20 October 2008

  • 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.

Noreen Krusel

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