Accelerating global river resilience
About us
Co-founded in 2003 by Brisbane City Council, the Queensland Government, Thiess and the BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA), for over twenty years the International River Foundation (IRF) has championed river resilience to create a legacy of healthy rivers that benefit the world’s communities, economies and ecosystems.
Now, in the face of the triple planetary threat of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss, our work has never been more urgent. Protecting our rivers is protecting our future; it is our collective obligation, as individuals and organisations, to take responsibility and drive positive action.
Our platform
We drive positive impact through people and ideas, to combat the devastating effects of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss.
People
We bring together a global network of change-makers to foster collaboration and build lasting partnerships.
Ideas
We champion and promote practical solutions in river restoration, protection and sustainable management.
Impact
We are a catalyst for action to help preserve rivers for future generations.
Our history
1998
1st International River Symposium River Festival created by Brisbane City Council and Queensland Government
1999
1st International River Prize
River Mersey, UK
2000
International River Prize Grand River, Canada
2001
International River Prize Blackwood River, Australia Australian River Prize, Goulbum Broken Catchment, Australia
2002
International River Prize
Mekong River, South-East Asia Australian River Prize, Merri Creek, Australia
2003
International River Foundation founded, International River Prize
Alexander River, Israel
Australian River Prize,
Hunter River, Australia
2004
International River Prize, Suislaw River Basin, USA Australian River Prize, Wallis Lake, Australia
2005
International River Prize,
Drôme River, France Australian River Prize, Bulimba Creek, Australia
2006
International River Prize, Sha River, China, Australian River Prize, Torbay Catchment, Australia
2007
International River Prize
Danube River, Europe Australian River Prize, Murray Wetland Australia
2008
International River Prize
St. Johns River, USA Australian River Prize, Lake Macquarie, Australia
2009
International River Prize Lake Simcoe, Canada Australian River Prize, Oxley Creek, Australia
2010
1st time the International River Symposium held outside Brisbane in Perth International River Prize, River Thames, UK Australian River Prize, Derwent Estuary, Australia
2011
International River Prize
Charles River, USA Australian River Prize Sunshine Coast, Australia
2012
International River Symposium Melbourne, Australia
International River Prize, Willamette River, USA Australian River Prize, Condamine River, Australia
2013
International River Prize, Mara River, Kenya
European River Prize, Rhine Australian River Prize, Glenelg River, Australia
2014
International River Symposium Canberra, Australia
International River Prize
River Rhine, Western Europe
European River Prize, Mur River
Australian River Prize, Lake Eyre Basin, Australia
2015
International River Prize, Lake Eyre Basin, Australia
European River Prize, Segura River
North American River Prize, Niagara River Australian River Prize, Aorere River, New Zealand
2016
International River Symposium held in India International River Prize, Niagara River, USA
2017
International River Prize San Antonio River, USA
2018
20th International River Symposium Sydney, Australia
Australian River Prize
Whangawehi Stream, New Zealand Asia River Prize, Pasig River, Philippines
2019
21st International River Symposium Brisbane, Australia
20th International River Prize: James River, USA
Australasia River Prize, Pasig River
2020
First virtual International River Symposium, Virtual initiatives and new programs (River Academy, River Talks), Resilient Rivers Blueprint
Thiess International River Prize, Thwake River, Kenya
2021
First hybrid International River Symposium
Resilient Rivers Hub memberships launched River Forum – Rivers on Fire
& Flood
21st International River Prize: River Keyna at Makueni County
2022
25th Anniversary of the International
River Symposium, held in
Vienna
European River Prize:
Cumbrian Rivers, NE
England
Our mission
We believe that creating a global network of changemakers will inspire the implementation of practical solutions and amplify the impact of investing in river resilience for the benefit of the communities, economies and ecosystems that depend on them.
A global network
