Annual Review 2012–2013
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Annual Review 2012–2013 Professor Peter Cullen AO “What a great bloke. He was one of my heroes; someone that put science and technology into the Real Speak that would be understood and regularly spouted across the Table of Knowledge that exists in every pub and club in Australia.” Ian Kiernan AO, Executive Chairman, Clean Up Australia The late Peter Cullen is remembered for his superb capacity to synthesise and communicate complex ideas, simply and clearly, to local communities, policy makers and politicians in a way that supported them to make decisions and take action. © Peter Cullen Water & Environment Trust 2013 ISSN 1838‐6113 (Print) ISSN 1838‐773x (web) Peter Cullen Trust Ltd ACN 135947116 ABN 41 848 154 714 To obtain copies email [email protected] or phone 02 6206 8606 Annual Review 2012–2013 Peter Cullen Water & Environment Trust Ltd Contents About the Trust 1 Chair’s Report 2 Chief Executive’s Report 3 Board Report / Board Directors 4 Board Directors 5 Staff and Volunteers 6 Highlights of the Year 7 Friends of the Peter Cullen Trust 8 Friends of the Peter Cullen Trust 9 Science to Policy Leadership Program 10 Science to Policy Leadership Program 11 15 New Fellows of the PCT 12 15 New Fellows of the PCT 13 National Fellows Network (NFN) 14 NFN Report 15 NFN Report 16 Riversymposium / Intimate Lunches 17 NFN Report 18 Fellows of the Peter Cullen Trust 20 Fellows of the Peter Cullen Trust 21 Publications 22 Publications 23 Graduation Dinner 2012 24 Graduation Dinner 2012 25 Partnering with the RBC Blue Water Project 26 I The purpose of the Trust is to carry on the legacy of the late Professor Peter Cullen AO. The Trust aspires to: Strengthen the understanding between science, policy and stakeholders in water system management, Spot new talent and support early career researchers and people ‘who can speak for the rivers with clarity and credibility’, Promote informed exchange and debate on important water management issues, Build capacity in science and policy for water management, Build links between the scientific and political communities to promote effective management of our river systems. How we work together at the Trust 1 Chair’s Report With the Federal Election held just a few days before, it was appropriate that this year’s Peter Cullen Trust Science to Policy Leadership Program commenced in Canberra. I met the fifteen participants in Canberra for their initial briefing before they launched into Stage 1 of the Program. What an outstanding group! I could only wish that some of them had been running in the election! This year the Leadership Program has received strong sponsorship support. The Trust has entered a new partnership with the RBC Blue Water Project. Other sponsors have returned again, and special recognition should go to SKM which has been as sponsor in each of the four years of the Program. I would also like to acknowledge the generous contribution of Board member, Professor John Langford AM, who donated funds to support one participant this year. If we are able to maintain this increased level of sponsorship, the Trust will be self‐sustaining, although we are always on the look‐out for new supporters. The other big success this year has been the Peter Cullen Trust National Fellows Network (NFN), which has gained momentum each year and is now thriving. The NFN is collaboratively contributing across Australia's water sector. The Fellows are enriching each other's work, and benefiting their organisations as well as the wider community. Many of our 59 Fellows provide input to water policy at the level of Federal, State or Local government. They speak at conferences on behalf of the Trust, stimulating informed debate and linking science to policy. The Fellows have also organised a number of ‘intimate lunches’ with water industry leaders. The Fellows are now becoming a real force to be reckoned with in Australian water politics. Each year new Friends join the Trust and increasing numbers of Friends are contributing to our activities by mentoring Fellows, and speaking at the Leadership Program, events, and professional development sessions. A number of Friends of the Trust have published stimulating articles in our newsletter “Bridging”. We are fortunate to have a good Board whilst dedicated staff, Sandy and Emma, pull the show together. Over 200 people have worked to make the Trust a success this year. Two of our volunteers deserve a special mention for their indispensable gifts of time and talent: Leona Dwyer and Ann Milligan. Thank you to the University of Canberra and the Institute for Applied Ecology for hosting the Trust. The generosity of our many sponsors and gifts in kind help us to be frugal in the careful management of our funds. This allows us to achieve the maximum impact with the resources we have. Professor the Hon John Thwaites Chair Peter Cullen Water and Environment Trust 2 Chief Executive’s