The secret life of Chris

Dr Christopher Cvitanovic

@ChrisCvitanovic

The younger years (Canberra)

The fishy years (Townsville)

The suit years (Canberra)

What I learnt working for the dark side:

• Decision-makers are people too:- Understand and appeal to their values and worldviews.

• Decision-makers are capable/smart/hard working:- Don’t treat them like numpties – be respectful.

• Decision-makers have their own experiential knowledge:- It’s just as legitimate as scientific knowledge.

• Decision-makers operate in a messed up complex space:- You can’t truly understand from the outside.

The younger years (Canberra)

The fishy years (Townsville)

The suit years (Canberra)

Cvitanovic et al (2015) Ocean and Coastal Management

The younger years (Canberra)

The fishy years (Townsville)

The suit years (Canberra)

The ‘broker’ years (everywhere)

Cvitanovic et al (2017) – Environmental Policy and Governance

The younger years (Canberra)

The fishy years (Townsville)

The suit years (Canberra)

The ‘broker’ years (everywhere)

Cvitanovic et al (2017) – Environmental Policy and Governance

What I learnt as a knowledge broker:

• You need to have broad and strong networks:- For better science, and for more impact.

• Strong relationships are built on trust:- Be an honest broker, have humility.

• Engage without wanting:- Stay engaged without ‘reason’.

• It’s rare that you’ll actually change policy, BUT:- You will have impact, so focus on the little wins!

The younger years (Canberra)

The fishy years (Townsville)

The suit years (Canberra)

The ‘broker’ years (everywhere)

The science years (Hobart)

Cvitanovic et al (2016) Journal of Environmental Management

Design

Implementation

After completion

• Identify all stakeholders (e.g. stakeholder mapping).

• Co-develop research questions.• Include people with expertise in

knowledge exchange.• Identify, plan and budget

knowledge exchange processes for the life of the program.

• Implement and maintain a tailored knowledge management system.

• Ensure mechanisms remain in place to link science to decision-makers after program is finished.

• Employ an intermediary (e.g.- knowledge broker).• Implement participatory research approaches.

The younger years (Canberra)

The fishy years (Townsville)

The suit years (Canberra)

The ‘broker’ years (everywhere)

The science years (Hobart)

What I’ve learnt from academia:

• Good science, isn’t always ‘great’ science:- Be prepared to (sometimes) trade real world value for traditional ‘impact’.

• The system/culture doesn’t legitimise, recognise or support activities that lead to impact:- Can lead to imposter syndrome, low motivation, lost enthusiasm.

• Change in the system/culture will be slow:- As an individual, that shouldn’t limit you. Operate around/outside the system.

The single most important thing I’ve learnt….

Influencing policy and practice is hard. You will face challenges. You will question yourself and consider giving up…

Remember why you got into your field/profession in the first place. Let that drive your choices and do things that contribute towards fulfilling that goal/value. Even if your actions challenge the system/culture in

which you are embedded, that’s ok. You’re allowed to break the mould. If you let your passion drive you and get you through the tough times - you will make a difference.

Cvitanovic et al (2015) – Ocean and Coastal Management

Cvitanovic et al (2017) –Environmental Policy and Governance

Cvitanovic et al (2016) – Journal of Environmental Management @ChrisCvitanovic