Kwongan Foundation
for the Conservation
of Australian Native
Biodiversity
Overview
and
Business Plan
July 2011
http://www.plants.uwa.edu.au/alumni/kwongan
UWA SPB Kwongan Foundation Business Plan 2011 - 2015
Table of Contents
OVERVIEW..................................................................................... 3
BUSINESS PLAN SUMMARY ............................................................ 7
The Business................................................................................. 7
The Market ................................................................................... 7
The Future .................................................................................... 8
The Finances ................................................................................. 8
THE BUSINESS ............................................................................... 8
Business details............................................................................. 8
Foundation details ......................................................................... 8
Foundation premises ...................................................................... 8
Organisation chart ......................................................................... 9
Management ................................................................................. 9
Key personnel ............................................................................... 9
Products/services ........................................................................ 10
Risk management ........................................................................ 12
Operations .................................................................................. 14
THE MARKET ................................................................................ 15
Market targets ............................................................................ 15
S.W.O.T. analysis ........................................................................ 17
Your competitors ......................................................................... 18
THE FUTURE ................................................................................ 18
Vision statement ......................................................................... 18
Mission statement ....................................................................... 18
Goals/objectives .......................................................................... 18
Action plan ................................................................................. 18
THE FINANCES ............................................................................. 19
Key objectives and financial review ................................................ 19
Assumptions ............................................................................... 19
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UWA SPB Kwongan Foundation Business Plan 2011 - 2015
Overview
The University of Western Australia Kwongan Foundation
The Kwongan Foundation for Australian Native Biodiversity has been established
to promote better understanding, management and utilisation of Western
Australia’s unique native biological resources
The Name
Kwongan is a Noongar Aboriginal term defined by Beard as a ‘type of country
...[that is] sandy and is open without timber-sized trees but with a scrubby
vegetation. It consists of plains in an Australian sense of open country rather than
in a strict sense of flat country. ... there are two principal plant formations in the
kwongan, scrub heath and broombush thicket ... both ... are sclerophyll
shrublands and possess a certain unity when contrasted with woodland and forest
or steppe and succulent steppe communities.’
Message from the Vice-Chancellor
“Western Australia is an ancient land mass with unique geology and soils; these
combined with its climate have led to the evolution of an especially diverse,
complex and interesting biodiversity that is rich in its beauty, adaptations,
specialisations and relationships.
The plants of Western Australia in particular have the potential to reveal new
insights in how organisms relate to each other and their environment and to
provide resources relevant to human health as well as to improved agricultural
productivity and sustainability.
The specialised nature of the flora along with its complex and subtle interactions
with other organisms make it highly susceptible to human induced environmental
changes whether they be climate change, soil salinity and acidification, altered
fire regimes, clearing, cultivation and grazing or the introduction of weeds, pests
and diseases.
The School of Plant Sciences at the University of Western Australia is one of the
country’s leading institutions in its field. Amongst its compliment of staff we have
the expertise to understand our native flora and to address and integrate all of
the factors impinging on its preservation, management and utilisation.
The Kwongan Foundation has been established by the School of Plant Sciences to
provide a focus for its contribution to improved awareness, understanding,
management and utilisation of Western Australia’s biodiversity and to enhance
the human capital available to achieve these outcomes.”
The flora of Western Australia – where the rules of plant biology are
tested to destruction
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UWA SPB Kwongan Foundation Business Plan 2011 - 2015
The abject infertility of the native soils of south-western Australia and the intense
summer drought that is part of the Mediterranean climate have together
produced native plants and ecosystems that have developed a range of unique
means of surviving and reproducing. Some of the notable adaptations to be
observed amongst the Western Australian flora include:
 A preponderance and wide range, of symbiotic and parasitic relationships
 Proteoid roots
 Drought tolerance mechanisms
 Insect mimicry
 Low phosphate tolerance
Resultant features of the flora of Western Australia are the very large number of
constituent species and the very high species densities that occur in different
parts of the State.
This species diversity and density and the extensive clearing of the landscape
over the past 180 years, has caused the south-western corner of Western
Australia to be recognised as one of only 25 Biodiversity hotspots in the world and
the only one in Australia. A biodiversity hotspot is a biogeographic region with a
significant reservoir of biodiversity that is under threat from humans.
University of Western Australia – School of Plant Biology
The University of Western Australia School Of Plant Biology is a research intensive
school addressing humanity’s top four priorities - Food, Water, Energy and
Environment through research and teaching focused on commercial cropping,
marine and natural terrestrial systems.
The University of Western Australia School of Plant Biology’s strengths lie in its:
 Capacity for strategic plant sciences
 Expertise in fundamental, cutting-edge research
 Positive links with industry
 Relationships with other institutions including:
o WA Department of Food and Agriculture (Two shared academic
positions)
o WA Department of Environment and Conservation(Two shared
academic positions)
o CSIRO (One shared academic position)
The School’s resources include
 More than twenty academic teaching staff
 More than thirty-five academic research staff
 About one hundred and twenty postgraduate research students.
The teaching and research staff include four academics on the ISI List of Highly
Cited Scientists (top 0.5% in their field in the world) and one national Laureate
Fellow.
The School is Australia’s leading plant sciences institute, in both numbers of
publications and numbers of citations per year
The Kwongan Foundation for the Conservation of Australian Biodiversity
was established in 2006 to:


