Consultants | Dr Paul Brennan

Negotiating Multi-Agency Research Programs

Dr Brennan has been involved in the development of a number of multi-agency research programs both as a participating researcher and as an external consultant.

• These have included:
• Northern Wheat Improvement Program with the (then) Queensland Department of Primary Industries, The University of Sydney and NSW Agriculture (as a participating researcher),
• National Wheat Molecular Marker Project with participation of ten Australian public agencies (participating researcher),
• Wheat Improvement in Sichuan Province: Application of modern breeding technologies (quantitative genetics, molecular markers and doubled haploids). with the Sichuan Academy of Agriculture Science, QDPI and the universities of Sydney, Queensland and Southern Queensland (participating researcher),
• Australia/P R China program to document the wheat quality requirements for the wheat products consumed in P R China with participation of BRI Australia and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science (consultant),
• Wheat molecular marker program for north east Australia involving QDPI, CSIRO (Brisbane), University of Queensland and the University of Southern Queensland (consultant)
• Macadamia variety evaluation arrangements among CSIRO, QDPI, Horticulture Australia Ltd. and
• Wheat molecular marker program for Western Australia involving Agriculture Western Australia, CRC for Molecular Plant breeding, CSIRO (Plant Industry) and the University of Western Australia (consultant).

• The important issues in the successful development and prosecution of multi-agency research initiatives are:
• shared commitment to the outcomes of the project,
• shared confidence in the research methodology,
• understanding that full collaboration will take time to develop,
• mutual respect,
• recognition that organisational cultures may be different,
• flexibility by all in developing the R and D strategies and
• reward for all.

The consultant has a fundamental responsibility to play a major role in the development of these understandings through facilitation.