Tiahni Adamson

Tiahni Adamson is an Australian wildlife conservation biologist, advocating for indigenous Australians and women in STEM. She was the young South Australian of the Year in 2024 and has been nominated for Young Australian of the Year. She was also one of the 40 under 40 award recipients, and South Australian Woman of the Year finalist. She has won or been finalist in three awards in both 2022 and 2023.

Education and career
Adamson currently serves as the lead community engagement officer at CH4Global, a start-up tech company, where she focuses on embedding Indigenous knowledge into climate change solutions through sustainable seaweed aquaculture to reduce methane emissions from livestock. CH4Global aims to reduce the methane output from cattle and livestock, by using seaweed, in sustainable seaweed agricultural programs. She says her vision is:"'to be a part of bettering our ecological crisis and fight for First Nations rights, where Indigenous people gain full re-independence of our livelihoods, and where the Earth can heal and rest,”"Adamson's goal is to focus primarily on healing, protecting country, as well as environmental activism, as well as working closely with First Nations people.

Adamson has worked on programs at CSIRO, including the Aboriginal Summer School for Excellence in Technology and Sciences. She also has worked at PIRSA as a Sea Ranger and a Fisheries Compliance Support Officer. Adamson has also trained in the Climate Reality Leader Program with Al Gore Program. She was also part of the Newday Inspired Leadership program, as part of the inaugural cohort which took place across various regions including Fleurieu Peninsula, Kaurna and Peramangk lands in the Adelaide Hills, as well as Kangaroo Island.

Adamson is a Kaurareg Nations descendant, and regularly speaks on themes of climate and First Nations. "'“Incorporating First Nations wisdom … it’s not just something that would be great, it’s something that’s been cut out of leadership programs intentionally since colonisation and definitely something we need to bring back into conversations,”"Adamson is on the Green Adelaide Board, a youth member of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, as well as on the leadership team for the youth climate justice group Seed, which is the only First Nations led youth climate group in Australia.

Adamson's work on the Uluru Statement from the Heart was based on her belief that science is entwined with politics, and the Voice would allow Australia's first scientists to heal, as well as helping both the wider community as well as Australia's first scientists.

In addition to being Young South Australian of the Year, in 2024, Adamson was also nominated for Young Australian of the Year in 2024, for her advocacy and career on climate change, sustainability, Indigenous education programs.

Media
Adamson has regularly been interviewed and her awards, including named SA Young Australia of the Year, in addition to nomination for Young Australia of the Year, have been commented upon in both print and radio media for CityMag, The Canberra Times, Cosmos, on leadership in the regions, the threat of Climate Change in various regions, and the intersectionality of climate and First Nations people. Her scientific work on CSIRO vessel, the RV Investigator, with Dr Sophie Gilbey, was described by SBS Australia. Their work on the Indigenous Time at Sea Scholarship, (ITSS) in 2019, which is an experience for university students to learn aboard the ocean research vessel, was described by CSIRO, as "Supporting saltwater science".

Awards

 * 2024 – Young South Australian of the Year.
 * 2023 – Superstar of STEM, 2023–2024 cohort.
 * 2023 – South Australian Woman of the Year finalist.
 * 2023 – InDaily South Australian 40 Under 40 for 2023.
 * 2022 – Tirkapena Indigenous Award 2022.
 * 2022 – Seven News Young Achiever Award finalist.
 * 2022 – Dr Kaye Price AM award for commitment, advocacy and ambassadorship for STEM.
 * 2021 – SA Environment, Leif Justham Young Achiever Award.
 * 2020 – ATSI Engagement Impact Excellence Medal, CSIRO.
 * 2018 – CSIRO Tertiary Education STEM awards finalist.