Crawford Fund Annual Report 2015-16
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THE CRAWFORD FUND KNOWLEDGE FOR A FOOD SECURE WORLD OVERVIEW 2012–16 2017 AND BEYOND ANNUAL REPORT 2015–16 ABOUT US ABOUT SIR JOHN CRAWFORD What is the Crawford Fund? agricultural research. Our training program offers prac- The Crawford Fund honours the life of Sir John The Crawford Fund is a not-for-profit organisation that tical, highly focused instruction to men and women Crawford, a remarkable Australian who sup- seeks to increase Australia’s engagement in interna- engaged in agricultural research and management ported international agricultural research for tional agricultural research and development through in developing countries. We encourage and support rural development and contributed to the estab- raising awareness of the benefits to Australia and the young Australians in their careers, studies and volun- lishment of the CGIAR and its research centres. developing countries from investment in the sector and teering in agriculture for development; and we develop Along with Mr James Ingram AO and the Hon. through training programs for developing country sci- policy and discussion papers to increase understanding Malcolm Fraser, Sir John was one of the principal entists that draw on Australian experience. of food security issues. architects of ACIAR. We are a registered charity and depend on grants and Our partners and beneficiaries share our vision of a Born in Sydney in 1910, he began his role in pub- donations from governments, private companies, cor- better world realised through the dedicated efforts of lic service during the Second World War and porations, charitable trusts and individuals. We work in agricultural scientists leading research, development became Director of Research at the Department partnership with the Australian Centre for International and training in developing countries. Through their of Post-War Reconstruction in 1943. Following Agricultural Research (ACIAR), the Consultative Group work, we can achieve more productive and sustain- the war, he was appointed Director of the Bureau on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) research able agriculture, less poverty and hunger, and a more of Agricultural Economics, then Secretary of the centres, and other international research organisations. secure world. Department of Commerce and Agriculture. Later, as Secretary of the Department of Trade, he What are our aims? ATSE and the Fund played a prominent role in reshaping Australia’s We aim to sustain international agricultural research The Crawford Fund was established in 1987 as an ini- trade relationships with the UK and Japan, and for the decades to come, by promoting and supporting tiative of the Australian Academy of Technological helped construct an Asia-Pacific economic and research and development activities in which Australian Sciences and Engineering (ATSE). At ATSE’s sugges- policy community. organisations and companies are active participants, tion, the Fund became a separate not-for-profit com- and by encouraging investment by governments pany in 2014 with ATSE as the sole member, and our In 1960 Sir John joined the Australian National and the private sector in agricultural research and its board members were appointed as Directors of the University (ANU) as the inaugural Director of applications. Fund. ATSE and the Fund maintain close links: ATSE the Research School of Pacific Studies; he later nominates a member on our Board; and the Fund is served as Vice-Chancellor and Chancellor. In What do we do? involved in the ATSE Agriculture Forum, including the 1970s he was instrumental in setting up Our public awareness program improves understand- through assistance for its Agribusiness 2030 event the Australian Government’s international aid ing of the importance and potential of international held in 2016 (see page 15). agency. The Fund has commissioned a biography of Sir John to be published in 2018 (see page 7). CONTENTS From two chairs, past and present .............................................................. ii Overview 2012–16 ................................................................................................. 1 Evolution and consistency .............................................................................................1 Long-term commitments ..............................................................................................3 Working in partnership ....................................................................................................4 A financially robust Fund ...............................................................................................6 Looking forward – 2017 and beyond ........................................................... 8 Public awareness ..................................................................................................................8 Policy options ..........................................................................................................................8 Master Classes .........................................................................................................................8 State and Territory training ...........................................................................................8 Mentoring ...................................................................................................................................9 Annual report 2015–16 .....................................................................................10 Supporting agriculture is one of the most effective ways for Public awareness program ........................................................................................10 Australia to contribute to the environment, economy and people, globally and locally Harnessing youthful enthusiasm ..........................................................................19 Master Class and training program .....................................................................22 Financial report ...................................................................................................30 Crawford Fund Board, Staff and Committees 2015–16 .....................32 Acronyms ...............................................................................................................36 Contacts ..................................................................................................................36 i FROM TWO CHAIRS, PAST AND PRESENT y the time the audit and technical formalities associ- and has been prominent in the aid program of more recent This look back at our capacity building program summarises ated with the publication of an annual report are com- administrations. ACIAR has been described by the Hon Julie training and mentoring activities offered over recent years plete, much of the narrative for any given year has Bishop, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party, as “the jewel in the and into the future. We have held Master Classes on a wide been overtaken by events, such is the pace of change Australian aid program”. variety of topics, from soilborne pathogens to communica- Bin food security and in international agricultural research. tions (page 22), and a review of the Master Classes program So, while this report is about Crawford Fund activities in the We couldn’t agree more, and long may this support continue. was carried out in 2015 (page 1). Our overview of State and financial year 2015–16, we have taken the liberty of adding to We are confident that it will do so if the evidence base for the Territory training (page 23) also highlights programs that have developments within that 12-month period by extending its beneficial impact of investment in research, development and extended over a long period, illustrating the importance of coverage into the latter months of the calendar year 2016. And training – for the developing countries and for Australia – is continuing mentoring and long-term support for training and to give a meaningful context to this year’s events, we have studied and understood. Both ACIAR, through its outstanding capacity building. looked back at developments in the past and taken a sneak and independently verified Impact Assessment Series;1 and peek at activities on our future agenda. We hope you will in- the Crawford Fund, through its high-level task force reviews of This report demonstrates the Fund’s attention to ensuring its dulge us this ‘extension’ and find it helps to better explain the 20082 and 2013,3 have documented this strong evidence base. robustness and growing partnerships to sustain itself in times variety and impact of our work. of fiscal constraint. The summary financial data and audited To this more evidence-based proof of benefit we can add accounts for the financial year 2015–16 are included here As one of us (John Kerin) completed his five-year term as all the voices of the Fund’s own Australian scholars and (pages 30–31), and full statements are available online. Chair of the Board of Directors in December 2016, and the awardees, who invigorate us with their energy and passion other (John Anderson) took up the post in January 2017, we for agriculture at home and abroad. We are both particularly Finally, we wish to record our thanks to Dr Denis Blight AO decided that in the same spirit of context and continuity we proud of the Fund’s move to further engender this interest in FRSA, the Fund’s Chief Executive, for his dedication and would write a joint introduction to this review and annual young Australians and to support their opportunities for stud-