Report Give a man a fish & he will eat for a day Teach him to fish & he will eat for a year But, if you'll excuse my extension of this saying… If we help leaders to better manage the water & the environment We all can have food for generations to come While the Trust contributes to more than those parts of the water sector relating to food, much of the work of our Fellows and Friends relates to effective science, policy and management of rivers and rainwater in urban and non‐urban contexts. Issues, for example, include water quality, sanitation, irrigation, contamination, testing, Indigenous knowledge, catchment management, ecology, and urban water supply. How does the Peter Cullen Trust 'Help leaders to better manage the water & the environment’? The Trust runs three programs: 1. The Science to Policy Leadership Program, 2. The Fellows Mentoring Program, and the 3. PCT National Fellows Network. The Leadership Program identifies mid‐career ‘rising stars’ who are considered, by senior members of their organisations, to be Australia’s likely future leaders in the water space. The Leadership Program provides common experiences as a group. However, learnings are very much individualised, encouraging participants to identify and focus on ways of improving their leadership strengths and countering their leadership weaknesses back in their workplace. This program is designed for outcomes. We expect to see a positive impact ron ou Fellows’ workplaces as well as an invigoration of their individual careers. Graduates of this Program become Fellows of the Peter Cullen Trust. The Fellows Mentoring Program provides Fellows with access to mentoring from some of the many great minds in the water space from across all states and territories of Australia – Friends of the Peter Cullen Trust. These people are invited to be Friends as a result of their contributions to Australia. New Friends this year include Department Heads, CEOs, scientists and retired politicians. This is an exceptionally valuable opportunity for Fellows. The PCT National Fellows Network (NFN) is now thriving. Fellows network with each other and with Friends of the Trust both formally and informally to contribute to and enhance each‐others’ work. This wonderful group of change‐makers publishes, presents at conferences, has input into Government documents, contributes to the development of the Trust and leads groups ‘on the ground’. After the 2013 Graduation we will have 59 Fellows in the NFN all of whom have access to the NFN portal on our new website. Overall, this year we have partnered with the RBC Blue Water Project, been the beneficiary of a philanthropist Professor John Langford AM, eand hav been approached by more sponsors than we have been able to accommodate. The Trust has contributed to conferences, debates and publications including ‘RipRap’, and our newsletter ‘Bridging’ has ever increasing readers. The Trust is making a difference around the country right now – and no doubt will continue to do so into the future. Dr Sandy Hinson Chief Executive, Peter Cullen Water and Environment Trust 3 Board Report The Board met four times during 2012–13 and Directors attended the following numbers of The Board of the Peter Cullen Water & meetings: Environment Trust oversees the sound governance and management of the Professor the Hon John Thwaites: 4 Trust’s funds and programs. Its Directors Professor John Langford AM: 2 are leaders and emerging leaders in water Dr John Williams: 2 (resigned March 2013) and environment politics, thinking, science Dr Sarina Loo: 2 and management. Mr Brett Tucker: 4 The Trust is fortunate that three of the Dr Kirsten Shelly: 3 seven original Directors — the Chair Professor Craig Pearson: 1 (joined May 2013) Professor the Hon John Thwaites, Dr John Williams and Professor John Langford AM The Board has two subcommittees. The — have been available to be on the Board Leadership Program Committee comprises: continuously from its inception in 2009 Professor the Hon John Thwaites (Chair), until 2013. Professor John Langford AM, Dr Kirsten Shelly, Other projects have now called Dr John Brett Tucker and Dr Sandy Hinson (CEO). It Williams away: he resigned in March 2013. met 2 times during 2012–13. The Board has invited Professor Craig Pearson, a Friend of the Trust, to fill that The Finance Committee, which meets seat. quarterly, comprised Brett Tucker and Dr Sandy Hinson during 2012–13. The Trust has been fully audited. Board Directors Professor the Hon. Professor John Thwaites John Langford AM Professor Thwaites was Deputy Professor Langford AM is the Director Premier of Victoria 1999–2007 and a of Uniwater, a major research member of the Victorian Parliament collaboration between the University 1992–2007, during which he held of Melbourne and Monash University. several Ministries including He was Chair of the boards of the CRCs Environment, Water, Planning, and for Freshwater Ecology and Catchment Sustainability and Livability.