 |
|
|
|
|
(Also available as separate downloadable PDF documents)
- Transmittal letter
- Enabling legislation
- Chairperson's message
- Managing Director's message
- Who we are
Message from the Chairperson
As the most diverse of Australia’s Rural Research and Development Corporations, RIRDC’s vision is to facilitate a more profitable, dynamic and sustainable rural sector. To achieve this, the Corporation invests in rural research and development for new industries, established industries and across a wide spectrum of national rural issues. Our business objective is to make a difference by providing options for producers and communities to increase their profitability and to diversify, by identifying opportunities and helping to manage change in sectors and regions. Our industry and government stakeholders look to RIRDC to provide the independent expertise and management excellence to meet these objectives.
During the year we responded to the needs of our government and industry stakeholders with increased focus on maximising impact and adoption particularly in areas and industries experiencing drought. We are also growing our capacity to initiate and coordinate R&D on national rural issues such as trade, farm health and safety and organic foods.
Research and development outputs added to the knowledge and options available to rural and regional Australia through targeted communications, publications and an extensive website. This year we published over 140 reports and our website now provides over 1,500 reports across our 22 research programs. These targeted and wider outputs facilitate the adoption that underpins the successful outcomes set out in this report.
The 2004–05 year has been one of significant change for the Corporation.
In December 2004, Dr Simon Hearn retired as Managing Director. The Board joins me in thanking Simon for his contribution to RIRDC and wishing him well in his new endeavours.
Mr Tony Byrne was appointed Acting Managing Director for the period December 2004 to February 2005 and we acknowledge and thank Tony for his leadership and steady hand during this transitional period.
In February 2005 we welcomed our new Managing Director, Dr Peter O’Brien. Peter has provided increased focus and impetus to the Corporation’s goals and delivery mechanisms for adoption and impact. Following a strategic review, the Board adopted an internal change plan directed to maximising the impact of RIRDC’s research and development, growing effective relationships and increasing our capacity to deliver on our goals.
The triennial Director appointment process was completed during the year. On 30 June 2005 we farewelled our former Deputy Chairperson, Professor Rob Clark and Directors,
Helen Cameron and Mike Taverner. On behalf of the corporation, I particularly acknowledge and thank each of our outgoing Directors for their own special and significant contribution to RIRDC. At the same time we welcomed new Directors Lindy Hyam, Andrew Johnson and Norm McAllister and welcomed back to the Board reappointed Directors, Steve Marshall, Rob Boshammer and John Lawrenson. Earlier this month, the Minister appointed Steve Marshall as Deputy Chairperson and I look forward to working with Steve in this role.
The Board places strong emphasis on open, responsive relationships with government, industry and the research provider community. During the year we visited a wide variety of projects and industry participants in North Queensland, Tasmania and Brisbane. We received excellent briefings and saw at first hand adoption and successful outcomes from RIRDC funded research.
I particularly thank our research providers and industry participants who contributed to the success of these trips and our enhanced understanding of the projects.
The outcomes and activities outlined in this report have been achieved through the commitment and effort of our people supported by industry advisory committees, expert panels and government colleagues. In a year of considerable change our staff have retained focus and contribution with exemplary commitment to RIRDC and its stakeholders. We believe we have achieved sound outcomes in 2004/2005 and laid the foundations for increasing impact in 2005/2006 and beyond.
Mary Boydell
Chairperson
Message from the Managing Director
Australian farmers and rural communities meet the ongoing challenges of global competition and declining terms of trade—and capture new market opportunities— through strong productivity growth. Australia’s rural industry and Government co-invest in rural research and development because both know that innovation is the key driver of productivity growth in agriculture—and it’s working! The Productivity Commission has recently reported on this tight nexus between research and development and productivity growth and observed that the rural sector contributes more than double its share of productivity growth to the Australian economy.RIRDC has a very specific objective—to maximise the contribution of our research and development investments to the profitability, sustainability and resilience of rural industries and communities. During 2004–05 we have worked closely with our industry partners and with government to ensure that we are focused on research and development that delivers on that objective. RIRDC’s efforts have seen significant successes and received strong support.
2004–05 has been a difficult year for many rural industries due to continuing drought. In the RIRDC portfolio, the rice industry in particular has experienced difficult conditions in terms of access to water for production. The drought has also had an impact on RIRDC’s other levy paying industries and is reflected in the downward trend in revenue and our capacity to fund research and development over a number of years. However, innovation is a key part of the response to those difficult operating conditions – for example, RIRDC’s investment has helped the rice industry to radically improve its water use efficiency.
Over the year, RIRDC has initiated specific work to further enhance its impact. The Board has agreed to give emphasis to the goal of maximising our R&D impact by growing relationships and enhancing RIRDC’s capacity. To pursue these objectives, RIRDC is redeveloping its investment framework and further strengthening its capacity to measure and communicate impact. We have also simplified and focused our lines of business - new industries - specific established industries - national rural issues.
A unique feature of RIRDC’s mandate is our focus on national rural issues, which have included: farm health and safety; agroforestry; human capacity building; and global competitiveness. RIRDC will further develop its capacity to bring together these and other national rural issues through joint ventures which meet our priorities and those of our partners. We see particular opportunities for R&D joint ventures to help industries respond to the pressures of structural adjustment by diversifying.
RIRDC has experienced significant change in the year, with the appointment of a new Board, new Managing Director, and two new General Managers. These appointments and increased compliance requirements have increased corporate and administrative costs in the year. There are also some high level trends in project numbers that RIRDC will be examining closely in the coming year. Coupled with decisions by the Board to further enhance RIRDC’s relationships and capacity, these changes have contributed to a demanding operating environment for all RIRDC staff. As the new Managing Director, I am struck by the professionalism and commitment of RIRDC staff to the organisation and the industries we work for. My compliments to them for their achievements over the year, which include not only very significant research outcomes, but broader recognition for their competence through the ARA Gold Award for annual reporting excellence and a special award for Corporate Governance – as well as re-accreditation to ISO 9001.
Finally, I want to record my appreciation of Dr Jeff Davis’s contribution to RIRDC over the last nine years and wish him well for the future.
Looking to the future, the coming year will be a challenging, changing and rewarding one for RIRDC and its industries. We have great plans to further enhance our contributions in this fundamentally important area of innovation for rural Australia.
I look forward to reporting next year on those achievements.
Peter O’Brien
Managing Director
 
|
Last updated: October 2003
Copyright © RIRDC
http://www.rirdc.gov.au/pub/anrep03/contents.html
