Professor Anne Poelina

Professor, Chair of Indigenous Knowledges and Senior Research Fellow, Nulungu Research InstitutePhD, PhD, MA, MEd, MPH&TM

Email: anne.poelina1@nd.edu.au

  • Biography

    Professor Anne Poelina citizen Nyikina Warrwa (Indigenous Australian) Nation, PhD, PhD, MEd, MPH&TM, MA. Chair & Senior Research Fellow Indigenous Knowledges Nulungu Institute Research University of Notre Dame, Adjunct Professor, College of Indigenous Education Futures, Arts & Society, Charles Darwin University, Darwin. Anne was the Murray Darling Basin (MDB) inaugural First Nations appointment to its independent Advisory Committee on Social, Economic and Environmental Sciences (2022).  Visiting Fellow Water Justice Hub at The Australian National University, Canberra. Inaugural Chair of the Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council (2018). Co-winner of the Women Taking Climate Action Award, awarded by the Zonta Club of Melbourne on Yarra and the Zonta International District 23 Zonta Says NOW team (2023). Awarded Kailisa Budevi Earth and Environment Award, International Women’s Day (2022) recognition of her global standing.

    Ambassador for the Western Australian State Natural Rangelands Management (NRM) (2023). Assistant Commissioner National Water Initiative (NWI), Productivity Commission -Australia (2024). Member of the Commonwealth Department Climate Change Energy the Environment and Water, Indigenous Advisory Committee (2024).

    Founding member of the Commonwealth Department Climate Change Energy the Environment and Water, Aboriginal Water Interest Group and the Western Australian government Aboriginal Water and Environment Group (AWEG). In 2017, she was awarded a Laureate from the Women’s World Summit Foundation (Geneva). Anne is a Peter Cullen Fellow for Water Leadership (2011).

  • Current research

    Fonds Pacific (French Australian and Pacific Island Nations) research Partnership. Increasingly, international attention is being focused on developing effective ways to improve integrated approaches to land and water management. This is the focus of the Fonds Pacifique Water Governance Project, which aims to identify key issues and opportunities via a scoping project based on a number of case studies in the Pacific, including a Kimberley case study. I am the Team Leader for the Kimberley Case Study.

    Legal and Biodiveristy Values of the Mardoowarra/Fitzroy River. This project aims to develop an understanding of the interactions and feedbacks between the multiple values of biodiversity in the Mardoowarra catchment. It also aims to assess the capacity of existing legal regimes to effectively and equitably regulate the cultural, environmental, social and economic values of biodiversity, and the interactions between these values. This is important to indigenous and non-indigenous stakeholders in the area due to the immediacy of the threats to cultural and biological diversity in the Mardoowarra. Local indigenous communities are working to have the Kimberly included on the World Heritage List and are exploring issues of legal recognition of the Mardoowarra watercourse. This project feeds directly into these aims.

    Stage 1 Study towards the Natural History & Cultural Park, Mardoowarra, Lower Fitzroy River, Kimberley region, WA in a research partnership with VCSRG Research Group to develop a database and baseline for the design of Natural History & Cultural Park for Education and Tourism in Mardoowarra region.

    Exploring Indigenous low carbon development and environmental protection: The nexus of climate change mitigation, environmental justice, and low carbon innovation in partnership with the UK University of Southampton Faculty of Social, Human and Mathematical Sciences.

  • Teaching areas

    Throughout her career Prof Poelina has been a leading role model, a natural teacher and mentor. Prof Poelina has a proven track record as a senior academic in the development, teaching and evaluation of academic, vocational and community education and training courses. Early in her career Prof Poelina wrote courses and trained Aboriginal Health Workers, where she introduced students to Aboriginal health and wellbeing theory and practice.  Prof Poelina has led many innovations in Aboriginal health, education, and life promotion.

    As the Director, of Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services School of Health as well as senior lecturer Indigenous health and education in the following universities: Sydney, Southern Cross, Queensland and UNDA. Most recently, she has developed a pool of remote Kimberley Indigenous researchers by teaching Aboriginal research methods from an Indigenous perspective to Aboriginal people at UNDA Broome campus.  Her participatory action research practice (PAR) involves collaborating with partners from government, industry, and the local Indigenous community. This is supported by process, impact, and outcome evaluation to provide feedback and advice.

