A model for highly valued research

As I assume the duties that were undertaken so well by the former Chair, the late Dr Laurie Hammond, it is instructive to revisit his vision for this CRC at its launch in late 2013.

As he addressed the audience on the lawn in front of Parliament House in Canberra, Laurie stressed the importance of this being not just a research centre, but a cooperative research centre.

As such, the characteristics of a CRC are that they bring together researchers, users and agencies from different sectors to deal with research questions that require cooperation and collaboration to be solved. These problems need more than one, two or three or more heads devoted to them.

Back in 2013 this research centre brought to the table many players who had a long and fruitful relationship with the Bushfire CRC, but also many others who had no prior experience of being engaged with a research centre, and some had not even engaged with research.

So, in Laurie’s words, a lot of challenges we would face in coming years would be about making sure those agencies were given every opportunity to make the most of the research program.

I am too early in my role to make a definitive judgement on whether we have achieved that but what I can be sure of is that there is ample evidence of genuine collaboration across a large and diverse range of participants – it truly is a cooperative research centre.

I have been involved in many CRCs, as a Chair and as a Director, since the program began in 1991. The scheme has been strongly endorsed by successive governments as a means of conducting strategic research in Australia with a high probability of uptake.

I have been a passionate supporter and participant in CRCs because I strongly believe they are effective, efficient and innovative. They have been emulated the world over. The same could not be said about all research schemes. We are most fortunate to have had Laurie’s insights to develop this vision into such a highly valued research centre for all who have a stake in the management of natural hazards.

It is a privilege to now occupy the same chair as Laurie, who was a good friend of mine and I hope to continue his legacy over the coming years. For me it is a personal 'home-coming' as I was part of the team that set up the CRC’s predecessor, the Bushfire CRC back in 2003. To be part of its successor is a real honour and I look forward to working with all the participants in the Centre.