Pillar 2: People

Theme: Leadership and capacity

Objective:
Develop people and skills to support industry RD&E.

Impact:
In 2028, the development of world-class research capability supports industry goals.

Delivering world-class RD&E for the benefit of Australian cotton is the core business of CRDC via Clever Cotton. To achieve the plan, we must effectively build and maintain a diverse, world-class RD&E workforce, plus build leadership capability. The Leadership and capacity theme aims to do that.

This theme will help ensure the industry has access to the right skills and capacity to support research and development. Through the research capacity program, CRDC will provide clear signals to our research partners of the research and innovation capacity needs to address cotton research skills gaps and priorities. Continued collaboration across cotton and with Australia's rural industries will make it easier to quantify, understand and respond to current and future research needs.

It will also help ensure the industry has more diverse leaders with the skills and knowledge to lead change and drive sustainable prosperity. It will support future cotton leaders in priority areas: natural capital; WHS; diversity and inclusion; and cultural change. Investments in this theme will help the industry address barriers to diversity and engage on important issues, including cultural change.

By strengthening the capacity of our RD&E workforce and supporting future leaders, Australian cotton will be able to solve complex challenges for thriving and resilient cotton communities.

CRDC has previously invested in research to explore workforce needs, future skills and best practice, the outputs of which are implemented through Cotton Australia. While not explicit in this plan, CRDC will consider further research in workforce should additional research questions remain that will deliver impact for the industry.

Outcomes:

  • By 2028, the industry has access to the right skills and capacity to support research and development
  • By 2028, CRDC partners to invest in leadership programs to support more diverse leaders with the skills and knowledge to lead change and drive sustainable prosperity