gather and share of knowledge about our unique biodiversity
enable planning on a long-term basis for conservation of these species
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UWA SPB Kwongan Foundation Business Plan 2011 - 2015






attract world-class researchers to Western Australia to achieve significant
advances and stem the tide of looming extinction for so many species
address new problems as they arise
facilitate community, industry and Government conservation objectives
help provide a secure basis for the State's tourist industry
discover valuable compounds for medicine and industry
involve community groups helping with these challenges
The Foundation also aims to provide essential support to promising young
researchers in this important field.
The Kwongan Foundation provides an opportunity for all with a commercial,
personal or academic interest in the flora of Western Australia to directly
contribute to our knowledge, utilisation and management of this unique resource.
Current Activities:
Currently the Kwongan foundation pursues its objectives through:


The conduct of conferences and excursions that:
o Provide a forum for the sharing of information on the biodiversity of
Western Australia, the threats and opportunities facing it and best
practice management of these threats and challenges
o Assist in the identification of aspects of the knowledge of the
biodiversity of Western Australia that require research and elucidation
o Allow interested community members to interact with those with
expertise in the biodiversity of Western Australia and its management.
The funding of research scholarships for young people with an interest in
developing expertise in the biodiversity of Western Australia and its
management and in communicating this knowledge to others with an
interest in this flora as well as to the broader community.
Previous events
Development and Biodiversity - can they co-exist?
Kwongan Colloquium, Busselton WA, 18-19 Sep 2010
On the ecology of WA's arid zone
Workshop, UWA, 29 Jun 2010
Biodiversity in the wheatbelt: where do we go in the 21st century?
Seminar and field trip, York WA, 12 - 13 Sept 2009
Biodiversity on the Verge
Seminar and field trip, UWA, 13 - 14 Sept 2008
Management of the Foundation
The operations and administration of the Kwongan Foundation are managed
within the University of Western Australia’s School of Plant Biology and
coordinated by the Head of that School and Patron of the Foundation, Winthrop
Professor Hans Lambers.
Patrons
 Professor Hans Lambers
 Dr Marion Cambridge
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UWA SPB Kwongan Foundation Business Plan 2011 - 2015





Dr Rob Keogh
Dr Cleve Hassell
Mr Jock Clough
Professor John Pate
Lady Jean Brodie-Hall
Honorary Patrons
 Professor Alan Robson, Vice Chancellor, UWA
 Mr. Peter Cundell
 Ms Marion Blackwell
 Professor Steve Hopper, Director Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew
 Ms Philippa Nikulinsky
Donations
Donations to the Kwongan Foundation may be made in the form of cash, property
(shares, real estate etc.) and/or trading stock and may be made in instalments.
Funds raised for the Foundation are managed and invested by the University of
Western Australia’s Office of Development and Alumni Relations and are not
diminished by administration and/or operational costs.
The University of Western Australia (ABN 37 882 317 280) is endorsed by the
Australian Taxation Office (ATO) as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR)
organisation, therefore all donations to the University are deductible as charitable
contributions under the ATO provisions.
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UWA SPB Kwongan Foundation Business Plan 2011 - 2015
Business Plan Summary
The Business
Business name
Kwongan Foundation for the Conservation of Australian Native Biodiversity
Business structure:
Not for profit foundation within the University of Western Australia Hackett
Foundation, a Deductible Gift Recipient organisation
ABN
37 882 817 280 (University of Western Australia)
Business location
School of Plant Biology, the University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009
Date established
2006
Products/services


