BRI D GING NEWSLETTER OF THE Peter Cullen Water & Environment Trust Autumn 2015 ISSN 2200-1654 www.petercullentrust.com.au No. 14 Riversymposium 2015 The future of the National Water Fellows session Initiative? Science in policy? The 18th International Riversymposium in Brisbane this Leadership learnings. year, 21–23 September, is about ‘Healthy rivers – healthy economies’. The Peter Cullen Trust Fellows are running one Three reports by the 2014 Fellows of the advertised special sessions: ‘Promoting leadership – Multiple paths leading in one direction’. During the Science-to-Policy Leadership Program, the participants work together to research and deliberate on This session title reflects the Peter Cullen Trust’s mission and one or more particular issues, bringing together their various philosophy; namely, that respectful, informed and meaningful viewpoints and backgrounds in a true ‘bridging’ collaboration. collaboration is the key to responsible and sustainable water management, now and in the future. The 72 Fellows of the The 2014 participants, now the 2014 Peter Cullen Trust Peter Cullen Trust work together as the Peter Cullen Trust Fellows, have produced three reports (summarised on page 2) National Fellows Network (PCTNFN) to promote inclusive on the issues they worked on during last year’s program. The leadership and informed mutual support and debate. reports will be published on the Peter Cullen Trust website. In the Riversymposium session, three Fellows from the ...continued next page PCTNFN will discuss their current projects and case studies, as well as the role the Trust’s Science-to-Policy Leadership ProgramNo. 01 has played in their approach to work. The Fellows will demonstrate that with the right support 2015 Fellows graduation and opportunities, already talented people can achieve great success by building upon the strengths of professional The annual graduation of the new Peter Cullen relationships. Trust Fellows will be on Thursday 26 November in Canberra, 5.00 pm – 9.30 pm. We hope you will save the We hope to see you at Riversymposium, near the Brisbane date, and reserve your ticket at the booking link on the River (photo below). Early bird registration: by 30 June. Trust’s home page, http://petercullentrust.com.au/. (Abstract submission: by 25 May.) www.riversymposium.com Applications for the 2015 Science-to-Policy Leadership Program closed on 6 May, except for sponsored applications. Successful applicants will be announced in the Spring issue of BRIDGING, and on the Trust website. CONTENTS Three new reports from the 2014 Fellows 1–2 Women in water – leadership reflections 3 Guests, Friends and Fellows, including some graduating Fellows, News from the Board 3 mingle before the Fellows’ presentation and subsequent graduation Developing the north: Gilbert & Flinders Rivers 4–5 dinner in November 2014. Photo: Ian Champ Photography. Field trip to Gregory, far NW Queensland 5–6 News from the Peter Cullen Trust Fellows 6–8 Riverspace – unrealised potential for inland waters 8–9 Some forthcoming events in water & environment 9–11 BRIDGING: If you would like to be sent BRIDGING each Sponsors for the Trust, 2014–15 11 quarter, please contact the Peter Cullen Trust office: Letter from a Friend: Suzy Nethercott-Watson CSM 12 [email protected], phone 02 6206 8606. Three reports from the 2014 Fellows, continued from page 1 ‘A future for the National Water Initiative? A case study approach’ Reporting on their assessment of the National Water Initiative (NWI), the Fellows present a compact and researched discussion of gaps, risks and development opportunities in potentially applying a reformed NWI to each of these six planning challenges: • mining development • developing northern Australia • urban water management • coal seam gas • indigenous access for economic development Discussions during the Leadership Program partly contributed to the reports • irrigation. now published by the 2014 Fellows. Left–right: Adam Bester, Lisa Ehrenfried, Christobel Ferguson, Ross Thompson, Sondoss Elsawah. The group adopted a case-study approach in examining these emerging, or current challenges in the water sector. For each The report also offers a design for a Reinvigorating the NWI requires a issue they present the ‘case for and against process to allow key stakeholders to coordinated effort to build teams across the further development of the NWI in participate in refreshing the NWI. the water sector in order to develop the relation to [the issue]’, and review how the next generation of water policy. Concluding their overall assessment NWI has performed on it. Their report of whether or not the NWI should Reference card assessment of the NWI in relation be refreshed, this group of current Bester A. et al. (2014) A future for the National to each case study comes up with ‘Well and future leaders says: Water Initiative? A case study approach. Peter aligned’ for only two of the six issues. They Cullen Trust, Canberra. find: ‘A recurring theme [is] challenges There is an opportunity to build around consistent