  • Research expertise and supervision

    As an Indigenous multi-disciplinary scientist, Poelina and her scientific and legal colleagues are building on the complexity of systems thinking with action-based global societal adoption and adaptation efforts, strengthening collective professional, political, economic, legal and spiritual capacity. A shared geo-ethics of care is steadily creating an evidence base for sustainable lifeways and forms of bio-regional governance. Collective values of intellectual freedom, honesty, integrity, inclusivity and equity are woven through initiatives related to geo-heritage, geo-diversity, geo-conservation, prevention, adaptation, and geo-education, designed to protect the well-being of all life in our collective home.

    In my academic role, I am co-supervising 3 PhD students. One of whom is with Nulungu Research. I am also cultural adviser for 2 PhD candidates, completing PhD in 2025.

  • Books

    • Poelina, A., Bagnall, D., Graham, M., Williams, R., Yunkaporta, T., Marshall, C., Diop, S., A., Samnakay, N., Maloney, M., and Davis, M., (2024). Declaration of Peace for Indigenous Australians and Nature: A Legal Pluralist Approach to First Laws and Earth Laws (Springer Nature).
    • Chinna, N., & Poelina, A., (2024), Tossed Up by the Beak of Comorant, Fremantle Press, Fremantle, Western Australia.
    • Doctoral Thesis: Poelina, A. (2021). Martuwarra First Law Multi-Species Justice Declaration of Interdependence: Wellbeing of Land, Living Waters, and Indigenous Australian People. Unpublished Thesis, The University of Notre Dame, is currently under development for consideration as a book.  Poelina has extensive publication experience and history in through Madjulla Inc. in publishing books in print and multiple formats.
    • Poelina, A. and Nordensvard, J., 2017 Sustainable Luxury Tourism, Indigenous communities and governance in M.A. Gardetti and S.S. Muthu (editors) Handbook on Sustainable Luxury, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation, Springer.
    • Poelina, Anne. 2017, Protecting the River of Life, AUSTRALIA Vatican Museums Ethnological Collection, Vatican City, Rome.
    • Michelle Lim, Anne Poelina and Donna Bagnall (2017) Can the Fitzroy River Declaration Ensure the Realisation of the First Law of the River and Secure Sustainable and Equitable Futures for the West Kimberley, 32 Australian Environment Review.
    • Taylor, KS, Moggridge, BJ & Poelina, A, 2017, ‘Australian Indigenous Water Policy and the impacts of the ever-changing political cycle’, Australasian Journal of Water Resources, vol. 21, no. 1, Available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/twar20/currentPoelina, Anne. 2017, Guardians of the Mardoowarra, Bridging Newsletter of the Peter Cullen Water and Environment Trust, No. 20. p 9. http://petercullentrust.com.au
    • Poelina, Anne. 2017, Building research partnerships for sustainable and innovative Indigenous communities in Australia's Kimberley, Bridging Newsletter of the Peter Cullen Water and Environment Trust, No. 22. pp.9-11. http://petercullentrust.com.au
    • Poelina, A., p. 1 cited in Vogwill, R., (2015) Water Resources of the Mardoowarra, (Fitzroy River) Catchment, The Wilderness Society, Perth, Western Australia.
    • Alexandra, J., Spencer, M., & Poelina, A., Exploring Water Governance in the Kimberley, Unpublished report, Broome., Western Australia.
    • Poelina, A., 2016, Standing together for Kandri, Book Chapter submitted for publication, University of South Australia, Adelaide.
    • Poelina, A., 2016, Protecting the River of Life, Essay submitted for publication, Vatican City, Rome.

