WOMADelaide, to be hosted in Adelaide’s Botanic Park from March 11 – 14, today announced its program for the 2022 Planet Talks, the festival’s three-day forum of environmental discussion and debate featuring stimulating and inspiring Australian and international speakers.
The Planet Talks hosts some of the world’s foremost thinkers, scientists and activists, and in 2022 this will include the world’s foremost primatologist Jane Goodall, one of Australia’s most respected and versatile media talents Waleed Aly, and renowned author and activist Bruce Pascoe.
Opening the 2022 Planet Talks program on the Saturday of WOMADelaide is Jane Goodall, an internationally recognised authority on the primate world, and an author and speaker who serves as a ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Geographic explorer-in-residence and a United Nations peace messenger. Presenting via video at WOMADelaide, Jane Goodall will be interviewed by renowned Australian journalist and broadcaster Natasha Mitchell, to discuss her more than six decades of work addressing the current threats facing chimpanzees, the global environmental crises, and her reasons for hope.
One of Australia’s most respected media personalities, Waleed Aly will be joined by the ABC’s religion and ethics editor and Radio ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ presenter Scott Stephens, and the Adelaide University’s Professor of Politics Lisa Hill to present a live session of Radio ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾’s The Minefield. At the festival in March, the trio will debate; “if, given that our current political parties and practices are failing our children, should kids get a say and be offered the right to vote?”
Bunurong, Tasmanian, Yuin man and celebrated author Bruce Pascoe will lead a discussion on how regenerative agriculture can adapt and enhance our food production systems, ensuring profitability while promoting sustainable and ecological farming practices. Pascoe will be joined by the 2017 NSW Young Achiever for Environment and Sustainability Dr Anika Molesworth, and zoologist and merino sheep farmer Charles Massy, with the session being chaired by Anthony James, creator and host of the RegenNarration Podcast.
Other Planet Talks speakers and sessions announced today include:
Exploring Restoring Ecology and how civilization and nature have sustainably cohabitated for millenniums will be Michael-Shawn Fletcher, the Director of Research Capability at the Indigenous Knowledge Institute, The Nature Conservancy Australia’s Anita Nedosyko, Flinders University’s Dr Martin Breed and ecologist and farmer Luke Price; along with host Lee Constable.
Arguing that Electrifying Everything won’t just benefit the climate but is beneficial for everyone will be Executive Director of the Australia Institute Richard Dennis, Professor Renate Egan from University of NSW, and Director of the ANU Centre for Sustainable Energy Systems Andrew Bakers, with the session being moderated by editor of the Monthly Magazine, Nick Feik.
Reimagining Our Relationship with Insects and examining how they shape our understanding of ecosystems and even gastronomy, will be researcher Dr Katja Hogendoorn from the University of Adelaide, Dr Rocio Ponce-Reyes, from the CSIRO, and Dr Richard Glatz, Chief Editor of Australia’s leading insect science journal Austral Entomology.
The final session Future Forward, will feature six young, engaged, and passionate advocates for change considering what, in the eyes of today’s youth, a renewed relationship with the planet could look like. The session will include Alex Bruhn, Community Builder at Youth Inc. and WEF Global Shaper, the 2021 South Australian Environment Young Achiever of the Year Amber Brock-Fable, STEM Advocate and Engineering student Pantju Nam, international advocate Amelia Chaplin, and SEED SA coordinator and PIRSA ranger, Tiahni Adamson.
WOMADelaide director, Ian Scobie said that “the Planet Talks are an exciting and crucial forum for discussion and debate regarding the challenges and solutions ahead and a virtual snapshot of Australia’s wider conversations around sustainability and ecological concerns”.
South Australian Tourism Commission chief executive Rodney Harrex welcomed another big announcement for the state’s iconic WOMADelaide festival.
“It’s sensational to see such a strong lineup of speakers heading to Adelaide to help mark WOMADelaide’s 30th birthday and celebrate its return to its home in Botanic Park,” Mr Harrex said.
“WOMADelaide offers visitors a rich program of music, arts, dance and entertainment for the whole family – and the Planet Talks series is a popular program highlight which sparks interesting discussion and helps raise the profile of our city.”
WOMADELAIDE, 11-14 March, Botanic Park, Adelaide, South Australia.
Event details at
WOMADelaide is proudly supported by the State Government through the South Australian Tourism Commission.
