DCF Annual Conference

DCF Annual Conference 2024

A BIG thank you to everyone who attended and supported the DCF conference on the 24th October, at the Weymouth Pavilion!

We appreciate your dedication to matters concerning the Dorset coast and hope you enjoyed the conference, gained new insights, and made valuable connections.

The conference featured 12 inspiring presentations from a diverse range of presenters and organisations, and 9 information stands, 5 of which offered interactive technology. As always, there was plenty of networking and catching up taking place, and we were thrilled to reach a record attendance this year with nearly 120 DCF members joining us!

Thank you also to everyone who completed our feedback form. Your feedback is crucial in helping us plan and develop content for future conferences. Feedback so far has been very positive, with delegates stating they gained new knowledge, have shared new information with partners, colleagues and communities, made new contacts and have incorporated what they have learned into their work. See our infographic below with a summary of the feedback.

Presentation slides

Conference Welcome

Welcome & DCF highlights, Toni Powell, DCF Coordinator

Session 1 Coastal Change - setting the scene

What are the current challenges for Coastal Change in Dorset? Dave Picksley, Senior Coastal Advisor, Environment Agency
What do the Shoreline Management Plans envisage the Dorset coast looking like in the future? Alan Frampton, Strategy, Policy & Environment Manager, South West Flood & Coastal
The Jurassic Coast Protected Site Strategy – content and engagement. Saskia Elliott, Protected Site Strategy Officer, Jurassic Coast Trust

Session 2 - Preparing for Coastal Change

Future Studland – a rapidly changing place. Tracey Churcher, General Manager, National Trust Purbeck
Adapting to coastal change at Charmouth and North Swanage. Ross Fitzgerald, Associate Director of Geomorphology, Jacobs
South West Coast Path – Keeping an open path. Julian Gray, Director, South West Coast Path Association

Sessions 3 - Connecting people to Coastal Change

Keynote speaker: For the Love of our Coasts – Chris Hines, Website: A grain of sand
Workshop: Communicating difficult conversations to a coastal community. Simon Wilson, Independent Facilitator, Wilson Sherriff

Sessions 4 - The Opportunities Ahead

Coastal heritage at risk – challenges and opportunities. Antony Firth, Head of Marine and Coastal Heritage, Historic England
Sustaining our beaches – a new approach. Dr Matthew Wadey, Principal Coastal Scientist, South West Flood & Coastal
Coasts in Mind – Empowering communities through putting their knowledge at the forefront of coastal planning. Caroline Barrie-Smith, Head of Audience Engagement, Museum of London Archaeology