The coordination and conduct of
colloquia/workshops/symposia/conferences which address objectives
relating to the conservation of Australian native plants.
The funding of post-graduate scholarships for promising researchers in the
field
The Market
Target market
The Kwongan foundation’s target market includes those elements of the following
sectors with an interest in the native biodiversity of Western Australia.
 Industry: - Mining, Oil & Gas, Agriculture & forestry, Land development and
Tourism
 Infrastructure - Private, State and Local government
 Legislative and Regulatory –Commonwealth, State and Local Government
 Consulting services – Environmental, Planning, Legal and Land management
 Academic & scientific
 Conservationism – DEC, BGPA
 Community - Local land-care and conservancy groups
Marketing strategy
Consultation with targets to ensure offerings address their needs and interests.
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UWA SPB Kwongan Foundation Business Plan 2011 - 2015
The Future
Vision statement
Western Australians are proudly committed to the management and conservation
of the State’s unique native biodiversity.
Goals/objectives
 provide resources for research and study at UWA
 implement the gathering and sharing of knowledge
 enable long-term planning
 attract world-class researchers
 achieve tangible improvements in the long-term conservation prospects of
endangered species and associations.
The Finances
The Foundation requires a fund of at least $2,000,000 to sustain its activities.
The Business
Business details
The Kwongan Foundation for the conservation of Australian native plants has
been established to:





provide resources for research and study at UWA
implement the gathering and sharing of knowledge
enable long-term planning
attract world-class researchers
achieve tangible improvements in the long-term conservation prospects of
endangered plants.
Foundation details
Name: University of Western Australia -Kwongan Foundation for the
Conservation of Australian Native Plants
Established: 2006
Location: University of Western Australia, Crawley WA 6009
Structure: Not for profit foundation within the University of Western Australia
Hackett Foundation, a Deductible Gift Recipient organisation
ABN: 37 882 817 280 (University of Western Australia)
Foundation premises
Location: The Kwongan Foundation operates from the offices of the School of
Plant Biology (SPB) on the Crawley Campus of the University of Western Australia
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UWA SPB Kwongan Foundation Business Plan 2011 - 2015
Organisation chart
Prof. Hans Lambers
Patron/Chair
Patrons
(7)
Honorary
Patrons (5)
UWA Office of Development
and Alumni Relations
Financial Control
Ms Barbara Jamieson
Executive Assistant
Figure 1: Organisation Chart.
Management
Details of management
The Foundation is managed by Professor Hans Lambers. Management of the
Foundation is additional to Lambers’ other duties which currently include Head of
the SPB at UWA. Executive and clerical assistance in the management of the
Foundation and his other roles is provided to Lambers by Barbara Jamieson.
Funds raised for the Foundation are invested and managed by the UWA Office of
Development and Alumni Relations. This service is performed as part of the
management of the larger Hackett Foundation funding.
The foundation, at this stage has no staff and pays no salaries.
Experience
Lambers is a well-established, academic, university teacher and administrator
with an international reputation in his field of scientific research which is highly
relevant to the objectives of the Foundation.
Key personnel
Current staff
As specified above the foundation has no dedicated staff but leverages the
resources of the SPB and other elements of UWA as well as other institutions
(notably the Western Australian Government Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority
(BGPA) and Department of Environment and Conservation, companies and
individuals (on a voluntary basis) with which it shares objectives and interests.
Required staff
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UWA SPB Kwongan Foundation Business Plan 2011 - 2015
Neither this plan nor the business model upon which the Foundation was
established, anticipate that the Foundation would employ its own staff.
The current arrangements outlined above are expected to continue to provide the
basis for the on-going activities of the Foundation.
This model is largely considered to be sustainable within the short to medium
term whilst Lambers is involved in and committed to, the Foundation. As is
considered later in the risk analysis element of this plan, the progress and
effectiveness of the Foundation in the absence of Lambers is a matter for
consideration and resolution.
Products/services
The Foundation has one current “product” and its objectives commit it to a
second. The current “product” is the coordination and conduct of Kwongan
colloquia/workshops/symposia/conferences which address two of its objectives
relating to the conservation of native plants:
 implement the gathering and sharing of knowledge
 achieve tangible improvements in the long-term conservation prospects of
endangered plants.
So far the Foundation has conducted six such events the first being held in 2007
with two in 2008 one in 2009 and two in 2010.
The second and as yet unrealised “product”, the funding of post-graduate
scholarships for promising researchers in the field addresses two of the other
objectives of the Foundation:
 provide resources for research and study at UWA
 attract world-class researchers
Development of the second product is contingent upon two factors; the first being
the availability of adequate funds to offer one complete scholarship and
contribute to two others, sufficient to attract appropriate candidates and the
second being the identification of suitable candidates. As things currently stand
the Foundation is unable to satisfy the first criterion so the second is not yet
relevant.
When implemented and taken together these “products” should allow the
Foundation to realise its fifth objective:
 enable long-term planning
Market position
The colloquia/workshops/symposia/conferences coordinated by the Foundation
occupy an interesting position in the range of such events that occur during a
year.
Whilst they do not rank with the major national and international academic and
scientific plant biology conventions/congresses they invariably include
contributors who have international standing at such forums as well as people
with experience in managing or seeking to manage the conservation of native
plants in various settings and experienced and expert amateurs.
Neither do the Kwongan events compete with the offerings of the “convention
industry” (e.g. IQPC’s 4th annual Environmental Management in Mining) which
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UWA SPB Kwongan Foundation Business Plan 2011 - 2015
targets particularly the mining and land development industries and the legal,
environmental, engineering and planning professions with high cost events
usually addressing issues associated with the legal and regulatory responsibilities
and processes facing these industries.
This is not to say that the Foundation’s events are not highly relevant to some or
all of the sectors served by the “convention industry” or that the contributors to
the Kwongan events could not also present to such “conventions”.
Unique selling position
The Kwongan Foundation’s seminars have two characteristics that may not make
them unique but do separate them from many other offerings.
First, by virtue of the subject areas covered and the low cost of attendance they
have the potential for broad appeal including academics, government and
industry as well as interested amateurs.
Second, the proximity of the Kwongan vegetation type to the Foundation’s
location at UWA makes it practicable to include field visits and activities into event
programmes.
Anticipated demand
The prospect that the activities of the Kwongan Foundation (both seminars and
research) will be relevant to an increasing range of people and interests is strong.
Drivers for this strong and probably growing interest include:

The diversity of species, their adaptations and associations inherent in the
flora of Western Australia and the Kwongan region in particular should ensure
growing academic and amateur interest in the offerings the Foundation.

The strong growth in the mining and energy industries and therefore
population in Western Australia will ensure that the requirement to clear
native vegetation in this state will continue and with that the pressures to
better understand, manage and conserve and restore biodiversity, particular
species and associations, the defined territory of the Foundation, will also
grow.

World population growth and the impact of climate change on the agricultural
areas of south-western Australia separately and together are likely to result in
growing interest in Kwongan vegetation as a potential source of solutions to
the challenge of achieving sustainable agricultural production under
circumstances of adverse climatic and soil conditions.