  • Book chapters

    • Lilienthal, G., Poelina, A., Syaikhon, D., & M., ‘Aboriginal Women’s Complaints:  Ignored in Judicial Discourse’, in Gary Lilienthal (ed.), Critical Women’s Issues, Nova Science Publishers, New York, 2024, pp.273-317.
    • Poelina, A., Webb, B., Wooltorton, S., & Godden, N. J. (2024). “Waking up the Snake: Ancient wisdom for regeneration”. In M. Lobo, E. Mayes, & L. Bedford (Eds.), Planetary Justice: Stories and Studies of Action, Resistance and Solidarity (pp. 25-38). Bristol University Press, https://doi.org/10.51952/9781529235319.ch002
    • RiverOfLife, Martuwarra, Poelina, A., & Perdrisat, M. (2024). Ancient Wisdom Dreaming a Climate Chance. In A. Penteado, S. P. Chakrabarty, & O. H. Shaikh (Eds.), Traditional knowledge and climate change: An environmental impact on landscape and communities (Vol. 1, pp. 3-19). Springer Nature Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-8830-3_1
    • Knight, K. N., Poelina, A., & Wooltorton, S. (2024). Regenerative Learning: Hearing Country and Music for Healing People, Place, and Planet. In A. Penteado, S. P. Chakrabarty, & O. H. Shaikh (Eds.), Traditional Knowledge and Climate Change: An Environmental Impact on Landscape and Communities (pp. 255-266). Springer Nature Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-8830-3_11
    • Nordensva¨rd, J., & Poelina, A., (2022). Conceptualising Social Sustainability in Sustainable Luxury Tourism in Martuwarra, Northern Western Australia, Kotur, A. S. & Dixit, S. K. The Emerald Handbook of Luxury Management for Hospitality and Tourism (pp 377-399). Bingley: Emerald Publishing.
    • Poelina, A., Martuwarra River of Life to Flow, in Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development (2022) Laudato Si’ Reader: An Alliance of Care for Our Common Home, (pp.137-141). Edited by Kureethadam, J. I., Fitzpatrick, N., & Glassman, J., Liberia Editrice Vaticana. ISBN 978-88-266-0696-5.
    • Poelina, A. (2020). Eco-activism and Social Work. (D. Ross, M. Brueckner, M. Palmer, & W. Eaglehawk, Eds.) (Vol. 1, p. 13). Foreword, London: Routledge. Retrieved from https://www.routledge.com/Eco-activism-and-Social-Work-New-Directions-in-Leadership-and-Group-Work/Ross-Brueckner-Palmer-Eaglehawk/p/book/9780367250041
    • Poelina, A. (2020). A Coalition of Hope! A Regional Governance Approach to Indigenous Australian Cultural Wellbeing. In A. Campbell, M. Duffy, & B. Edmondson (Eds.), Located Research (pp. 153–180). Singapore: Palgrave McMillan, Singapore. doi:10.1007/978-981-32-9694-7 (Original work published 2019). Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-32-9694-7_10
    • McDuffie, M., & Poelina, A. (2019). Nyikina Collaborative Filmmaking in the Kimberley: ‘Learning to Listen with Your Eyes, and See with Your Ears’. In P. Morrissey & C. Healy (Eds.), Reading the Country (pp. 229–238). University of Technology Sydney ePress. Retrieved from https://utsepress.lib.uts.edu.au/site/chapters/10.5130/978-0-6481242-2-1.t/
    • Poelina, A. (2018). Protecting The River of Life. In K. Aigner (Ed.), Australia: Vatican Museums Indigenous Collection (pp. 217–223). Aboriginal Studies Press. Retrieved from https://aiatsis.gov.au/publications/products/australia-vatican-museums-indigenous-collection/paperback
    • Poelina, A., & Nordensvard, J. (2018). Sustainable Luxury Tourism, Indigenous Communities and Governance. In M. A. Gardetti & S. S. Muthu (Eds.), Sustainable Luxury, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation (pp. 147–166). Singapore: Springer. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-10-6716-7_8

