Corporate Management
General Manager:
Mr Jeff Storer
Ph: 02 6272 4656
Fax: 02 6272 5877
Jeff.storer@rirdc.gov.au
Corporate
Management
Objective
-
The RIRDC Corporate Management
team is committed to business excellence in professional services to support
the objectives of the Corporation.
The key areas of business
-
Corporate Governance
-
Financial Management
-
Human Resource Management
-
Information and Communication
Technology
-
Cross Portfolio Activity
Background
Over the past two years
the Corporation has made significant investments in its capability and
enabling functions. These investments include HR capacity, policy development
and structural alignment; the development and application of the new investment
framework; the development of a new Corporate Plan and integrated systems
that support the Corporation’s objectives.
Strategies
-
Provide corporate management
that underpins the objectives of the Corporation through business excellence
-
Continually improve the policy
framework that supports our obligations under our Commonwealth Authorities
and Companies Act 1997 and Primary Industries and Energy Research
and Development Act 1989
-
Maintain highly functional internal
and external audit of all financial and administrative operations
-
Continue to implement, monitor
and evaluate the Corporation’s risk management and fraud control plans
-
Continue to manage the Corporation’s
accountability and reporting of financial and business activities in accordance
with the Board’s approved financial management policies and procedures,
delegations and best practice
-
Continue to provide timely and
accurate financial and operational reporting to the Board, management and
external stakeholders
-
Develop and implement ‘best
practice’ human resource management policies and procedures that are competitive
and flexible and which attract, reward, develop and retain high performing,
quality staff
-
Provide integrated technology
that supports and aligns with the strategic objectives of the Corporation
-
Improve access to RIRDC’s knowledge
resources through developing and maintaining an up-to-date, accessible,
interactive website (www.rirdc.gov.au) with best-practice content management
-
Improve accessibility of RIRDC’s
publications through the website, online sales and other distribution networks
-
Develop new communication channels
and support existing communication channels by expanding the product mix
and distribution media
-
Gain a greater understanding
of our market and its segments and the most effective ways to communicate
with these target audiences to maximise knowledge outcomes
-
Develop evaluation metrics,
models and methodologies to demonstrate return on investment
Key Deliverables for 2007–08
Corporate
Governance
-
Implementation of the Compliance
Reporting framework
-
Implementation of the Protective
Security Manual as a general policy of Government
-
Implementation of the Corporate
Plan
-
Implementation of and reporting
against the Statement of Intent
-
Unqualified internal and external
audit reports
-
Consolidation of Corporation
Policies
Financial
Management
-
Implementation of an improved
financial and operational performance reporting framework
-
Integration and refinement of
the financial management information system with the web-based portfolio
management system Clarity
-
Implementation of budgeting
and reporting tools to R&D program management
-
Unqualified internal and external
audit reports
Human
Resource Management
-
Outcomes-focused benchmarks
of HR performance to be developed to measure performance on an annual basis
-
Communications strategy developed
and implemented for key human resources functions
-
Succession plans in place for
key positions
-
Staff have a clear understanding
of the human resources policies and procedures and their role and responsibilities
within the employment relationship
-
HR policies and procedures are
reviewed and aligned with WorkChoices legislation
-
Staff have flexible and competitive
conditions of employment linked to performance
Information
and Communication Technology
-
Successful full implementation
of the web-based portfolio management system Clarity across all business
processes
-
Successful migration to a windows
operating environment
-
Demonstrated advancement of
the Corporation’s computerised systems and implementation of a new portfolio
management system to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the Corporation’s
business processes
Cross-Portfolio Activity
-
New web site integrated with
the Corporation’s knowledge base including Print on Demand
-
Improved commercial partnership
with research providers and industry partners leading to increased commercialisation
of RIRDC research projects
-
Evaluation models and methodologies
at project, program, portfolio and Corporate levels and effective communication
of these
-
Production, marketing and distribution
of newsletters, publications, research reports and other knowledge products
-
Increased distribution of RIRDC
research publications, and increased use of RIRDC knowledge products, resulting
increased uptake of RIRDC research
Cross
Portfolio Activity
Program
Impact Evaluation
Over the last eight years
RIRDC has been conducting a program of evaluations of the impact of its
research investments. The Program has provided a detailed view of the performance
of RIRDC’s R&D investments reported in RIRDC’s Annual Report 2006–06.
In the last year the Corporation
has developed a new investment framework to support its investment decision
making. This in conjunction with the Corporation’s new Corporate Plan 2007-2012
provides a new framework for evaluating the impact of our R&D investments.
Each of our industries has
or will develop an R&D plan that clearly identifies and prioritises
industry needs and identifies R&D objectives, strategies and performance
measures. The contribution that the program makes will be assessed against
these plans on an annual basis with a full evaluation of the benefit cost
in the fourth year of lapsing R&D plans to guide future investment.
This new framework will support
the activities of the R&D Council of Chairs in collaboratively reporting
on the R&D impact across rural research and development corporations.
Communications
The RIRDC communications
program focuses on maximising knowledge outcomes from the Corporation’s
R&D investments. Targeted communications activities are geared towards
delivering relevant knowledge products to stakeholders and selected audiences.
The Corporation will undertake a broad external review of our communications
function to align its contribution to knowledge outcomes.
Program
Development
Each year the Corporation
allocates resources that enable us to identify and scope new opportunities.
These have included areas such as trade and global competitiveness, and
recently work in the areas of energy, biofuels and peri-urban agriculture.
In 2007–08 a formal process
is under development for identifying future investment priorities for the
National Rural Issues portfolio. This will involve engaging portfolio stakeholders
and identifying their R&D priorities through an annual National Rural
Issues Conference. This will involve high level participation from eminent
speakers, government and industry to both identify and secure commitment
to agreed priorities.
Intellectual
Property Management and Commercialisation
In the generation of new
knowledge, the effective management of intellectual property is essential
to maximising the value of the outcomes of RIRDC research and development
investments.
RIRDC aims to enhance the
value of its R&D through facilitation of adoption of outcomes. Intellectual
property (IP) protection and commercialisation are significant paths to
adoption as are communication and extension activities and industry partnerships.
Nearly all RIRDC R&D
projects produce new Intellectual Property which adds to the extensive
store of knowledge. However, only a small percentage generates IP results
that require further protection.
All RIRDC IP and commercialisation
activities aim to:
-
Maximise the uptake and benefits
flowing from research investment in rural industries by making new technologies,
products, processes and services available as quickly and as cost-effectively
as possible
-
Ensure the building of strong,
sustainable alliances with the rural sector, related commercial industries
and other key stakeholders
-
Increase the profitability and
sustainability of Australian rural industries. Returns through royalties,
licence fees, etc, are products of commercialisation and not key objectives
-
Enable free availability of
intellectual property for ensuing research purposes
-
Manage with due care, skill,
diligence and accountability in accordance with all relevant legislation,
policies and guidelines
Last updated: July 2007
Copyright © RIRDC
http://www.rirdc.gov.au/aop07-08/copr-management.html