The pressures of climate change and soil salinisation in south-western
Australia may well render significant and growing developed areas of this
region no longer suitable for commercial agriculture; in this event,
revegetation by restoration of original species will be a desirable objective
requiring significant research, development and extension – all aspects
consistent with the objectives of the foundation.
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UWA SPB Kwongan Foundation Business Plan 2011 - 2015
Risk management
The Kwongan Foundation at this time faces two major risks. The first is that the
Foundation is very heavily dependent on the interest, inspiration and commitment
of its founding Patron, Professor Hans Lambers. In the absence of input like his,
as things stand it is almost certain that the Foundation would first stagnate and
then atrophy.
The second major risk relates to the funding of the Foundation. At present the
total of funds is sufficient to sustain the relatively modest annual program of
colloquia/workshops/symposia/conferences and field visits, especially as much of
the administration and communication activities are performed by staff of UWA at
no charge to the Foundation. The present funds however are not sufficient to
support the intended award of scholarships and part scholarships.
Until adequate funds are accumulated the Foundation cannot fulfil its objectives
and when it does the funding risk increases because of the longer term nature of
the commitment associated with a scholarship.
Furthermore, these two risks are linked and compounded to the extent that what
funds have been raised are largely the result of the direct efforts of Professor
Lambers.
A lesser but still significant risk relates to maintenance of the quality and
relevance of the colloquia/workshops/symposia/conferences that the Foundation
conducts.
An analysis of these risks is summarised below:
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UWA SPB Kwongan Foundation Business Plan 2011 - 2015
Risk
Likelihood
Impact
Strategy
Management:
Loss of, or a significant
reduction in the services
provided by Professor
Lambers
Short-medium
term- Unlikely
Longer termInevitable
Very
High
Progressively move to a
structure where the future
of the Foundation is not so
heavily dependent on the
efforts of an individual.
This might have two
elements, first, the
establishment of a
voluntary Board charged
with the oversight of the
Foundation; second,
include coordination of the
Foundation in the duties of
a senior member of the
School of Plant Biology
with a passion for
Australian native
biodiversity.
Funding
Highly
unlikely
Very
High
Maintain activities at a
level consistent with
current funding – (interest
only)
2. Unable to raise
additional funds to
support expanded
activities particularly
post graduate
scholarship/s and postdoctoral fellowships
Possible
High
Quality and relevance of
conference program fails
to attract adequate level of
interest from target
audiences
Possible
1. Inadequate funds to
sustain current level of
activities
1. Establish a fund-raising
sub-committee of the
Board of the foundation
working to agreed
fundraising targets.
2. Ensure undertakings do
not exceed capacity of
funds to sustain level of
commitments
Medium
- High
1. Maintain contact with
target groups to
identify topics of
interest
2. Include
“representatives” of
target groups on
conference
programmes.
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UWA SPB Kwongan Foundation Business Plan 2011 - 2015
Operations
Conference/seminars/workshops
1. Iterative selection of conference topic.
2. Iterative selection of dates, location and venue
3. Development of agenda / selection of speakers and chairs
4. Development of budget administrative arrangements
5. Production of program
6. “Advertise” program and registration processes
7. Prepare papers etc
8. Conduct event
9. Review performance
Postgraduate scholarship
To be developed
Communication channels:
1. Snail mail mailing list
2. Email mailing list
3. Advice of up-coming events
4. Newsletter?
Quality control:
1. Formal/informal review of conference papers
2. Feedback by survey of conference participants
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UWA SPB Kwongan Foundation Business Plan 2011 - 2015
The Market
Market targets
The Kwongan Foundation seeks to provide an offering that appeals to a broad
range of parties with interests in the native flora of Western Australia:
The interests that the Foundation seeks to address include:
1. Industrial – those with a commercial interest in the flora or in the
development of the land on which it grows including:

Mining

Oil and Gas

Agriculture & forestry including carbon sequestration

Property development (residential and commercial)

Tourism
2. Infrastructure – those with responsibility for the provision of public and
community infrastructure (roads, rail, power, water & sewerage, recreational
facilities) including:

State government authorities (Main Roads, Power, Water etc)

Local governments (roads, recreational facilities)
3. Legislative and Regulatory – Those with responsibility for legislation and
regulations that govern land use and environmental protection including:

Commonwealth government (Department of Sustainability,
Environment, Water, Population and Communities) – EPBC Act and
regulations

WA State government – Department of Environment and Conservation;
Department of Mines and Petroleum; EPA

Local Government – Planning, fire control
4. Service – Those providing services to the above in regards compliance with
relevant laws and regulations and the management of the environment
including:

Environmental and planning consultants and auditors

Legal advisors

Land managers (Parks and gardens etc)
5. Academic & scientific – including;

Researchers – Universities, CSIRO, departments of agriculture &
environment, others (BGPA)

Educators – Universities; Vocational Education institutions
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UWA SPB Kwongan Foundation Business Plan 2011 - 2015

Amateur experts
6. Community – Those with general or recreational interest in the native flora
and environment including:

Environmental groups

Societies and clubs

Community groups
Despite a lack of research to back the claim, it is safe to say that at the present
time in Western Australia interest in the native flora is growing in all these sectors
and that this growth can be expected to continue for the foreseeable future.
This growth is driven by:

Population growth

Mining and energy boom

Community concern for the environment and biodiversity

Increasing pressure on remaining areas of natural vegetation (and signs of
collapse in some of them.)

