in Griffith, bringing together more than 150 representatives of community, industry, and all levels of government for in-depth discussion on water policy and management. 

One Basin CRC CEO Professor Mike Stewardson was an invited speaker, presenting an update on the CRC’s activities and Integrated Water Management, and participated in the panel session ‘Water Quality and Management in the Basin’. In doing so, he reinforced the CRC’s bridging role between research, regional communities, industry, and policy, ensuring that scientific insights lead to impactful, locally relevant solutions.

As Griffith is home to one of our regional hubs, One Basin CRC was strongly represented on-the-ground by our Griffith team: Hub Manager Bernadette Torresan and PhD candidates Miltone Kimori, Kazana Leonidas, and Champika Jayaweera. 

The event was hosted by CRC partner Griffith City Council, and Griffith’s selection as host anchored the conference in a key irrigation region of the Basin, where water policy decisions have real local stakes. In 2010, Griffith was the setting for the infamous burning of the “Guide to the Basin Plan”, a symbolic gesture of opposition to water buybacks and other water management methods. 

Fifteen years on, the dialogue at the 2025 conference was collaborative and forward-looking, as conversation turned towards the forthcoming Basin Plan Review. Positive and constructive discussion abounded, covering methods to better integrate drought planning within the Basin Plan framework, the need to address town water infrastructure backlogs, and more.

“The MDA conference was an invaluable opportunity to connect with Basin-wide Local Government members, partners, researchers, and others to learn about the needs and risks facing our communities every day” says Torresan. “I’m filled with hope after meeting so many passionate people taking action, embracing risks, and working to strengthen regional communities.”