The Australian Museum Talbot Oration, Australian Museum, June 2026

Last week, the Australian Museum welcomed a capacity audience for the 2026 Australian Museum Talbot Oration, delivered by renowned ocean explorer, conservationist and former National Geographic executive, Terry Garcia. In a compelling address, Terry explored the vital role oceans play in sustaining life on Earth, the challenges posed by climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss, and the opportunities presented by science, technology, investment and global cooperation.

The evening concluded with a thought-provoking panel discussion featuring Terry, Jas Chambers, Tim Jarvis AM and our very own Melissa Malu, expertly facilitated by Australian Museum Director and CEO Kim McKay AO.

The event was a powerful reminder of the role museums play in bringing together diverse voices to tackle the most pressing issues of our time and was recorded by the ABC ‘Big Ideas’ Podcast, we’ll share the link when it’s published.