- Secondment for research adoption
- Stakeholder Council – 29 October
- Book launch
- Bushfire research fund
- Adelaide conference wrap
Secondment for research adoption
The strategic direction of the Bushfire CRC has now transitioned
from its focus on research activity to having a stronger emphasis
on facilitating the adoption of the research by industry. The
Governing Board has recognised that most of our research program is
at the stage where it is ready for industry take-up.
Appropriately, $3million from the Bushfire CRC operating budget
has been dedicated to enable this process to happen. And to support
this process with experienced management, I am pleased to advise
you of the secondment of Dr Noreen Krusel, from the Country Fire
Authority, to the position of Research Adoption Manager with the
Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre.
Noreen will play a lead role in this vital phase of the Bushfire
CRC. Noreen has more than 15 years experience of conducting and
utilising research to inform both program and strategy development
within the sector.
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Noreen Krusel
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Her PhD study was in fire climatology. She has worked in planning
units, conducted field work after major fires, taught fire
behaviour, been involved in development of key national policy
areas in community safety, represented AFAC on standards committees
and managed regulatory reform and implementation associated with
both wildfire and structural fire. She will utilise this strong
practical experience to shape the research adoption to meet
Bushfire CRC end user needs.
I see Noreen’s secondment as being highly beneficial,
enabling the Bushfire CRC to work even closer with stakeholders.
This is particularly so given Noreen’s clear understanding of
the AFAC Groups and her passionate desire to utilise the knowledge
and networks of people in the AFAC Groups in delivering research
adoption to all end users.
Jen Lumsden, who previously covered the Bushfire CRC functions
of both research adoption and education, will now focus on the
education program. Jen’s position will now be Manager,
Education Program.
In separating the two functions, the Bushfire CRC will be able
to provide a greater focus on these two key deliverable areas
during the final stages of the Bushfire CRC.
Stakeholder Council
Our Stakeholder Council Annual General Meeting will be held at
the Bushfire CRC offices in East Melbourne on Wednesday 29 October.
This meeting will contain several important agenda items involving
the adoption of key research outcomes and discussion on the long
term future of bushfire research in Australasia. An agenda and
meeting papers will be sent to Stakeholder representatives this
week.
Bushfire book
On the evening before this Stakeholder AGM we will be holding a
launch of the book Wildfire in the High Country for
invited guests including all members of the Bushfire CRC Board and
Stakeholder Council. This book is a text and photographic record of
the fires of early 2007 in the southern high country of Victoria
put together by the Mansfield Writers Group. The Bushfire CRC
supported the publication along with the Country Fire Authority,
and the Victorian departments of Sustainability and Environment and
Human Services and attended a local launch of the book in Mansfield
in July.
Bushfire Research Fund
The Bushfire CRC has established a fund to attract donations
from the broader community for ongoing research. The Bushfire CRC
is on the Register of Environmental Organisations with the
Australian Government’s Department of Environment, Water,
Heritage and the Arts. Donations are tax deductible. A brochure is
ready for distribution and will be available at the upcoming
Stakeholder’s Meeting. For more information see: www.bushfirecrc.com/centre/fund.html
Adelaide conference wrap
The International Bushfire Research Conference, incorporating
the 15th Annual AFAC Conference, in Adelaide last month
is now fully wrapped up but it is worth reiterating its key
outcomes.
The conference, the workshop and the posters are prime vehicles
for the research of the Bushfire CRC to be transferred into our
agency partners so it was pleasing to see so many people across our
industry – from the many CEOs to those in operations - taking
the opportunity to be informed of the latest developments in their
field.
This is also a prime event for our researchers. All our
postgraduate students are invited to attend each annual conference
– many get the opportunity to present their work on the
program, all get to present their work as a poster.
No other CRC attracts as many participants to its annual
conference. The industry clearly sees the value in gathering to
participate in the research process. Our challenge now is to
attract a broader contingent from research organisations to witness
the array of research and research talent on show.
Research Posters and other information are online at: www.bushfirecrc.com
The ABC site dedicated to our conference is still online. Go to
www.abc.net.au/bushfireconference
Next year, the conference is at the Gold Coast Convention and
Exhibition Centre, 22-25 September 2009. The website is under
development at: http://www.afac2009.org.au/
Gary Morgan
CEO
Bushfire CRC
