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Advisory panels and program teams
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The panel system is a key strength of the GRDC. The Board makes decisions with the support of a national advisory panel, informed by the knowledge and experience of three regional panels and four investment program teams. This network helps to ensure that GRDC investments are directed towards the interests of all our stakeholders and the strategic objectives of our programs.
National Panel
The National Panel comprises the three regional panel chairs and the GRDC's executive managers. The National Panel addresses national R&D priorities across the GRDC investment programs, and advances recommendations on investments to the Board.
In assisting the Board, the panel's key advice functions include reviewing program investment plans; reviewing budget development and allocations; recommending strategic changes in allocations; arbitrating issues of investment allocation or investment strategy; and actioning review recommendations. The National Panel also plays a major role in communicating with research partners and stakeholders.
Regional panels
Members of the GRDC's Western panel inspecting a canola crop near Kojonup in Western Australia. Photo: Vic Dobos
The GRDC's three regional panels are composed of graingrowers, agribusiness representatives and scientists and the GRDC executive managers, with provision for other industry experts to participate as appropriate. Regional panel members also participate as members of GRDC program teams.
The regional panels develop and monitor the strategic direction for the regional elements of the GRDC's R&D investments (details of the regions are provided in Figure 8 in Part 1). Supported by the GRDC program managers, panel members assess investment proposals based on selection criteria, and undertake risk analysis of the potential investments. The panels are also responsible for ensuring that investment strategy is responding to the regional and national priorities of stakeholders.
The GRDC Operating Manual covers roles, responsibilities, codes of conduct, remuneration and selection guidelines for panel members. Panel members as at 30 June 2006 are listed in Table 10.
| Panel | Chair | Deputy Chair | Members |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Regional Panel | Ian Buss | Di Bentley | James Clark David Freebairn Richard Heath Chris Joseph Graeme Wright Bill Yates Michael Southan (half-year only) John Harvey Iftikhar Mostafa |
| Southern Regional Panel | David Shannon | Mark Peoples | Jeffrey Arney Andrew Barr Merna Curnow Barbara Howlett Graeme Lukey Allan Mayfield Andrew Rice David Wolfenden Vic Dobos Vince Logan |
| Western Regional Panel | Dale Baker | Robert Belford | Ralph Burnett David Capper Merrie Carlshausen Ben Curtis Richard Oliver Neil Young Ruth Young Greg Fraser Gavin Whiteley |
Program teams
Each of the GRDC's four program teams comprises program managers, panel members from each of the three regions, an executive manager and a panel chair. Depending on the size and complexity of the portfolio, each program team forms several subprograms, as shown in Table 11.
| Program team | Subprogram teams |
|---|---|
| Varieties |
|
| Practices |
|
| New Products |
|
| Communication and Customer Services |
|
Each program team is responsible for developing, implementing and reviewing the investment strategy within its output group. Other activities include evaluating projects, prioritising potential investment opportunities and monitoring project performance.