Governance
Structure
Through an NCRIS grant to the University of Queensland, the Australian Government is the main funder of the TERN Australia project. The Head Office; Data Services and Analytics platform; Biocomplexity Unit (including the Threatened Species Index); TERN-CoastRI; Engagement; and Education activities of the TERN project are hosted at the University of Queensland in Brisbane.
The University of Queensland contracts many universities and CSIRO to operate components of the Ecosystem Observatory and undertake Modelling and Synthesis. Among the collaborator are CSIRO, Adelaide University, James Cook University, Queensland University of Technology, Australian National University, University of Western Sydney, University of Western Australia and University of New South Wales. These partners contract further universities to undertake specific site activities.
The strategic intent, engagement and scientific direction of the TERN Australia project are guided by a number of Advisory committees to ensure TERN Australia’s activities are aligned with national priorities and support Australia’s world-leading research in the environmental sciences.
The main advisory committees of TERN that support the project’s governance are the TERN Advisory Board and its Science Advisory Committee and the TERN Executive Committee.
TERN Executive Group
- Chair - TERN Director
Science Advisory Committee
- Distinguished Prof Belinda Medlyn – Chair
- Dr Margaret Byrne PSM- Deputy Chair
- Prof Adrienne Nicotra
- Prof Alex McBratney FAA
- Prof Andy Pitman AO FAA
- Mr Jim Walker
- Prof Megan Lewis
- Dr Ross Wilkinson
Adhoc
Subcommittees &
working groups of the TERN Advisory Board
TERN Advisory Board
- Prof Hugh Possingham FNAS FAA (Chair) – independent
- Dr Douglas Robertson – Independent
- Prof Paul Bonnington – Uni Queensland
- Dr Libby Pinkard – CSIRO
- Prof Michael Goodsite – Adelaide University
- Dr Margaret Byrne PSM – WA Dept Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
- Prof Ian Atkinson – James Cook University
- Prof Simon Ringer – Uni Sydney
- Juanita Pettit – Australian Dept Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
- Distinguished Prof Belinda Medlyn, Western Sydney Uni
- Dr Steve Hill, GeoScience Australia
- Dr Beryl Morris – TERN Australia
Prof Hugh Possingham FNAS FAA (Chair)
Dr Louise Minty (Deputy Chair)
Juanita Pettit
Dr Beryl Morris
Prof Andrew Krockenberger
Dr Douglas Robertson
Dr Margaret Byrne
Prof Simon Ringer
Distinguished Prof Belinda Medlyn
Dr Steve Hill
TERN Advisory Board
Independent members and representatives of the Lead Agent and Operational Partners provide advice on the overall strategic direction, management and performance of TERN and establishment of longer-term national strategic goals. The Advisory Board receives advice from TERN’s independent Science Advisory Committee.
TERN Science Advisory Committee
Members are outstanding leaders in their respective disciplines. The Committee provides independent advice to the Advisory Board relating to the role of national research infrastructure in meeting national and regional science priorities.
TERN Executive Group
TERN’s Director and the Platform Lead personnel specified in contracts between the University of Queensland and partner institutions, along with invited operational staff from the central office and each Platform, comprise the TERN Executive Group. This group works with the Science Advisory Committee and TERN Advisory Board to ensure the strategic intent of TERN is put into operation.
