The conference will cover eighteen broad themes, each of which will be led by the author of a review paper on that theme. Three invited ‘discussants’ will present in response to these published reviews.

1. What is the importance of islands to environmental conservation?
   • Lead: Kealoha Kinney, USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest (with Christoph Kueffer, ETH Zurich & University of Applied Sciences Eastern Switzerland)
   • Discussants:
     • ‘Aulani Wilhelm, Senior Vice President for Oceans at Conservation International
     • Assoc. Prof. Tarcisius Kabutaulaka, Center for Pacific Islands Studies, University of Hawai’i at Manoa
     • Dr. Eleanor Sterling, Chief Conservation Scientist, Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, American Museum of Natural History
2. How have humans changed island ecosystems through history?
   • Lead: Prof. Todd Braje, San Diego State University
   • Discussants:
     • Dr. Sam ‘Ohu Gon, Senior Scientist and Cultural Advisor, Nature Conservancy, Hawai’i
     • Dr. Jack Kittinger, Director, Hawai’i Program, Conservation International
     • Seth Quintus, University of Hawai’i at Manoa
3. What are the future challenges for island ecology and evolution?
   • Lead: Prof. Rosemary Gillespie, University of California, Berkeley
   • Discussants:
     • Prof. Kathy Willis, Director of Science, Kew Gardens & Professor of Biodiversity, University of Oxford
     • Dr. Brian Bowen, Hawai’i Institute of Marine Biology
     • Assist. Prof. Paolo A.V. Borges, Leader of Island Biodiversity, Biogeography & Conservation Group, University of the Azores
4. How can island conservation contribute to human wellbeing?
   • Lead: Dr. Rachel Turner, University of Exeter
   • Discussants:
     • Dr. Mason Smith, Regional Director, IUCN Oceania
     • Dr. Supin Wongbusarakum, NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
     • Dr. Davianna McGregor, University of Hawai’i at Manoa
5. How are islands dealing with the challenge of balancing development with sustainability?
   • Lead: Prof. John Connell, University of Sydney
   • Discussants:
     • Dr. Winifreti Nainoca, Environment Team Leader, UNDP Fiji
     • Dr, Laurie Brinklow, Institute of Island Studies, UPEI and UNESCO Chair in Island Studies and Sustainability
6. How can we incorporate the value of island environments into conservation?
   • Lead: Assoc. Prof. Kirsten Oleson, University of Hawaii Manoa
   • Discussants:
     • Francielle Lacle, Technical Assistant, UNDP, Aruba Centre of Excellence
     • Prof. Peter Schuhmann, University of North Carolina at Wilmington
7. How can indigenous and local knowledge (ILK) be used to improve island environmental futures?
   • Lead: Assoc. Prof. Matthew Lauer, San Diego State University
   • Discussants:
     • Prof. Konai Helu Thaman, Professor of Pacific Education and UNESCO Chair in Teacher Education and Culture, University of the South Pacific
     • Prof. Randy Thaman, University of the South Pacific
     • Roy Ellen, University of Kent
     • Edvard Hviding, University of Bergen
8. How can we build island communities that are resilient to the impacts of climate change and environmental hazards?
   • Lead: Dr. Ilan Kelman, University College London & University of Agder, Kristianstand
   • Discussants:
     • Dr. Laura Brewington, East-West Center Pacific Regional Integrated Science and Assessments program
     • Assist. Prof. Kiana Frank, Kewalo Marine Laboratory, University of Hawai’i at Manoa

     • Dr. Gudrun Petursdottir, Director, Institute for Sustainability Studies, University of Iceland
       