application of the on the success of the NWI and provisions of the NWI’. complete unfinished business. ‘Defining the role of science in policy’ In 2006 Peter Cullen said: Scientists should not expect that their scientific standing gives them any special right to decide value questions for society. Their science needs to inform the debate, not replace the debate. The report ‘Defining the role of science in policy’, by the 2014 Leadership Program participants, now Fellows, gives a brief collation and analysis of these Fellows’ perspectives on the role of science in policy. Eight of this group of Fellows work in policy, engineering, irrigation, consulting and management, and six are scientists. Their report presents an agreed decision-making process as well as some pre- conditions and risks for scientists who act as advocates. Note: Friends and Fellows of the Trust hold differing individual opinions about advocacy. The Trust itself does not engage in advocacy. Reference Page D. et al. (2014) Defining the role of science in policy. Peter Cullen Trust, Canberra. Following the thread of an argument? Three of the 2014 Fellows during the Leadership Program. ‘Leadership learnings’ The report ‘Leadership learnings’ presents word clouds and quotes from the 14 Reference Fellows of 2014 who, as in all the Leadership Programs, are a varied group from Bester A. et al. (2014) Leadership learnings. Peter across Australia. The report neatly confirms the way the participants in the Trust’s Cullen Trust, Canberra. Leadership Program see and value inclusive leadership and communication. 2 BRIDGING, Newsletter of the Peter Cullen Water & Environment Trust, no. 14, Autumn 2015 Women in water – leadership reflections News from the Board Fellows intimate lunch with Friends in Melbourne In March, the Board of the Peter Cullen Dr Amber Clarke* and Dr Phil Wallis* Water & Environment Trust welcomed Suzy Nethercott-Watson CSM as a The 2015 series of ‘intimate lunches’ for Peter Cullen Trust Fellows in Victoria new Director. Ms Nethercott-Watson kicked off in February with a fantastic double-bill of speakers reflecting on joins Professor the Hon. John Thwaites, leadership from the perspective of women in the water industry. Places sold out in Professor John Langford AM, Professor record time, proving the ongoing popularity of the intimate lunch format. Craig Pearson, Brett Tucker, Brendan Barry and Dr Paul Frazier. Professor Jane Doolan and Ms Robyn McLeod, both of them Friends of the Peter Cullen Trust, joined 10 Fellows of the Trust at the lovely La Vita Buona for a Suzy Nethercott-Watson CSM has had delicious lunch and inspiring presentations followed by a roundtable discussion. a diverse career in the military, private The speakers were invited to give frank presentations under the Chatham House and public sectors. Her most recent Rule, so what follows is a high level summary of the key points made throughout public-sector positions were within the lunch. the Commonwealth water policy and • Gain respect by delivering achievements. program arena in senior executive roles, • Don’t let yourself get intimidated or bullied. leading areas that looked after water • Make friends, not networks. efficiency projects worth billions of • Make a difference in water. dollars. For almost two years Suzy was • Have a strong agenda for what you want to do/achieve. head of the Office of Water Science which • You need to be able to win people over to your cause. was involved in research and legislation • You need to demonstrate commitment to that agenda. programs, and which set up the statutory • Show that you value the team and give them credit for their work and cover Independent Expert Scientific Committee their backs when necessary. to examine water-related impacts from coal seam gas and large-scale coal mining. The group had a general discussion following the two presentations, and covered a Suzy holds a degree in Geography, wide range of topics including: an honours degree in Management, a • the importance of securing past water reforms in what is currently a period of Masters degree in Commercial Law consolidation; the difficulty of solving issues in the next wave of reform (such and an advanced Diploma of Project as boundary issues crossing multiple portfolios); and the need to understand Management, and she is an accredited the long history of water reform and how we can contribute and build on past Master Program Director. work. Water reform is a ‘long game’, and the long-term narrative of what has been achieved is really important. The Board has a policy of enhancing The need to: Fellows’ skills by providing an opportunity • get better at demonstrating and communicating the outcomes we are achieving; for up to three Fellows to join the Board. and create key policy hooks/platforms from which to pursue an agenda; and Dr Kirsten Shelly (a 2011 Fellow) recently distinguish between influence and power, with women often in very influential stepped down, near the end of her 3-year roles without being seen as a traditional type of power player.