Celebrating 10 years of VicBioCon!

16 - 18 February 2026

The University of Melbourne, Parkville Campus

Celebrating Biodiversity Across Victoria

VicBioCon is an annual, not‑for‑profit conference bringing together students, researchers, practitioners and community members to share and celebrate biodiversity research and conservation work from across Victoria. It’s a welcoming space to learn, connect and collaborate on protecting the natural systems that matter most.

Photo: Adam Purcell / Melbourne Ceili Camera

What to expect

Plenaries and panels featuring inspiring voices in biodiversity

Workshops designed to build skills and foster collaboration

Poster sessions and presentations highlighting innovative projects

Opportunities to connect with researchers, practitioners, and community leaders

A welcoming, inclusive conference atmosphere

Good food and time for conversation

Why attend?

  • Supporting Biodiversity Together

    VicBioCon is organised by the biodiversity community, for the biodiversity community, with a focus on sharing knowledge, building connections, and supporting meaningful collaboration across Victoria.

  • Diverse Perspectives

    The conference brings together researchers, consultants, NGOs, industry, and government, creating space for meaningful conversations across disciplines and sectors.

  • Engaged and Inclusive Community

    VicBioCon fosters a welcoming, respectful environment that supports open discussion, learning, and long‑term professional connections.

News

Follow us @VicBioCon

Up first at #vicbiocon26 today, we’re excited to welcome our plenary speaker, Professor Matthew Symonds from Deakin University! Matthew is an evolutionary ecologist, originally from the UK, who has been based in Australia for the past 25 year
Get ready for #VicBioCon26's next plenary speaker, Dr Bronwyn Hradsky! Bronwyn is a conservation ecologist whose work aims to improve the management of invasive predators and fire – two key threats to Australia’s native fauna. She is base
We’re grateful to Nature Advisory for being one of our main sponsors of #VicBioCon26, as well as the sponsor of our coffee cart! Their support helps make this event possible, and we’re delighted to have them as part of this year’s c
#VicBioCon26 is going to kick off today with our first plenary speaker, Professor Brendan Wintle! Brendan is a global leader in conservation ecology and ecological modelling research toward species conservation. He is a Professor in Conservation Ec
A huge thank you to Co-Exist Australia for their generous support of the Victorian Biodiversity Conference 2026 🌿 Their commitment to youth-led conservation and reconnecting communities with nature is helping shape a more sustainable future for biod
A huge thank you to the Arthur Rylah Institute for their generous support of the Victorian Biodiversity Conference 2026 🌿 Their commitment to science, conservation, and protecting Victoria’s natural environment helps make this event possible.
We still have some spots open for session judges at #VicBioCon26! Judging student talks provide a chance to celebrate their achievements, and get constructive criticism. We welcome expressions of interest from any non-students attending a session! C
Thank you to our workshop hosts Michael Wheeler and Astrid O’Connor for a great first day of #VicBioCon26!
Introducing another of our panelists for “Responding to Environmental Challenges- Becoming Agents of Change”, Ben Cullen. Ben is a conservation ecologist with over two decades of experience protecting threatened species and restoring eco

Become a sponsor!

Sponsoring VicBioCon supports an inclusive, not‑for‑profit conference that connects people working to protect Victoria’s biodiversity. It’s a meaningful way to showcase your organisation, engage with a passionate audience, and invest in the next generation of biodiversity research and practice.

Interested in becoming a sponsor? Please contact us!