  • Journal articles and proceedings

    • Poelina, A. (2024). First Law a gift to healing and transforming climate and just us!. Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCHMSD-05-2024-0105
    • Damoah, E., Connor, J. D., Sangha, K. K., Cooper, B., & Poelina, A. (2024). Nature’s value, philosophies, theories, and concepts: a critical review and suggestions for future indigenous research, Environmental Research Letters, Volume 19, Number 11. http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/ad7f6e
    • Poelina, A., Webb, B., Wooltorton, S., & Godden, N. J. (2024). Waking up the Snake: Ancient wisdom for regeneration. In M. Lobo, E. Mayes, & L. Bedford (Eds.), Planetary Justice: Stories and Studies of Action, Resistance and Solidarity (pp. 25-38). Bristol University Press. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.51952/9781529235319.ch002
    • RiverOfLife Martuwarra, Poelina, A., & Perdrisat, M. (2024). Ancient wisdom dreaming a climate chance. In A. Penteado, S. P. Chakrabarty, & O. H. Shaikh (Eds.), Traditional knowledge and climate change: An environmental impact on landscape and communities (Vol. 1, pp. 3-19). Springer Nature Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-8830-3_1
    • Sangha, K.K., Dinku, Y., Costanza, R., Poelina, A., (2024). A comprehensive analysis of well-being frameworks applied in Australia and their suitability for Indigenous peoples. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being 19 (1), 2321646. doi:10.1080/17482631.2024.2321646
    • Wooltorton, S., Guenther, J., Poelina, A., Blaise, M., Collard, L., & White, P. (2022). Learning regenerative cultures: Indigenous nations in higher education renewal in Australia. Asia Pacific Education Review. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12564-022-09789-y#citeas
    • Poelina, A. (2022). Martuwarra River of Life to Flow, in Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. In  J.I. Kureethadam, N. Fitzpatrick, & J. Glassman (Eds). Laudato Si’ Reader: An Alliance of Care for Our Common Home (pp.137-141). Liberia Editrice Vaticana.
    • Redvers, N., Y. Celidwen, C. Schultz, O. Horn, C. Githaiga, M. Vera, M. Perdrisat, L.Mad Plume, D. Kobei, M. Cunningham Kain, A. Poelina, J. Nelson Rojas, B. Blondin,(2022). 'The determinants of planetary health: an Indigenous consensus perspective'. The Lancet Planetary Health, Volume 6, Issue 2, 2022, Pages e156-e163,ISSN 2542-5196,https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(21)00354-5. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2542519621003545)
    • Poelina, A. Wooltorton, S., Blaise, M., Aniere, C., Horwitz, P., White, P and Muecke, S. (2022) Regeneration time - ancient wisdom for planetary wellbeing.Cambridge University Press, Australian Journal of Environmental Education, 1–18 doi:10.1017/aee.2021.34
    • RiverOfLife M., A. Pelizzon, A. Poelina, A. Akhtar-Khavari, C. Clark, S. Laborde, E. Macpherson, K. O’Bryan, E. O’Donnell & J. Page (2021): Yoongoorrookoo: Emergence of Ancestral Personhood, Griffith Law Review, DOI: 10.1080/10383441.2021.1996882 Paper: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10383441.2021.1996882  
    • Poelina, A., Brueckner, M., & McDuffie, M. (2021). For the greater good? Questioning the social licence of extractive-led development in Western Australia Martuwarra Fitzroy River region. The Extractive Industries and Society, 8(3). Doi: 10.1016/j.exis.2020.10.010
    • RiverOfLife, M., Taylor, K. S., & Poelina, A. (2021). Living Waters, Law First: Nyikina and Mangala water governance in the Kimberley, Western Australia. Australasian Journal of Water Resources, 1-17. doi:10.1080/13241583.2021.1880538
    • Poelina, A., Wooltorton, S., Guimond, L., & Durand, G. S. (2021). Hearing, voicing and healing: Rivers as culturally located and connected. River Research and Applications. Special Issue Paper. Doi: 10.1002/rra.3843
    • Wooltorton, S., Poelina, A., & Collard, L. (2021). River relationships: For the love of rivers. River Research and Applications. Doi: 10.1002/rra.3854
    • RiverOfLife, M., McDuffie, M., & Poelina, A. (2020). Martuwarra Country: A historical perspective (1838-present). Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council & Nulungu Research Institute, The University of Notre Dame. Doi: 10.32613/nrp/2020.5
