The next GPIC event is to be held tonight Tuesday the 10th July, at Basement on View, Bendigo.

The speaker will be OONA NICOLSON from ECOLOGY & HERITAGE PARTNERS.

Discussion topic will be Cultural Heritage in Victoria - 5 years in - What you need to know.

Since the introduction of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006, a further layer of complexity has been added to the development process - including exploration and the general mining and extractive industry.  This talk will discuss the implications of the legislation, featuring key lessons, a greater understanding of the costs and potential outcomes. Oona will discuss the practical application of the Act, its VCAT interpretation and an overview of the current legislative review process.  The Cultural Heritage Management Plan - What is Involved? (Oona Nicolson-Director and Principal Heritage Advisor, Ecology and Heritage Partners)

OONA NICOLSON is a Director and the Principal Heritage Advisor at Ecology and Heritage Partners Pty. Ltd. She is a heritage specialist with over 21 years of experience in the heritage industry with 17 in the archaeological consulting sector, working in Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania. Oona regularly appears before VCAT and independent panels as an Expert Witness in the areas of Aboriginal and historical heritage. Oona has extensive experience in over 700 projects with a wide variety of clients.

She is very familiar with the requirements of the Victorian State legislation in regard to heritage and planning matters. Oona regularly works with Aboriginal Affairs Victoria (AAV), sitting on a number of steering committees, to assist them as a representative of the heritage consulting industry on matters in relation to the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006. Oona is the current National Secretary and Chairperson of the Victorian Chapter of the Australian Association of Consulting Archaeologists Inc (AACAI), a member of environment sub-committee of the Victorian Planning and Environmental Law Association and a member of the legislative advisory committee for the Minerals Council of Australia.

Oona is also a Member of the Victorian Heritage Council in addition to a number of archaeological advisory committees that work with Heritage Victoria in regard to the Heritage Act 1995.

For more information, please refer to the GPIC Flyer here.