Ep #111: A forever curious mind: Dr Wendy Craik AM FTSE
Dr Wendy Craik AM FTSE joins us for this episode reflecting on a career of curiosity and collaboration in service of Australia’s marine environment.
Dr Wendy Craik AM FTSE has had a long and distinguished career across science, not-for-profits and the public sector. What has she learned along the way, from her time as a PhD candidate in Canada researching fish to working on the first management plans for the Great Barrier Reef?
Find out on this episode of Work with Purpose as David Pembroke sits down with Wendy to discuss her golden rules for effective collaboration and trust in complex environments. Drawing on her experience at the reef and her time at the National Farmers Federation, Wendy encourages everyone not to let fear get in the way of a great opportunity.
Wendy also explores how social media is affecting growing cynicism and distrust in science and why everyone has a role to play in providing solid evidence to challenge misinformation.
Discussed in this episode:
- Being curious about people and opportunities
- The development of the first management plans of the Great Barrier Reef
- Building collaboration and trust, even if parties have different goals
- How to be open and honest about the things you don’t know
- The root cause of distrust in science
- What everyone can do to promote evidence
- Why she is optimistic about progress
- Advice on communicating science effectively and transparently
- Why any good relationship takes time to develop.
Show notes:
Guest:
Dr Wendy Craik AM FTSE
Dr Craik has over 30 years’ experience in senior roles in public policy. She was chief executive of the Murray Darling Basin Commission, executive officer of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and executive director of the National Farmers Federation. She has been a commissioner of the Productivity Commission, chair of the Climate Change Authority, president of the National Competition Council, chair of the Australian Fisheries Management Authority Deputy Chancellor of the University of South Australia, a board member of the Reserve Bank and several not-for-profit organisations with interests in regional Australia. She is currently chair of the OneBasin CRC, board member and ACT Committee Chair of the Crawford Fund, board member of the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific, Chair of the Advisory Board of the Royal Australian Mint and a member of the Advisory Board for the Centre of Strategy and Governance.
Wendy was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia in 2007 for service to the natural resource sector of the economy, particularly in the areas of fisheries, marine ecology and management of water reform, and contributions to policies affecting rural and regional Australia.