    • RiverOfLife, M., Poelina, A., Alexandra, J., & Samnakay, N. (2020). A Conservation and Management Plan for the National Heritage Listed Fitzroy River Catchment Estate (No. 1). Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council, Nulungu Research Institute, The University of Notre Dame. Doi: 10.32613/nrp/2020.4
    • RiverOfLife, M., Poelina, A., Bagnall, D., & Lim, M. (2020). Recognizing the Martuwarra’s first law right to life as a living ancestral being. Transnational Environmental Law, 9(3), 541-568. doi:10.1017/S2047102520000163
    • Poelina, A., Wooltorton, S., Harben, S., Collard, L., Horwitz, P., & Palmer, D. (2020). Feeling and Hearing Country. Philosophy, Activism, Nature, 14, 6-15. Doi: 10.26180/13461098.V1
    • Redvers, N., Poelina, A., Schultz, C., Kobei, D. M., Githaiga, C., Perdrisat, M., . . . Blondin, B. S. (2020). Indigenous natural and first law in planetary health. Challenges 11(29). Doi: 10.3390/challe11020029
    • Poelina, A. (2020). Becoming Family with Place. In Resurgence & Ecologist, 322. Available at https://www.resurgence.org/magazine/article5596-becoming-family-with-place.html
    • O’Donnell, E., Poelina, A., Pelizzon, A., & Clark, C. (2020). Stop Burying the Lede: The Essential Role of Indigenous Law(s) in Creating Rights of Nature. Transnational Environmental Law, 9(3), 403–427.
    • RiverOfLife M., Poelina, A., Alexandra, J., & Samnakay, N. (2020). A conservation and management plan for the National Heritage listed Fitzroy River Catchment Estate (No. 1). Broome: Nulungu Research Institute. Available at https://researchonline.nd.edu.au/nulungu_research/4/
    • Wooltorton, S., Collard, L., Horwitz, P., Poelina, A., & Palmer, D. (2020). Sharing a place-based indigenous methodology and learnings. Environmental Education Research, 26(7), 917–934. Doi: 10.1080/13504622.2020.1773407
    • RiverOfLife, M., Poelina, A., Alexandra, J., & Samnakay, N. (2020). A Conservation and Management Plan for the National Heritage Listed Fitzroy River Catchment Estate (No.1). Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia: Martuwarra Council, Nulungu Research Institute, University of Notre Dame. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3870606
    • RiverOfLife, M., McDuffie, M., & Poelina, A., (2020). Martuwarra Country: A Historic Perspective. Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia: Martuwarra Council, Nulungu Research Institute, University of Notre Dame. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3939394
    • Wooltorton, S., Collard, L., Horwitz, P., Poelina, A., & Palmer, D. (2020). Sharing a place-based Indigenous methodology and learnings Environmental Education Research, 26(7), 917-934. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2020.1773407.doi:10.1080/13504622.2020.1773407
    • Poelina, A., Taylor, K. S., & Perdrisat, I. (2019). Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council: an Indigenous cultural approach to collaborative water governance. Australasian Journal of Environmental Management, 236–254. Retrieved from https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14486563.2019.1651226
    • Wooltorton, S., Toussaint, S., Poelina, A., Jennings, A., Muecke, S., & Kenneally, K. (2019). Kimberley Transitions, Collaborating to Care for Our Common Home: Beginnings. Nulungu Research Institute. Retrieved from https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/236987027?q&versionId=263919353
    • Heiner, M., Hinchley, D., Fitzsimons, J., Weisenbergerd, F., Bergman, W., McMahon, T., … Kiesecker, J. (2019). Moving from reactive to proactive development planning to conserve Indigenous community and biodiversity values. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 74, 1–13. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S019592551830115X
    • Poelina, A. (2019). Country. In A. Kothari, A. Salleh, A. Escobar, F. Demaria, & A. Acosta (Eds.), Pluriverse: A Post Development Dictionary (Vol. 1, pp. 142–144). Tulika Books. Retrieved from https://www.radicalecologicaldemocracy.org/pluriverse/
    • Lim, M., Poelina, A., & Bagnall, D. (2017). Can the Fitzroy River Declaration ensure the realisation of the First Laws of the River and secure sustainable and equitable futures for the West Kimberley? Australian Environment Review, 32(1), 18–24.
    • Taylor, K. S., Moggridge, B.J., & Poelina, A. (2016). Australian Indigenous Water Policy and the impacts of the ever-changing political cycle. Australasian Journal of Water Resources, 20(2), 132-147. Doi: 10.1080/13241583.2017.1348887

