AIE_2022_02

Request for access to information held by The Heritage Council relating to “Agendas/minutes of meetings, and copies of reports produced by or for the Task Force Review of NDBC in 2021-22

Note: April 9th, 2021 meeting

Presentation from the Managing Director of Compass Informatics – Gearoid O’Riain

The presentation outlined detail in the following areas:

• Potential Vision for the National Biodiversity Data Centre
• What has been done so far
• Information on the skilled teams
• Opportunities and Challenges
• Detail on multiple overlapping projects
• Components
  
• Association and Branding
• Agri Biodiversity Evidence team
• Biodiversity Evidence team – for EPA
• Marine Biodiversity Evidence Team
• Biodiversity Education & Awareness Team

V. Teehan gave an update on the concept document she produced based on advice from Council’s legal advisers following the agreement at the last meeting that a company by guarantee would be the best way forward.

The process would involve seeking Government approval for the establishment of a Company Limited by Guarantee for the purposes of collecting and recording of biodiversity data

If Government approval is given to the proposed approach, then the Taskforce could proceed to determine the recommended composition of the first Board of the new Company as well as the proposed Constitution, Memorandum and Articles of Association and details of governance and proposed staffing arrangements, etc. The detailed recommendations would also require Government approval.

Concept document

C. Ryan would seek advice within the Department and revert back to the Chairperson and V. Teehan with a briefing note prior to the next meeting

Comparative Terms of Reference document from Atlas of Living Australia

2 June 2021 Meeting

TRANSITION PLAN – PRESENTATION BY HUGH O’SULLIVAN, CROWE CONSULTING

Operating Agreement and the Articles of Association

Over the period 2017-2019, the Heritage Council examined the financial governance, contract management and overall administration of the programme. In 2019 The Heritage Council commissioned an independent review of the governance
structures of the National Biodiversity Data Centre. The review was conducted by Crowe Ireland.

That one of the recommendations from the review was the establishment of the taskforce to oversee the implementation of the recommendations. The taskforce will report back to the Board of the Heritage Council on a regular basis. The CEO informed the committee that it is her intention to establish quarterly meetings with the NBDC to track progress on the KPIs as outline in the Service Level Agreement (SLA).

Gearoid O’Riain. The presentation outlined detail in the following areas:
– Potential Vision for the National Biodiversity Data Centre
– What has been done so far
– Information on the skilled teams
– Opportunities and Challenges
– Detail on multiple overlapping projects
– Components

– Association and Branding
– Agri Biodiversity Evidence team
– Biodiversity Evidence team – for EPA

Note: the preparatory work circulated for this meeting

That D. Hobern and P. Greene briefed the committee on the application of lessons from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) and other biodiversity initiatives at an international level to the future needs and direction for the NBDC.

Preparation of high level confidential interim report to go to the Heritage Council Board on June 24^th outlining the recommended approach of the taskforce

Schedule a workplan for the detail issues in second half of this year

V. Teehan presented the team with the draft Interim Report she produced for discussion and approval today for the Heritage Council Board meeting on June 24^th

Hugh Sullivan presented the draft transition interim plan under the following headings

• Introduction
• Due Diligence
• Compass Informatics Exit Strategy
• Business Continuity Planning
• Next Steps  

Internal Review on AIE_2022_02

NPWS requirements for NBDC

NBDC and lessons from the international context