The NSW Department of Environment and Heritage (OEH) have a lead role in developing climate adaptation policy for the state. However, the implications of climate change on a range of sectors is still relatively unknown. To help meet the knowledge gaps, OEH funded the NSW Adaptation Research Hub, a collaboration between leading researchers and OEH to develop priority research.

The Hub was established in 2013, with an investment of $2.75million. Phase one of the program saw the establishment of three ‘nodes’:

• The Biodiversity Node: Led by Climate Futures, Macquarie University, in collaboration with CSIRO
• The Adaptive Communities Node: Led by the Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF), University of Technology Sydney (UTS) in collaboration with CSIRO
• The Coastal Processes and Responses Node: Led by the Sydney Institute of Marine Science, in collaboration with the Australian Climate Change Adaptation Research Network for Settlements and Infrastructure (ACCARNSI) of University of New South Wales (UNSW)

The three nodes produced 27 research projects, covering a range of issues developed in close collaboration with OEH. Phase one leveraged an additional $4million in cash and in-kind contributions and hosted a range of seminars, events, websites, design competitions and countless conference presentations.

Due to the success of the program, Phase two was endorsed in March 2016.

This presentation will discuss the governance around hosting The Hub, and how research is being designed to meet policy needs. It will also touch briefly on the scope of research currently being conducted, and help facilitate collaboration for future work.