  • Conference presentations

    2024 keynotes

    • 29th January – 2nd February 2024 12th World Environmental Education Congress (WEEC)
    • 19 and 23 Feb 2024 Tasmania & West Kimberley Indigenous Women Water Stories Sharing
    • 28 February, 2024 - 1 March, 2024 Australian Water Association
    • Darwin NIAA 27th-29th August 2024
    • 3rd October 2024 Macquarie University (Sydney) City Campus – Public Lecture
    • 4th- 6th October 2024Australian Religious Response (ARRCC ) to Climate Change - EARTH WISDOM - HOPE IN ACTION -
    • 8th – 10th October 2024 Global Nature Repair Summit – Sydney
    • 24th October 2024 Australian National University Canberra - One Health: The Interlink between health, environment and Traditional Ways.
    • 11th – 13th November 2024 Petrocultures Conference (Perth)

    A Selection of Keynote Addresses for Conferences 2022 – 2020

    • Climate, Culture and Peace, 24th – 28th January 2022, Peace with Indigenous Peoples and with Nature, Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xx4KFhkhMuc
    • Online forum “Environmental Humanities: Living in Critical Jones”- First Law, Collaborative Performances, and Sovereignty: “Speaking back” against resource-intensive industrialisation in the Kimberley Region of Western Australia, XX1V International Conference (24-26 February 2022), Venue International Centre, Goa.
    • WORLD SCIENCE FESTIVAL BRISBANE: The Rights of Nature Environmental law, Indigenous human rights, litigation, Indigenous human rights, Indigenous science and it being recognised as ‘real’ science, 10 February 2022, Retrieved from https://www.worldsciencefestival.com.au/event-program/brisbane/the-rights-of-nature

    2021

    • Global Online Dialogue – “Making Choices About Water” Keynote: “Not a water Right a Water Wrong” 16th December 2021 Hosted by Civic Ledger, Retrieved from https://water-choices.cynefinaustralia.com.au/index.html
    • The University of Melbourne Dean of Science Annual Lecture 14th December 2021Lecture Panel: “Indigenous Knowledge: Linking, learning, respecting”, Retrieved from https://events.unimelb.edu.au/science/event/12761-indigenous-knowledge-linking-learning-and
    • Environmental Institute of Australia and New Zealand Annual Conference 9th November 2021 Keynote: How Indigenous practices of self-governance can be introduced into modern society.
    • Australasian Association of Bioethics and Health Law (AABHL) Annual Conference 19th November 2021. “Our Connections, Conversation and Community” Keynote: Indigenous First Law, First Ethics and Values, Retrieved from http://www.aabhlconference.com/4072
    • National Congress of Women 30th November 2021 Keynote: “Women Rising. Why Women? Why now? – A Wisdom Conversation”. Retrieved from https://www.womensclimatecongress.com/events.html
    • Earth Unbound Activism Symposium Collaborative Action: Climate Change and Climate Justice,  18th November 2021, Keynote: ‘Ancient Wisdom for the modern times’. Retrieved from https://earthunboundcollective.wordpress.com/symposium/
    • Australian Association for Environmental Education Annual Conference(WA) 8th September 2021 Keynote: ‘Indigenous Wisdom, place, people and Country- Place Based Environmental Values + Ethics + Learning +Sharing’, Retrieved from https://www.aaee.org.au/events/aaee-conference/
    • Australian Council for International Development Annual Conference 29th September 2021 Keynote: The Defining Decade: An agenda for civil society led development, Retrieved from https://acfid.asn.au/content/conference-2021
    • Treaty for Peace, 18th September 2021 Panelist Yarning with Mother Earth – Caring for Country Hosted by Department of Peace and Conflict Studies, School of Social and Political Sciences, Doctors for the Environment (Australia)
    • Annual Conference 15th October 2021 Keynote: Planet Health and Hope First Nations perspectives on climate change, social justice and impacts on Country. Creating Peace with Indigenous Peoples and with Nature” [Harnessing intersectoral approaches and traditional ecological knowledge to create solutions in the green economy that have economic, health, environmental and other benefits], Retrieved from https://www.dea.org.au/event/save-the-date-idea-conference/
    • International Council on Monuments and Sites (COMOS) Annual Conference Caring for Country 7th July 2021 Keynote: Sharing our Commons for our Great Common Good, Retrieved from https://www.icomos.org/en/component/tags/tag/caring-for-country
    • Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies [Annual Native Title Conference] Adelaide – South Australia June 2021 Poelina, A., (Producer), & McDuffie, M. (Director). (2019b). Singing Yoongoorrookoo [Online Video].
    • Australian Earth Law Alliance [Annual Conference] June 2021 Keynote address – An introduction to First Law – Brisbane Australia, Retrieved from https://www.earthlaws.org.au/events/
    • Laudato Si’ Biodiversity Round Table [Global Online Dialogue Conference] 13th March 2021. Vatican – Rome Poelina, A., & McDuffie, M. (2017a). Mardoowarra’s Right to Life [Film]. Madjulla Association.

