More than 180 Basin leaders came together on Kaurna Country in Adelaide from 11-13 November for the 2025 Basin Leadership Summit - the second event in a series shaping the long-term health and resilience of the Murray-Darling Basin.
The gathering brought together policy makers, First Nations peoples, researchers, farmers, industry representatives, environmental advocates, and for the first time, young leaders aged 18 to 35.
Participants described it as a timely opportunity to bring diverse viewpoints into the same room at a pivotal moment for the Basin ahead of next year's Basin Plan Review.
Setting the scene for the 2026 Basin Plan Review
With the 2026 Basin Plan Review approaching, the Summit created space for leaders to reflect on what has been learned after 13 years of Basin Plan implementation. Following this, they heard presentations about our latest science and evidence, including an early look at insights from the 2025 Murray-Darling Basin Outlook and 2025 Sustainable Yields report .
This sparked discussion on how the Basin is evolving to become warmer, drier and less predictable and how our communities are changing too. MDBA's Chief Executive Andrew McConville took this opportunity to bring attention to the upcoming Basin Plan Review.
"This Review is about making sure the Basin Plan continues to evolve, continues to deliver, and continues to reflect the Basin as it is today - and as it will be tomorrow," Mr McConville said.