9. What role can the humanities play in island conservation?
   • Lead: Emeritus Prof. Garry Trompf, University of Sydney
   • Discussants:
     • Dr. Craig Santos Perez, University of Hawai’i at Manoa
     • Prof. Elaine Stratford, University of Tasmania
     • Prof. Vilsoni Hereniko, Academy for Creative Media, University of Hawai’i at Manoa
10. How does environmental governance on islands currently operate and what forms of governance produce the best outcomes?
    • Lead: Dr. Annette Breckwoldt, ZMT, Bremen
    • Discussants:
      • Tara Pelembe, South Atlantic Environmental Research Institute
      • Dr. Glenn Thodé, Rector, University of Aruba
      • Dr Kathryn Mengerink, Executive Director, Waitt Institute
11. How can we improve island conservation through integrated marine and terrestrial management?
    • Lead: Dr. Stacy Jupiter, WCS Melanesia
    • Discussants:
      • William Kostka, Executive Director, Micronesia Conservation Trust
      • Chris Corbin, Programme Officer, UNEP Caribbean
      • Dr. Jenn Caselle, University of California Santa Barbara
12. What is the current state of knowledge of island extinctions and how can this be used to set baselines for restoration?
    • Lead: Dr. Jamie Wood, Landcare Research, New Zealand
    • Discussants:
      • Dr. Priscilla Wehi, Landcare Research & Centre for Sustainability, University of Otago
      • Dr. Christopher Dunn, E. N. Wilds Director of Cornell Botanic Gardens
      • Dr. Matthew Prebble, Australian National University
13. How well are island conservation issues addressed in international conventions and agreements?
    • Lead: Dr. Arthur Dahl, President International Environment Forum & Retired UNEP Deputy Assistant Executive Director
    • Discussants:
      • Dr. Michelle Scobie, University of the West Indies, Trinidad & Tobago
      • Sue Taei, Executive Director, Pacific Oceanscape, Conservation International
      • Dr. Alison Reiser, University of Hawai’i at Manoa
14. What have we learnt about invasive species on islands and what are the best strategies for dealing with them in the future?
    • Lead: Dr. James Russell, University of Auckland, with co-authors:
      • Dr. Jean-Yves Meyer, Head of the Research Department, Government of
        French Polynesia
      • Dr. Nick Holmes, Director of Science, Island Conservation
    • Discussants:
      • Christy Martin, Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, University of Hawai’i at Manoa
      • Earl Campbell, Invaslive Species Program Manager, U.S. Geological Survey
15. What is the role of environmental education on islands?
    • Lead: Drs. Fumiyo Kagawa & David Selby, Sustainability Frontiers
    • Discussants:
      • Rocky Sanchez Tirona, Vice President for Rare Philippines
      • Dr. Rosalina Gabriel, Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes/Azorean Biodiversity Group, University of the Azores
      • Representative from the Polynesian Voyaging Society/ Hōkūleʻa
16. How is climate affecting patterns of island migration?
    • Lead: Dr. Maxine Burkett, University of Hawaii Manoa
    • Discussants:
      • Mohamed Aslam, LaMer Small Island Research Station, and ex-Minister of Environment & Energy, Maldives
      • Dr. Jim Randall, UNESCO Co-Chair in Island Studies and Sustainability,  University of Prince Edward Island
      • Rosemary Lyster, Director, Australian Centre for Climate and Environmental Law, University of Sydne
17. What are the links between human health and environmental conservation on islands?
    • Leads: Prof. Kerry Arabena, University of Melbourne & Dr. Aaron Jenkins, University of Sydney
    • Discussants:
      • Dr. Nancy D. Lewis, Director, Research Program, East-West Center, Hawai’i
      • Dr. Leonard Nurse, University of the West Indies, Barbados
      • Assist. Prof. Maile Taualii, Office of Public Health Studies, University of Hawai’i
18. How do island sovereignty and conservation relate to each other?
    • Lead: Dr. Alex Mawyer, University of Hawai’i at Manoa with co-author Dr. Jerry Jacka, University of Colorado Boulder
    • Discussants:
      • Dr. Reniel Cabral, Sustainable Fisheries Group, University of California, Santa Barbara
      • Dr. Tamatoa Bambridge, Research Director, CNRS, French Polynesia
      • Dr. Noelani Goodyear-Kaʻōpua, University of Hawai’i at Manoa