The 2025 National Drought Forum was held on 8–9 September in Gawler, South Australia.
Jointly hosted by the Australian Government and the National Farmers Federation, the forum brought together stakeholders from across the drought policy space to talk about key issues, including the Future Drought Fund, at a national level.
A summary of the event is now available.
Date:
8-9 September 2025
Location:
Gawler Civic Centre, Gawler, South Australia
Dress: Smart casual
Registrations are now closed. If you would like to join the waitlist, please email droughtpolicy@aff.gov.au.
Find out more about the optional site visit, hosted by the South Australian Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub.
Discover what’s in store for the 2025 National Drought Forum. You can view the program now!
Download
2025 National Drought Forum program (PDF 268 KB)
2025 National Drought Forum program (DOCX 480 KB)
If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.
We’re excited to welcome Tanya Lehmann, a highly regarded facilitator and leadership coach, who will guide us through the big questions surrounding drought policy, stakeholder collaboration, and future resilience.
We are delighted with the diverse speakers we have in our program this year.
Download
2025 National Drought Forum biographies (PDF 661 KB)
2025 National Drought Forum biographies (DOCX 1.8 MB)
If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.
Adam Fennessy PSM [0:05 – 0:11]
We’re here to listen and learn from our agricultural communities, farming communities and all the industries and other networks that sit around that.
Oli Le Lievre [0:11 – 0:22]
Having the ability to get the people who are from charities, community groups, farmers from right across Australia alongside the policy makers is actually going to be a really important part of the discussion
Nina O’Brien [0:22 – 0:28]
It’s fantastic to come together within this national forum to exchange really diverse ideas
Melinee Leather [0:28 – 0:33]
Share their ideas, innovation, technology, tools that we can use, before, during and after droughts.
Melanie Shannon [0:35 - 0:47]
And it's just coming together and hearing what other people are doing, perhaps in their local communities, especially with mental health, because that's been a big driver of our group in the last 12 months.
Nina O’Brien [0:47-1:01]
They are always better and, more interesting ways to be undertaking, how we can support the community. So, a fantastic opportunity to exchange those ideas and really think about how we can be looking forward to the future, to be better prepared.
If you have any suggestions or ideas you would like to see highlighted at the Forum, please email us at droughtpolicy@aff.gov.au.
“Drought has a huge impact on our farmers, producers, and regional communities, which is why the Albanese Government is ensuring support is always available. The National Drought Forum is an important opportunity to build on our work with the sector as part of our commitment to help support them to prepare, adapt, and respond to drought.”
The Hon Julie Collins MP, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
“Drought is part of life for farm businesses and regional, rural and remote communities, but it shouldn’t be a sentence to hardship. The National Drought Forum brings together the right people at the right time. Government, industry and communities all have a role in ensuring drought policy is practical, proactive and grounded in lived experience.”
David Jochinke, President, National Farmers’ Federation
Born and raised on a sheep farm in Wagin WA, and living in the Riverland SA since 1998, Tanya Lehmann is deeply rooted in the rhythms, challenges and spirit of rural Australia. She’s spent her life walking alongside people and communities navigating big questions— of health, of change, of identity, and of what matters most.
Now a sought-after facilitator and leadership coach, Tanya brings humour, a deep sense of purpose, and enough energy to power a small town to every room she enters. Whether developing regional leaders, health executives or national policy reformers, her magic lies in helping people pause, connect, and find clarity amidst complexity.
From running hospitals to shaping national rural health policy and building community capacity, Tanya has spent three decades in the business of adaptive change. Through her consultancy, Aurora Meliora, she designs and leads bespoke processes that elevate the human spirit and support real-world progress.
A proud associate of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation, Tanya also happens to be a sucker for river swims, homemade pottery, good books, and messy art projects.
At heart, Tanya believes that leadership starts with listening, and that the most powerful transformations begin with authentic human connection.
The 2025 National Drought Forum is a partnership between the
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the National Farmers' Federation
