Peter HarrisonChair, OTN Council

OTNGovernance

1

Trackslocal-to-globalmovementsandsurvivalofoceananimalsusing

acoustic/satellitetelemetry,andtheirenvironmental

correlates;advancingoceangovernancestrategies

Acoustic receiver unit tracking sturgeon in the Minas Passage, Canada

What does OTNdo?

2

OTN:Globalsciencethroughcommonvisions/PARTNERSHIPS

• Sharedglobalacoustictelemetryinfrastructure

• Datapartnershipsw/globalcommunityoftelemetryusers(acoustic,satellite,etc.)

• Science:425+researchers,>>students,19countries

• ProjectandsystemofUN’sGlobalOceanObservingSystem(GOOS)

3

OTN:financingPhaseI:endsApril1st,2017

• CFI:$30million• NSERC:$10million• (SSHRCC:$300K)

• Estimatedinternationalleveraging:~$128million(andgrowing)

4

OTNgovernancechallenges

• Dalhousieproject(ownership)• Globalresponsibility(stakeholders)• Seekindependentgovernance(Council)• Needinternationalsciencecoordination• Needtofuseinfrastructureandscienceneeds/excellence

• Nationalandinternationaldatamanagement:majorpartofOTN’smandate

5

OTNgovernance:rolesandresponsibilities

DalhousieBoard

OwnerofOTNplatformassets

Ultimateaccountability

OTNCouncil

OperationsofinternationalOTNplatform

Stewardshipoftheresearch,outcomesandimpacts

6

OTNgovernance

DalhousieBoard

OTNCouncil

OTNLiaisonCttee (asneeded)

ExecutiveDirector

ISAC

SACScientificDirector

Intl.DataMgmt.

7

OTNstrategicplan

• Replacedthe“plan”oftheoriginalgrant• EvolvedthroughbroadconsultationofOTNstakeholders

• IncorporatedanInternationalScienceplan• Addressedriskmanagement• Tailoredandscaledgovernance,tomeetidentifiedgovernancechallenges

• 5yearspecifics,with20yearvision• Createdthestructuresinplacenow

8

OTNkeydocuments

• StrategicPlan– Enabling researchexcellence– DerivingbenefitsforCanada– Enablinginternationalbenefits

• ManagementPlan– prioritiesfordeliveringtheOTNStrategicPlan2013-2018– flexibleandevolvingtool;updatedasnecessary

• CommunicationsPlan• AnnualReports

9

OTN:BenefitsforMarineManagement

• Sustainablefisheriesmanagement• Developmentofecosystemapproachestofisheriesmanagement/MarineProtectedAreas

• Policydevelopmentformanaginghighlymigratoryspecies

• Endangeredspeciesmanagement• Cross-borderpartnershipsforoceanmanagement

10

ImplementingOTN:Whatwehavelearned(I)

• Earlydifficultiesrequireeffectiveearlyaction:(e.g.harmonizingprocedurestomeettheneedsofdifferingfundingagencies/timingoffunding/managementandpersonnelchallenges)

• “Owners”response:informedbyexpertsadviceofJ.Halliwell

• Newgovernancestructure:“outside”advicecriticaltosuccess

• Needtoallocatefundstogovernanceup-front

11

ImplementingOTN:Whatwehavelearned(II)

• Financialandoperationalriskmanagementisanongoingchallenge(e.g.equipmentdeploymentproblems;partnerissues)

• Needforflexibility/rapiddecision-making• Relianceonaccomplishedandeffectivepersonnel– especiallyPI/ED/ProjectManager

• Carefulattentiontobuildingateamcultureandpushingdecisionmakingauthoritydownthechain

12