    2020

    • Women for the Environmental Leadership – Annual Conference July 2020 Keynote address - Governance and Sustainability of our Commons in our time of climate uncertainty for the Greater Good. Poelina, A., Marshall, L., Warbie, J., (Producers), & McDuffie, M. (Director). (2015). Three Sisters, Women of High Degree [Online Video, TV]. doi:10.5281/zenodo.3763387
    • International OzWater Annual Conference - June 2020 Keynote presentation - Voices for the Martuwarra - Indigenous water governance and water management for the Martuwarra Fitzroy River Catchment/Estate. Poelina, A., (Producer), & McDuffie, M. (Director). (2019a). Balkinjirr Poem [Online Video].
    • Australian Progress Annual Conference - Keynote: May 2020 - Indigenous science and contemporary practice managing our water and land sustainably for generations to come. Poelina, A., (Producer), & McDuffie, M. (Director). (2015, July 1). Our Shared & Common Future [Online Video]. Retrieved 6 December 2017, from Retrieved from: http://www.magalimcduffie.com/films/2015/9/17/our-shared-common-futureIn

    2015 - 2018

    • Guest Speaker and Contributing Author -Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Institute Launch - The Vatican Museum Indigenous Collection, Protecting the River of Life, 7th December 2017 Canberra ACT.
    • Key Note Address - 20th International Riversymposium and Environmental Flows Conference, 18-20 September 2017 in Brisbane. Australia.
    • Guest Speaker 2017, Earth Ball, Earth Watch Institute, 8th September, Melbourne Australia.
    • Key Note Address Australian Women's Leadership Forum, Australian Women's Symposium, 11th May, 2017, Perth, Western Australia.
    • Water Futures: International Dialogue- Art House 26th-28th February 2017, Melbourne, Victoria. Presentations a) Decolonising Climate Change, b) Living Water Project (Indigenous Rights and Actionism).
    • Key Note Speaker - Celebrating Women in Conservation Annual Breakfast, Trust for Nature, 2nd March 2017, Melbourne, Victoria.
    • Progress2015, Mobilisation of Citizen Agendas. Melbourne, 7-9 May.Presentation: Understanding the strategies of War for Peace Making: Conflict to Co-operation.
    • 15th World Water Congress, Edinburgh Scotland, May. Presentation: Water identity, intercultural dialogue, and the implications of financing different aspects of assessing large water infrastructure projects.
    • The International Scientific Conference: Our Common Future under Climate Change, Paris, France, July.Presentation: Collaboration of Indigenous Science and Western Science to Protect Landscapes and Our Common Futures
    • Sydney Environment Institute Roundtable Discussion, Sydney University, July.Presentation: Defence of Country Aboriginal People dealing with the impacts of globalization in Australia.
    • 16th Global Conference on Environmental Taxation – Green Fiscal Reform: Protecting our Natural Resources for a Sustainable Future, University of Technology Sydney, September.
    • Presentation: A Case Study for Environmental Tax Offsets: Collaboration of Indigenous Science and Western Science to Value and Protect Cultural and Geo-heritage Landscapes as Culture, Science and Conservation (Green) Economies, Symposium – Leadership and the Construction of Environmental Concerns in Australia, University of Tasmania, December, 2015.Presentation: Environmental Leadership in Australia.
    • 16-17 August 2016 Building the new economy, activism and social change. Glebe Town Hall, Sydney NSW.
    • RIGHTS OF NATURE TRIBUNAL AUSTRALIA 201622nd October 2016, Banco Court, Brisbane: CASE 1 – MARDOOWARRA/FITZROY RIVER VS FEDERAL AND WA GOVERNMENTSThis case will be presented to a Citizen's Tribunal by traditional custodians of the Mardoowarra/Fitzroy River and will include claims that the River must have its legal rights recognised, in accordance with the traditional custodians’ ‘first laws’ and the rights of nature.
    • 3-7 Dec 2016 OneHealth EcoHealth Melbourne Vic."Cultural Issues in land and water management, sustainable agriculture and food security".

