The challenge
The Great Barrier Reef is recognised as one of the world’s best managed coral reef ecosystems. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (Reef Authority) chose to partner with OCM when it faced strategic risks that had the potential to impact the Reef.
A combination of external events impacting operations and funding and a potential decline in technical capability, innovation and decision making saw the Reef Authority turn to us to ensure it was managing reef rehabilitation and conservation proposals in line with expectations of its stakeholders and in compliance with regulatory and cross-jurisdictional coordination to deliver conservation outcomes under the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program (RRAP).
It wanted assurance that its governance frameworks, policies, and procedures for assessing and permitting reef restoration projects and approving conservation proposals were robust, compliant, and strategically aligned.
How we helped
We undertook a structured, evidence-based audit using document analysis, stakeholder interviews, and bench marking against public sector governance standards.
- Evaluating the Reef Authority’s frameworks, policies, and procedures for assessing reef restoration proposals.
- Reviewing stakeholder engagement practices and compliance with service charters and regulatory obligations and assessing cross-jurisdiction coordination mechanisms to support conservation outcomes.
- Providing recommendations aligned with strategic directions and corporate governance best practice standards.
Results that matter
The Reef Authority strengthened its delivery of reef restoration initiatives through targeted improvements, improved tracking and assessment of cumulative impacts and enhance coordination through a consolidated register of reef restoration and conservation actions.
Governance and operational delivery was improved, with the procedural and guideline enhancements we proposed, reinforcing alignment with strategic objectives and corporate governance standards.
