Bunbury-raised academic Professor Amanda Davies will return to her hometown this week for a conference where she will discuss demographic diversity and planning challenges in WA’s regional areas.

Head of The University of Western Australia’s School of Social Sciences, Professor Davies will join the Hon Don Punch, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs; Water; Climate Resilience; and South West; City of Bunbury Mayor Jaysen de San Miguel and Planning Institute of Australia CEO Matt Collins as speakers at the 2026 Planning Institute Australia’s Regional Conference, to be held in Bunbury.

Professor Davies’ research focuses on population growth, distribution and patterns of demographic change in Australia. She works closely with government and industry to inform policy and is currently principal investigator on several major projects, including a major national study examining Australia’s declining fertility rate.

She is also the youngest person to be appointed a full professor of geography at UWA aged 39, and the first female to be appointed head of the School of Social Sciences.

“Returning to Bunbury is particularly meaningful for me, because it’s a place that reflects many of the demographic changes reshaping regional Australia,” Professor Davies said.

“Bunbury is experiencing significant ageing pressures, with a growing share of older residents alongside a shrinking pipeline of younger workers, which has real implications for services, workforce renewal, and long-term planning.

“If we want regional communities like Bunbury to thrive, we need to focus on strengthening participation, skills, and local capacity – not just responding to immediate pressures.

“Ultimately, regional resilience will depend on how well we connect demographic realities with coordinated local action.”