Indigenous Knowledge Forum

About the Forum 

There are significant similarities between Australia and India. Each nation has significant Indigenous populations. Each nation covers an entire continent or sub-continent and comprises a federation of states and territories. Both have experienced British colonialism, are members of the Commonwealth and operate a common law legal system.

India and Australia have both been classified as biologically mega-diverse. These similarities provide a valuable opportunity to explore and understand the interaction of Indigenous knowledge and practices with intellectual property and biodiversity laws recognising that this interaction occurs in a broader context of social and legal issues that impact Indigenous and local peoples.

These issues will be discussed and debated at the first Indigenous Knowledge Forum.

Program

The structure of the Forum has been devised to provide a day of plenary presentations that assist in the exchange of knowledge, expertise and understanding between India and Australia, facilitate dialogue and build relationships that will lead to collaboration and engagement on biodiversity and intellectual property laws in relation to Indigenous knowledge. The second day will enable several streams of workshops designed to explore in detail the key issues identified and develop recommendations and/or proposals for future collaboration in research and dialogue.

Speakers

•  Henrietta Marrie, formerly of the Christensen Fund
•  Professor Dr T. Vidya Kumari, Dean of Law, Osmania University, Hyderabad
•  John Scott, CBD Secretariat, Montreal, Canada
•  Kanchi Kohli, Core Group Member, Kalpavriksh Environmental Action Group
•  Shalini Bhutani, Legal Researcher, formerly of GRAIN
•  Steven Bailie, Director International, IP Australia
•  Ben Phillips, Director, Protected Areas Policy and Biodiscovery, Parks Australia
•  Dr Sam Johnston, Institute of Advance Studies, United Nations University
•  Frances Bodkin-Andrews, Mt Annan Botanical Gardens

Further Information

For further information on the program and to register, click here.

Getting Here

The UTS Faculty of Law is located at the UTS Haymarket Campus, Building 5, Block B, Cnr of Quay St & Ultimo Rd, Haymarket, Sydney.

Click here for location map (click the Haymarket tab).