The department, in collaboration with stakeholders has established a Higher Education Research Data Advisory Committee (HERDAC) to provide expert advice on existing and emerging data related issues for the administration of research block grants (RBG).
The advisory committee meets quarterly. The inaugural meeting occurred in February 2010.
Terms of Reference
The Higher Education Research Data Advisory Committee Terms of Reference are as follows:
- Provide advice and guidance to DIISR on:
- Allow provision for the establishment of Sub-groups to contribute to specific data related issues as required. To date these have included:
- The Transparent Costing methodology for Sustainable Research Excellence in Universities
- The review of the Australian Competitive Grants Register in the first half of 2010 (now completed).
Sub-groups meet on a needs basis.
Download the Higher Education Research Data Advisory Committee Terms of Reference [
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Roles of the Advisory Committee
The advisory committee assists DIISR in the effective utilisation of data underpinning the RBG program, where there is a need to improve its data collection and reporting capacity.
The advisory committee provides advice on data collection and financial management issues associated with DIISR’s research block grant programs.
In 2010, attention of the advisory committee focussed primarily on the Transparent Costing data collection processes for the Sustainable Research Excellence in Universities measure, the Higher Education Research Data Collection, and the Australian Competitive Grants Register.
To address immediate requirements, two sub-groups were established to operate beneath the advisory committee. These sub-groups focus on transparent costing issues relating to Sustainable Research Excellence in Universities and the review of the Australian Competitive Grants Register in the first half of 2010. Over time, other sub-groups may be established to support the work of DIISR.
Membership of Advisory Committee
The advisory committee will be chaired by DIISR. The membership is as follows:
- Ms Anne Baly, Head of Research Division (Chair), DIISR
- Dr Anne Byrne, General Manager, Research Funding and Policy, DIISR
- Dr Ian McMahon, Director, Research, Group of Eight
- Professor Les Field, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research, University of New South Wales
- Dr Lois Fitz-Gerald, Executive Director, Office for Research, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
- Mr Michael McArdle, Director, Office of Research, Queensland University of Technology
- Professor Scott Holmes, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) and Dean of Graduate Studies, University of Newcastle
- Mr Tony Sheil, Associate Director, Office for Research, Griffith University
- Professor Andrew Cheetham, Pro Vice-Chancellor Research, University of Western Sydney
- Ms Sharon Kitt, Research Performance Analyst, Swinburne University of Technology
- Ms Leanne Harvey, Executive General Manager, Australian Research Council
- Ms Diane Braskic, Director, Innovation and Technology BSC, Australian Bureau of Statistics
- Mr Andrew Fadden, DIISR Agency Advice Unit, Budget Group, Department of Finance and Deregulation
- Ms Julie Randall, Branch Manager, Infrastructure and Endowment Branch, Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
HERDAC SRE Technical Working Group
The role of the HERDAC SRE Technical Working Group is to provide advice on the administration of the Sustainable Research Excellence in Universities (SRE) staff hours collection and to contribute specific input on the Transparent Costing data collection. The Technical Working Group is chaired by DIISR. The membership is as follows:
Mr Mark Thomas, Manager, Sustainable Research Excellence (Chair), DIISR
Dr Ian McMahon, Director, Research, Group of Eight
Mr Grahame Pearson, Research Development and Integrity, University of New England
Ms Sue Sleep, Director University Planning, Evaluation and Quality, The University of Melbourne
Mr Peter Shipp, Deputy Director Finance and Business Services, The Australian National University
Mr Joe Valenti, Manager, Finance and Resources, Curtin University of Technology
Professor Scott Holmes, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) and Dean of Graduate Studies, University of Newcastle
Mr Tony Sheil, Associate Director, Office of Research, Griffith University
Mr Matt Wright, Associate Director of Financial Services, University of Wollongong
Mr Ian Harris, Director, Research and Innovation Division, The University of Queensland
Mr Chris Jolly, Manager Financial Projects, University of South Australia
Contact Us
For more information, please email: RBGrants@innovation.gov.au with "HERDAC" as the subject line.