Annual General Meetings

January 19-20, 2007, Adelaide Botanic Gardens, Noel Lothian Hall

This AGM was originally scheduled for September of 2006, but delayed until mid January 2007 to coincide with the 5th Southern Connection Conference held in Adelaide. As several members of the network were to attend this conference it was a feasible alternative to maximise attendance.

Participants: Robert Hill(Chair), Paul Sunnucks, Arthur Georges, Margaret Byrne, Christopher Johnson, Jim Bowler, Dan Faith, Mathew Spriggs, Peter Gell, Andy Austin, Peter Kershaw, Robin Torrence, Sean Connolly, Simon Haberle, Maria Lekis(Minute taker), Jackie Venning, Sean Connell, David Yeates, Steve Donnellan, Mark Harvey, Andrew Lowe, Hugh Possingham

Apologies: Terry Hughes, Peter Lockhart, Pauline Ladiges, David Bowman, Barry Brook, Tim Denham, Ross Crozier, Cameron Slayter

Guests: Prof AhChung Tsoi, Monash University; Robert Morrison, Flinders University; and Raymond Nias, WWF

Consultant: Mark Douglas, Ethos Australia Pty. Ltd.

Day 1

Welcome and Introductions
Executive Report (funded projects overview, budget overview, notice of executive committee membership nominations)
15 minute presentation by CIs of funded WGPs
Review and break
Summary of ECR projects
Guest Speaker, Prof Ah Chung Tsoi, Director e-Research Centre, Monash University, 'e-Research'
Guest Speaker, Dr Rob Morrison, visiting scholar, Flinders University, 'Trust me, I'm a Science Communicator!'
Break out of groups - actions for the next stage

Day 2

Group improvement project reports and discussion for agreed action
Executive Committee Membership
EFN post ARC resources discussion

Outcomes

The Management Committee was confirmed, with no new membership.

Key goals arising from break-out discussion groups for 2007-2009 were:

Expand and further refine the Early Career Research Program
Improve intra-group communication and communication between the Working Groups and network management
Confirm and communicate network performance measures
Consider the nature of the Environmental Futures Network post ARC funding
All Working Groups to develop new grant opportunities from existing projects
Network to contribute to the consultation for the development of the national Strategy for the conservation of Australia's biological diversity
Develop a range of strategies to increase this network's interaction with resource managers
Conduct a forth round of Working Group Funds allocation.