Canberra

Mid-February brought the first glimpse of early autumn—crisp mornings balanced by lingering summer heat, and, in true Melbourne fashion, days that couldn’t decide between sunshine and storms. 

  

The month wrapped up with a personal milestone: my first work trip! I headed to Canberra for the Universities Australia Solutions Summit, an annual conference where higher education leaders come together to tackle the sector’s biggest challenges. Representing Animal-Free Research Advocacy, this was a valuable chance to understand university priorities—viewed through our lens of transitioning research and education away from animal use.

Dana, Robyn, Carol, Rachel

Day 1: A Rocky Start
The trip began with a rocky start on Monday afternoon. My one-hour flight turned into a four-hour detour through Sydney. By the time I arrived, I’d missed the welcome reception. But a golden hour walk to the Australian War Memorial (closed by then) and a sunset climb up Mount Ainslie offered my first taste of Canberra.

Canberra, Australia’s capital, is a planned city nestled within the Australian Capital Territory. Surrounded by forest, farmland, and nature reserves, the city’s centerpiece is Lake Burley Griffin. On its shores sit the strikingly modern Parliament House and cultural landmarks like the National Gallery, known for its rich collection of Indigenous art.

Day 2: Summit in Full Swing
Tuesday started with an early breakfast session at the National Convention Centre, followed by a full day of discussions and panels.

Afterwards, I took a walk to Lake Burley Griffin and Commonwealth Park. Navigation was tricky thanks to ongoing light rail expansion, and once again Parliament House was closed when I got there. Work trips do not leave much time for exploring!

Day 3: Wrapping Up
Wednesday was another packed program before heading straight to the airport for my flight home—touching down just as the sun dipped below the horizon. What a whirlwind!

 

 

A key theme across the summit was ethics—covering topics like public trust and social cohesion on campuses. Yet animal use in research and education was conspicuously absent from the conversation. To me, this is a critical oversight. As universities strive for innovation, credibility, and excellence, transitioning to human-relevant, animal-free methods should be part of that future-focused vision.