Governance structure

A strong governance structure is in place to ensure successful delivery of the Research Management Program. The Program has high-level support from senior executives within the University and the active involvement of individuals from key stakeholder groups. Their leadership and input drives the overarching strategic vision for the Program and informs operational decision-making.

As a joint initiative between the Research Portfolio and ICT, the Research Management Program has two sponsors. The Business Sponsor is Merlin Crossley, Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research). The ICT Sponsor is Bruce Meikle, Chief Information Officer. The Program Sponsors are ultimately accountable for defining, authorising and achieving the business objectives and benefits of the Research Management Program.

The Business Owner is Warwick Dawson, Director, Research Office. The Business Owner is appointed by the Business Sponsor to provide leadership and direction to the Program, undertaking the operational aspects of the Sponsor’s responsibilities, including day-to-day business decision-making in the context of the Program.

The Steering Group, chaired by Merlin Crossley (Business Sponsor), is ultimately accountable for approving the Program deliverables and providing leadership in introducing and implementing them into the University environment.

The composition of the Steering Group is:

• Professor Merlin Crossley, Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Chair
• Mr Warwick Dawson, Director, Research Office
• Professor David Day, Dean, Faculty of Science
• Professor Stephen Garton, Dean, Faculty of Arts
• Professor Greg Hancock, Dean, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies
• Professor Christopher Liddle, Associate Dean for Information Technology, Faculty of Medicine
• Mr Bruce Meikle, Chief Information Officer
• Dr Isaac Shariv, Managing Director, Sydnovate
• Mr Paul Slater, Deputy Chief Financial Officer and Director, Corporate Finance

The Project Board, chaired by Warwick Dawson (Business Owner), is responsible for the overall direction and management of a particular project within the Program to ensure delivery to agreed scope, timing, budget and quality. The Project Board is the project’s ‘voice’ to the outside world and is responsible for publicity and other dissemination of information about the project.

The composition of the Project Board for Horizon 1 is:

• Mr Warwick Dawson, Business Owner, Chair
• Ms Merril Bouckley, Stakeholder – Research Office
• Ms Gail Briody, Stakeholder – Ethics
• Mr Andrew Cooper, Stakeholder – ICT (Strategy & Architecture)
• Professor Martijn de Sterke, Stakeholder – representing Sciences and Engineering
• Mr Christian Eberhardt, Business Change Coordinator
• Professor David Grant, Stakeholder – Faculty of Economics and Business
• Professor Trevor Hambley, Stakeholder – ERA initiative
• Associate Professor Graham Mann, Stakeholder – representing Faculties of Health
• Ms Moira McAllister, Stakeholder – Corporate Finance (Research)
• Mr Mark Preston, Stakeholder – Financial Operations and Systems
• Dr Nino Quartararo, Stakeholder – Sydnovate
• Dr Masahiro Takatsuka, Stakeholder – School of Information Technologies
• Professor Richard Waterhouse, Stakeholder – representing Humanities and Social Sciences
• Ms Renata Zupanc, Program Manager

Download a copy of the Research Management Program Governance Chart