2019-20 Annual Report Final - Flipbook - Page 16
As its prospectus states, it is:
“designed to identify, curate and
advocate a selection of ideas from
Churchill Fellows that have the
potential to shape best practice
and policy reform on a variety of
relevant and contemporary issues
facing Australia. The program will
bring together the two organisations’
strengths to deliver a flagship
annual publication – Policy Futures:
A Reform Agenda…The publication
will combine the best of the Churchill
Fellows’ ideas and insights with the
policy and governance expertise of
the UQ Centre for Policy Futures, thus
providing targeted policy analysis
that reflects the legal, regulatory,
administrative and governance
arrangements of the ideas presented.”
From 55 high quality applicants, a
total of 11 Fellows were selected by
a Committee nominated by both
the Trust and the University. Further
details appear elsewhere in the Annual
Report.
These initiatives and others stem
directly from the Trust’s strategic plan,
especially three of its objectives: “Post
Fellowship development”; “Ensure
contemporary issues are addressed”;
and “Public profile of the Trust”. The
Strategic Plan itself will be reviewed
and updated during this year.
The Trust continues to benefit from
generous donations and sponsorships,
which over the past year amounted to
$102,941 and $334,669 respectively.
One such sponsor has been the Jack
Brockhoff Foundation, which for 25
years has funded one or two Victorian
Fellows, among them our current
Victorian Board member, Jane Munro.
In February, many of these Fellows (and
I) attended an event at Government
House Melbourne, to mark 40 years
of the Foundation, hosted by the
Governor, Her Excellency Linda
Dessau, AM CF.
We intend to prepare a comprehensive
document during the year to celebrate
the 25 year association of the Trust with
the Foundation, and to highlight the
value of these Fellowships in terms of
achievements of the recipients.
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2019-20 Annual Report
At the end of the financial year,
Dr Damien Thomson retired from
the Board and as the Chair of the
Queensland Selection Committee.
Damien was a valued Board member
for many years, combining his medical
expertise with his other interest, music.
He has subsequently been elected as a
Life Member. He has been succeeded
by Dr Richard Roylance.
Following the transition from Sir Peter
Cosgrove to General David Hurley as
Governor-General, Sir Peter stepped
down as the Trust’s Patron in Chief. The
Trust is delighted that General Hurley
has agreed to continue the tradition
of being the Trust’s Patron in Chief,
and also that Sir Peter has agreed to
become a Life Member of the Trust.
I am delighted to report that Professor
Tom Calma has accepted the Board’s
invitation to become a Patron of the
Trust, joining Margaret White in this
role. Tom is well known and widely
respected for his work on human
rights and social justice, especially
improving the lives of First Nations
people. As well as his work in the fields
of health, education and economic
development, he has served as a
senior diplomat in India and Vietnam,
and is currently Chancellor of the
University of Canberra.
Once again, it is appropriate to thank
all Vice-Regal representatives in
the States and Territories, for their
support of the Trust, via presentation
of certificates to new Fellows,
presentation of medallions to returning
Fellows, and in other ways. I would also
like to extend the Trust’s considerable
thanks to all Regional Secretaries,
and members of State/Territory
Selection Committees and Panels
for the time and effort they devote to
assessing Fellowship applicants and in
generally promoting the Trust among
their various networks. Without this
voluntary commitment the Trust would
not be able to operate.
I would like to recognise the personal
contributions that a great number of
Churchill Fellows made in the face
of the bushfires that ravaged our
country over summer and indeed, the
aftermath.
This, in addition to those Churchill
Fellows actively combatting the
coronavirus pandemic and its lasting
effects, is testament not only to the
character of our Churchill Fellows but
also to the relevance of the issues that
they all work in.
Finally, on behalf of the Board, I extend
a deep and sincere thanks to the team
at the National Office, under our CEO,
Adam Davey, for the wonderful work
they do for us all. I said last year they
are dedicated, helpful and unfailingly
cheerful. This year, and particularly in
recent months, given the extensive
interaction between our staff and 2019
Fellows seeking to revise their travel
plans, these attributes have been
clearly on display. I have only heard
plaudits from Fellows grappling with
disruption to their travels – and their
lives.
Our staff will endure some further
dislocation in coming months
as we undertake much needed
refurbishment of Churchill House
in Canberra, having recently had a
further 20 year lease over the building
confirmed by the ANU. This work will
involve reconfiguration of working
spaces for improved efficiency and a
general smartening up of the interior
of the building. While the work is in
progress, our staff will work off-site.
David Trebeck