Lumen Winter 2023 - Flipbook - Page 7
Making a difference
By Eleanor Danenberg
Tiahni Adamson, a Torres Strait Islander
woman descended from the Kaurareg
Nation of Thursday Island, is a passionate
wildlife conservation biologist who
graduated with a Bachelor of Science
(Wildlife Conservation Biology) from the
University of Adelaide in the class of 2020.
Tiahni is now focused on sustainable
aquaculture production as the Lead
Community Engagement Officer at
CH4Global.
Tiahni also lectures at the University of
South Australia, is the State Coordinator of
Seed Mob, Australia’s only First Nationsled youth climate justice group, and is
a youth dialogue member for the Uluru
Statement from the Heart.
In her career so far, Tiahni has worked on
programs for the CSIRO, including the
Aboriginal Summer School for Excellence
in Technology and Sciences. She has also
worked for the Department of Primary
Industries and Regions as a Sea Ranger and
a Fisheries Compliance Support Officer,
where she fostered relationships between
First Nations communities and government.
In 2019, Tiahni trained as a Climate Reality
Leader under Al Gore.
These experiences have taken Tiahni from
sea to land, surrounded by natural wildlife
in regional and remote communities both
within Australia and internationally to
understand, learn and develop projects that
nurture marginalised nations.
Finding and progressing technologies,
ideologies and solutions that can positively
impact climate change, and learning
alongside Elders on Country, have been
highlights for Tiahni.
“Impacting climate change at scale and
having the best outcomes for First Nations
communities to be uplifted and nurtured
along the journey; whatever it takes to do
this, is my career goal,” Tiahni says.
“Currently I am achieving this through my
work with CH4 Global, with the growth
and use of the Australian red seaweed
Asparagopsis to reduce methane emissions in
livestock ruminants.
“Sustainability is living in harmony and
coexistence with the land, sea and other
beings, in manners that can continue to
support all forms of life, generation after
generation. Sustainability must tie in with
the deep desires of Western culture to
accelerate human progress, which requires
an unlearning, and then relearning of
regenerative practices.”
A prominent role model and next generation
leader, Tiahni advocates for the participation
of First Nations people and women in
STEM careers. She regularly speaks at
festivals and conferences and to businesses
to communicate climate science and First
Nations justice.
In 2022, Tiahni received the Dr Kay Price
AM Award for demonstrated excellence
in, and ambassadorship for, STEM and
she was named a Superstar of STEM by
Science and Technology Australia. She
was one of two students to be awarded
the inaugural Indigenous Time at Sea
Scholarship from CSIRO’s Marine National
Facility. She also received the Tirkapena
Indigenous Award, a distinguished alumni
award from the University of Adelaide.
“Sustainability is living in
harmony and coexistence
with the land, sea and
other beings.”
In February 2023, Tiahni was nominated
for the Rising Star Award in The Advertiser,
Sunday Mail and SkyCity’s Woman of the
Year Awards.
“As First Nations people, we have a really
deeply ingrained wisdom, knowledge
and understanding of the Earth and its
systems,” Tiahni said when interviewed
by the University’s alumni team after her
Tirkapena Indigenous Award win.
“We’ve cared for this country since time
immemorial, and it’s only over the last 230
or so years that we’ve had such detrimental
damage.
“I think my proudest moments in these
spaces are when I come across young
people who have heard me speak at events
about what we’re doing in the climate space,
and then seeing them grow.
“This wider impact, that’s greater than
myself, is what makes me feel really proud
because it’s not an objective that I ever had
in mind. Seeing the potential for inspiring
other people to create positive change is
probably my favourite thing.
“Success comes down to impact and
positive change and the longevity of that
change as well.
“So often we try to implement projects
in society that are short lived and not
long lasting. For me success is about real,
transactional and tangible changes that
affect big systems.”
Eleanor Danenberg is Marketing and
Communications Coordinator for the
University’s Faculty of Arts, Business, Law
and Economics.
LUMEN – WINTER 2023 7