Expanding environmental regulation at both state and commonwealth levels

Impact of climate change

Pressure for increased food production
The Foundation has four reasons for seeking to appeal to all of the groups
outlined above:

As potential attendees at Conferences and workshops

As potential presenters to conferences

As potential donors to the Foundation

As potential partners in research
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UWA SPB Kwongan Foundation Business Plan 2011 - 2015
S.W.O.T. analysis
Strengths
Weaknesses












High quality relevant knowledge base and research capability
within the UWA SPB
Excellent standing of UWA SPB
Good admin support from the UWA SPB
Expert management of funds by UWA
Advantageous access to conference facilities within UWA
Good relationships with significant external parties (BGPA,
ALCOA, DEC, DAFWA)
Good record of success with conferences and seminars
Adequate funds for current activities
Proximity to WA biodiversity hotspot
Broad target market

Heavy dependence on Hans Lambers
Funds insufficient to sustain more than one scholarship and
research activities
Low recognition of Foundation
Opportunities
Threats








Growing interest in understanding, conserving and managing
native plants due to:
o Increasing environmental, mining regulation
o Mining and oil and gas development activity
o Population growth
o Climate change
o Community interest
Cooperation with other institutes with shared interests
Relocation of key company headquarters to Perth (BHP, Rio,
Chevron etc)
Occupational awareness training offering
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Failure to maintain standard and relevance of conferences
Loss of services of Hans Lambers
Identity becomes lost within UWA SPB
Focus becomes too academic
UWA SPB Kwongan Foundation Business Plan 2011 - 2015
Competitors
By virtue of its nature the Kwongan Foundation has no competitors, however there is a
need to ensure that it establishes and maintains an identity and range of activities that
complement and do not overlap those of other organisations operating in the same field
such as Friends of Kings Park; Society for Growing Native Plants. Care must also be taken
to ensure positive complementary relationships with DEC, BGPA, other Universities, CSIRO
etc.
The Future
Vision statement
Western Australians are proudly committed to the management and conservation of the
State’s unique native biodiversity
Mission statement
The Kwongan Foundation seeks to extend an appreciation of Western Australia’s native biodiversity
across all sectors of the community to ensure its conservation of this unique resource through
responsible management, development and exploitation undertaken on a research-based
understanding of the species, their biology and interdependencies.
Goals/objectives
The Kwongan Foundation for the conservation of Australian native biodiversity has been established
to:
 provide resources for research and study at UWA
 implement the gathering and sharing of knowledge
 enable long-term planning
 attract world-class researchers
 achieve tangible improvements in the long-term conservation prospects of endangered plants.
Action plan
Milestone
Date of
expected
completion
Person
responsible

On-going
Hans Lambers
31 December
2012
Fundraising
Sub-committee
31 December
2011
Hans Lambers


At least three
colloquia/workshops/symposia/conferences and
tours each year
Sufficient funding to sustain one Post-graduate
scholarship (or equivalent) at all times
Establishment of voluntary Board of
Management (including fundraising subcommittee)
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UWA SPB Kwongan Foundation Business Plan 2011 - 2015
The Finances
Key objectives and financial review
Financial objectives
Sufficient capital to allow the activities of the Foundation to be funded from the annual interest
Capital required
At least two million dollars
Underlying assumptions
Calculation of the capital required is based on the assumptions listed below:
 Annual cost of a full Post-graduate Scholarship is $50,000
 Annual cost of contributing to two other scholarships $40,000
 Annual cost of other research activities is $10,000
 Annual cost of conference program is $15,000 (This is self-funding)
 Other costs of operating the Foundation is $10,000
 Annual cost of the Foundation is therefore $110,000 (excluding self-funding events)
 Interest received on capital is 5% per annum
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