  • Original creative works

    • Carracher, L., RiverOfLife, Martuwarra, West Kimberley Traditional Owners, Poelina, A., Coles Smith, M., Bool, I., Pérez-Hämmerle, K-V., Ward, C., Torres, P., Wilinggin Aboriginal Corporation, Mayala Inninalang Aboriginal Corporation, Williams,J.,  George, A., Long, J., O'Leary, M., Pusey, B., Robinson, N., Vokes, R., and State Library Western Australia. 2024. Story Map - Living Water: River, Land and Sea Country and Indigenous People of the West Kimberley.
    • Poelina, Anne; Rae, Ali; Jazeera International Limited, Al (2024). We need to rethink our relationship with nature. Figshare. Posted 11th February 2025. Media. https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.28138694.v1 Poelina, Anne; Diffusion, Science (2024). The Key to Solving Climate Change May Lie in Indigenous Wisdom. Figshare. Posted 11th February 2025. Media.
    • A. Poelina (Producer), M. McDuffie, (Director). 2021., A Voice for Martuwarra, Madjulla Inc., Broome, Available at: https://vimeo.com/424782302
    • A. Poelina (Producer), M. McDuffie, (Director). 2021. Edward Mulligan Nyikina Walmajarri Leader, Dreaming Country, [Online Video]. Madjulla Inc., Broome, Available at https://vimeo.com/638357785/be0fd7a5b5
    • Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council, Madjulla Inc, Poelina, A. (Producers), & McDuffie, M. (Director). (2020). Voices For the Martuwarra. Ngikalikarra Media, Madjulla Inc., Broome, Available at https://vimeo.com/387436447 Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council, Madjulla Inc (Producers), McDuffie, M., & King, S. (Directors). (2021).
    • Martuwarra Fitzroy River of Life [Online Video], Madjulla Inc., Broome, Available at https://vimeo.com/533047074/87705efc9e.
    • Poelina A and McDuffie M (2015) Three Sisters, Women of High Degree. Madjulla Inc., Broome. Available at https://vimeo.com/147866161 - Password: Kimberley.
    • Poelina, A., & McDuffie, M., Guardians of the Mardoowarra (2017, 12 mins)
    • Poelina, A., & McDuffie, M., Mardoowarra Right to Life (2017, 10 mins)
    • Poelina, A., Yoongoorrookoo (2017, 7 mins)
    • Poelina, A., & McDuffie, M., Indigenous Food Security (2017, 5 mins)
    • Poelina, A., & McDuffie, M., Pandanus Park Voice of Community (2017 13 mins)

  • Recorded works

  • In the media

    A Selection of Podcasts

  • Community engagement

  • Professional affiliations

    • (ACSEES). [The Committee plays a critical role in providing internal advice to the MDBA]. Associate Commissioner, Australian Productivity Commission (APC). 2024. Focus: review and advise the Australian Government on the nation’s freshwater security, as illustrated by the APC’s 2024 National Water Reform Inquiry Report.
    • Member of the Indigenous Advisory Committee to the Australian Government Department for Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. 2024. Focus: review and reform Indigenous Heritage Legislation and improve national environmental and biodiversity protections.
    • Inaugural Indigenous appointment to the National Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s independent Advisory Committee on Social, Economic and Environmental Sciences. 2022. Focus: advise governments and stakeholders on the sustainable management of the nation’s largest, most complex river system.
    • Visiting Fellow Water Justice Hub, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia, and member of the Institute for Water. (4 Years).
    • Deputy Chair, Australian Peace and Security Forum. Year. Focus: to promote public discussion and understanding of the broad array of threats and opportunities facing Australia’s collective and individual peace and security, contributing advice to national policies and strategies reflecting key concerns and priorities of the Australian people.
    • Visiting Fellow, Institute of Post-Colonial Studies, Melbourne (2022)
    • National Water Initiative Indigenous Advisory Group (WA) Indigenous Water Interest Sub Committee (WA Government Appointment).
    • Department of Water and Environmental Regulations – Aboriginal Advisory Group. (WA Government Appointment).
    • Advisory Committee Member Institute for Water Futures Fenner School of Environment & Society ANU College of Science the Australian National University
    • Murray Darling Basin Authority Advisory Committee on Social, Economic and Environmental Science (ACSEES). [The Committee plays a critical role in providing internal advice to the MDBA].
    • Visiting Fellow, Australian National University, Water Justice Hub, Canberra, ACT

  • Awards

    • Awarded the Bessie Award Bessie Rischbieth Conservation Award, from the Conservation Council Western Australia for demonstrating an outstanding commitment to the Western Australian environment and having the courage to inform government and non-government decision-makers of free prior and the precautionary principles to inform decision making.
    • Co-winner of the Women Taking Climate Action Award. 2023.  Zonta Kailisa Budevi Earth and Environment Award, International Women’s Day, in recognition of Professor Poelina’s standing in the field.
    • KAILASA’s Virtual Global Conclave and the KAILASA Om Earth and Environment Award (2022)
    • Laureate Women’s World Summit Foundation (Geneva, 2011)
    • Peter Cullen Fellow, Canberra, ACT (2010).