|
|
   |
RMLA is the pre-eminent forum for debate and facilitation of the exchange of information regarding current and emerging issues in environmental practice, policy and law, and for education regarding best practice in its implementation.
Background
The 2008/2009 RMLA National Committee has held a series of discussions regarding the purpose of the RMLA – relevant to the nature of current resource management industry, activity and practice, in comparison to that in existence when the organisation formed.
The “breadth” of resource management activity both in New Zealand and overseas has expanded significantly over this time – to include, for example, organisational environmental performance (driven in many cases by markets/consumers) as well as the more traditional legislative and planning based management of resources. As a result we now have an ever expanding suite of resource management issues and tools including life cycle analysis, green product claims, eco-labelling, carbon footprinting, sustainability reporting, economic instruments, sustainable procurement policies.
In addition to traditional legal, planning and science/engineering backgrounds, resource management practitioners now include economists, designers, procurement specialists plus marketing, operational and management staff. Put simply the“playing field” is now both much more diverse and “crowded”.
It is critically important that the RMLA continues to maintain its position as the natural “home” for this broad range of resource management activity, industry and practice. In this light, the 2008/2009 Committee has:
- Identified and articulated Association’s objective – to provide clarity and focus around our two key roles (furthering debate/knowledge and facilitating best practice); and
- Prepared an additional policy and method (included in this document) to provide guidance in achieving the objective.
RMLA OBJECTIVE
RMLA is the pre-eminent forum for debate and facilitation of the exchange of information regarding current and emerging issues in environmental practice, policy and law, and for education regarding best practice in its implementation.
Policies - Focused Themes – current and emerging issues
- The National Committee will be responsible for identifying and determining themes to be examined and addressed in RMLA conferences, road shows, regional seminars, scholarship funded research and publications.
- The themes determined by the National Committee are to be topical, relevant and anticipate emerging issues and will be:
- Linked to existing or impending Central Government policy initiatives, including legislative reform and national planning or policy instruments;
- Linked to existing or anticipated resource management issues facing the New Zealand economy, society or environment;
- Linked to regional resource management issues that have broader national significance or consequences; and
- Capable of supporting a number of topics of relevance to the theme and the interests of the diverse RMLA membership.
- Pre-eminent New Zealand and international experts will be secured to address topics relevant to identified themes at the annual conference and where possible as part of the road show or regional seminar programmes.
- RMLA publications, road shows, regional seminars and the annual conference will retain scope for topics to be addressed that are not directly related to any identified theme, so as to maintain flexibility to respond to more immediate issues arising during any given period, or pursue opportunities to engage preeminent speakers on topics relevant to members.
- The annual programme of road shows, regional seminars and conference workshop sessions will include skills based assistance or training to members in relevant areas of legal, planning or technical expertise (and which may berepeated in subsequent years, on a rotating basis).
Methods - Focused Themes – current and emerging issues
- An annual workplan will be developed for the National Committee of the RMLA. This workplan will include key dates for discussing and deciding upon our focused themes for each year.
- In February of each year, a taskforce will be commissioned by the National Committee comprising representatives from the National Committee and Regional committees to identify themes (applying the policies outlined above) and topics that may be addressed as related to the themes. The taskforce should include representation from the editorial committee, the executive, the conference portfolio holder, the legislation committee, and any Ministry for the Environment member of the National Committee.
- The taskforce will then research international conference programmes, relevant publications, attend conferences (e.g. NELA (March); NZPI (April); QELA(May); UKELA (June)), and liaise with related associations and educational institutions (such as New Zealand Centre for Environmental Law) to identifypre-eminent New Zealand and international speakers and writers on topics relevant to the themes, including speakers and writers with potentially opposing or divergent views on those topics.
- By 31 August of any calendar year, the National Committee will have determined the themes to be addressed during the subsequent years publications, road show, regional seminars and at the subsequent conference(ie for example by 31 August 2009, identify themes to be addressed during the calendar year of 2010).
- Leading practitioners within disciplines of relevance to the wider membership will be approached and retained to present skills based seminars as part of the road shows, regional seminars and conference workshop programme.
- Where possible, and appropriate, the Task Force will encourage ongoing constructive and stimulating debate on the key themes – with a view to promoting innovation and developing understanding/knowledge and best practice around the key theme. For example, opportunities for debate may include co-presentations with alternative views.
 |
|