School Manager's Report

Published in the RSAA Lunations
Vol1 Issue17 1–30 June 2021

It is with great pleasure that I confirm that the request for quotations process for the purchase and installation of the solar panels is coming to an end. This was a long process and we had quite a number of quotations, but we (F&S and RSAA) think we have picked the right partner for this. A contract is being drafted this month and hopefully the work will commence within the next two months (pending appropriate approvals from the NCA). This process also provided us with a partner, so any expansion of our solar panels will be done by the company as a task order. We are moving closer to becoming carbon neutral by 2025!

Many of you are asking me about the future strategies of RSAA. Although we have invested significantly this year to stabilise our growth in recent years, future strategies are yet to be decided. I have deflected your questions, as we are unable to properly plan at this time. As previously communicated in my earlier articles in Lunation, we were supposed to receive a budget model for 2022 and beyond for consultation. However, we are yet to receive any new budget model and until we understand the incentives and the other detail of the model we are unable to plan effectively for the future. I urge all of you to keep on doing the good work bringing in external money to the University through teaching and research, as it is vital for ANU’s recovery even if the funds do not come to RSAA. Once central finance releases the new budget model and we have time to adapt it to suit our unique and complex School, we will be able to consult on future strategies effectively.

Lastly, I urge all the recipients of the RSAA Strategic Initiatives Grant 2021 to start planning and spending the funds. The funds will not be available in 2022, as they cannot be rolled over from this year to next!

Rafat Alam