Centre aims to make Australia a world leader in oceans governance and maritime security

Feb 26, 2007

A new centre of excellence aimed at helping make Australia a world leader in oceans governance and maritime security in the Asia Pacific Region officially begins operations at the University of Wollongong (UOW) from 1 March.

To kick start the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS), its Advisory Board -- comprising some of the country’s leading maritime figures – met for the first time at UOW today (Monday 26 February).

Principal Research Fellow for ANCORS, Mr Lee Cordner, said the new centre (which has evolved from the former Centre for Maritime Policy) will meet the growing challenges in maritime security especially since the terrorist events of September 11, 2001.

He said the centre aims to provide high quality research, education, training and advice on maritime matters to clients (including key Federal Government agencies) in the Pacific, Indian and Southern Ocean regions and beyond.

Mr Cordner noted that the new centre would play a pivotal role alongside the Transnational Crime Prevention Centre already operating at UOW.

ANCORS will offer the following core strengths:

• Oceans governance, law and policy

• Maritime strategy, security and law including regulation and enforcement

• International fisheries law and policy

• The delimitation of maritime boundaries

Note: ANCORS Advisory Board members consist of: Vice Admiral David Shackleton (former Chief of Navy) who is the Chair; and Virginia Chadwick (Chair, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority); Rear Admiral Russ Crane (Deputy Chief of Navy); Mr Alistair Graham (Tasmanian Conservation Trust); Mr Glenn Hurry (Executive Manager of the Fisheries and Forestry Division Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry); Professor George Kailis (Notre Dame University and the M.G. Kailis Group); Mr David Parmeter (Managing Director of Teekay Shipping Australia); Ms Donna Petrachenko (First Assistant Secretary, Marine Division Department of Environment and Heritage); Professor Margaret Sheil (Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research at UOW); Professor Martin Tsamenyi (Director of ANCORS at UOW); Mr Lionel Woodward (former CEO of the Australian Customs Service) and Mr Lee Cordner (ANCORS’ Principal Research Fellow and former senior RAN officer).