Building momentum for what comes next 

17 Dec 2018

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Australia's energy providers is one area that the CRC has begun working with.

It has been a very busy year here at the CRC, with plenty happening both on the surface and in the background. Our core research program is going from strength to strength, with insights being delivered nationally that cover the full range of prevention, preparation, response and recovery across a range of natural hazards, along with many opportunities that have arisen for our research to be communicated in new and different arenas. But we need to continue to deliver everything we have committed to for our current partners over the next couple of years. That is our priority.

In saying that, we are also exploring how we can even better support our current partners, as well as new stakeholders, to build better resilience to natural hazards so that communities, government and businesses are better equipped to deal with previously unimaginable natural events. Especially in the context of a changing climate, shifting demographics, the introduction of new technologies and the emergence of new vulnerabilities. An example of this capability is highlighted in the recent work we undertook for the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services in helping them formulate their new Strategy 2030.

In next couple of years, I will develop new opportunities and trial new ways of working on research-informed activities, to maximise the use of research insights to complement our knowledge network.

As Partnership Development Director I would specifically like to work with you to better understand how we can best leverage the current investment in the CRC to ensure the capability that we have developed for the emergency service, emergency management and land management sectors, from 2003 under the Bushfire CRC and now the current centre, and how that remains useful into the future.

I also want to better integrate knowledge from other stakeholders outside of these sectors to improve resilience and reinforce principles of shared risk and responsibility for addressing those risks. We are already doing this with organisations such as Energy Networks Australia and its members, where we are helping them quantify the damage caused by catastrophic bushfires to inform decisions about how they design electricity infrastructure for safer communities in the future.

These types of projects give us a chance to do things differently, and to build on the knowledge we already have, to help key stakeholders make a difference in new ways.

I am excited about what lies ahead for the centre and look forward to speaking with many of you about how the CRC’s research expertise can help your organisation.