Thank you from your Bushfire CRC
After 11 years of active research, this week marks the last full week of the Bushfire CRC. Your Bushfire CRC will conclude the research program on 30 June. The 11 years of research could not have been achieved without the sustained effort and support of so many people. To the project leaders, researchers, PhD students, lead end users, Directors, Principal Scientific Advisors and countless others within both our research partner organisations and Australia and New Zealand’s fire, land management and emergency services, your Bushfire CRC thanks you for your valuable input.
The formal administrative wind down will continue over the coming months until an Annual General Meeting is held in September. However, for all practical purposes to its members and the public, the Bushfire CRC will cease operation after 30 June. Should you have any queries related to the research, contact the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC on (03) 9412 9600 or office@bnhcrc.com.au
Over the last year, the two CRCs have worked in tandem, sharing resources where possible. The two Boards have been in close cooperation in the wind down of the Bushfire CRC, and the establishment of the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC. The Bushfire CRC acknowledges the support from the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC Board and CEO Richard Thornton during this phase.
Some areas of ongoing cooperation and transition include:
Research to Drive Change online forum series – The extensive forums will continue over the coming months. For the latest schedule, as well as to access all past forums and videos see www.bushfirecrc.com/drivechange
Fire Notes – Some research outputs are still being finalised, including Fire Notes, which will continue to be published for a short time.
Website – The Bushfire CRC website, and the more than 1600 research outputs attached to it, will be maintained by the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC. The website address will remain active and the site will be closely integrated with the new CRC’s website.
Social media – Activity for the Bushfire CRC (Facebook and Twitter) will be wound down with all followers urged to switch to the new CRC. There will be periodic postings of Fire Notes and information connected to the Research to Drive Change online forum series.
Departures – Gary Morgan, Annette Allen and Mike Leonard are leaving the Bushfire CRC. Transferring – Lyndsey Wright, Vaia Smirneos and Nathan Maddock will take up new positions with the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC. Lyndsey will continue her work in contract research and student management, while Communications Officers Vaia and Nathan will join the new CRC in similar roles to what they had in the Bushfire CRC.
Research Utilisation – Bushfire CRC Research Utilisation Manager Dr Noreen Krusel will continue in this role as an employee of AFAC, concentrating on developing the final outputs of the Bushfire CRC. Noreen will be assisted by a new Communications Officer, Brenda Leahy.
Back in 2003, the Bushfire CRC was the first nationally coordinated research effort for the fire industry in Australia and New Zealand. Previously, funding for research never matched the need, there was little research information transfer or update, and much of the targeted research was for local issues and did not address high priority national research requirements.
The Bushfire CRC was a major step towards a better understanding of the complex social, economic and environmental aspects of bushfires. There was a vision for the future: safer firefighters and communities, through scientific research informing sound policies and procedures. Much of this has been achieved as we move into a new era under the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC.
