2019-05-07 P&E Agenda - Item 3 - Attachment 1 - Noosa Sustainability Institute - Concepts and Options Report

4.2              Institute Model 2.
Synopsis
Under this model there is a more formal structure with a Steering Committee overseeing the
operations and having input into the selection or approval of project proposals submitted, as well as
assessing research outputs. The structure and membership of the Steering Committee would not
necessarily require a broad scope of knowledge in different research domains but should be
comprised of suitably qualified persons who are able to assess the general quality of proposals and
research outputs. The Steering Committee would predominantly comprise a number of senior
Council staff and potentially Councillor representative but could also include noted members of the
community and volunteer researchers from allied research institutions.
The general operation of the Institute would be controlled by a dedicated part-time Institute Manager
with a significant time commitment to the institute (which could become full time as the Institute
develops). The Manager position would be supported by other Council staff on an as-needs basis.
The Manager would be responsible to the Council via the Steering Committee for regular
engagement with active research projects, be a main contact point for the community and be
responsible for all communication activities. The Institute itself could operate as either a virtual on-
line model or have a physical shopfront with a virtual capability behind it.
Research projects would be sourced through a mixture of calls for research proposals in areas
deemed important by the Council. The Council could also use the Institute to obtain opinions on
specific potential research topics from the community or allied research agencies. In addition, the
Institute can accept unsolicited submissions from researchers on topics that are believed to further
the broad sustainability goals of Council and the community.
Council will be a major funding source but the Institute, through the Steering Committee and Council
would seek funding from other sources including Government, industry and other potential partners.
The Institute Manager would have a major role in sourcing external funding for the Institute.
A Sustainability Institute run using this model could seek to ensure that projects undertaken under
the carriage of the Institute have a reporting structure that provides information and data directly
back to the Council and the community. The community should have full and open access to all
research outputs. The Institute structure would encourage the uptake of the research outputs for the
benefit of the local community through direct community engagement on the project, linkages to
industry and the Council and a means to track the outcomes and potential impacts from the research.
If sufficient resources were made available, or as the model develops, the institute could also provide
support for related non-research activities that are linked to the general sustainability aims of the
Institute (e.g., school and adult educational classes, an on-line library of resource materials). These
non-research activities would be provided by community and research volunteers but overseen by
the Institute Manager with additional support from Council as required.
As part of the demonstration of the benefits of the research, any project undertaken would be
encouraged to demonstrate how it builds upon the outputs of previous projects or initiatives
undertaken within or even prior to the formation of the Institute where relevant and if previous
relevant research or projects were undertaken. It would not be absolutely necessary to have direct
links to other non-Institute led initiatives in the Noosa region (or even broader) but there should be
at least an awareness of these other initiatives.




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