Publication:Sea Talk Spring 2004/Navy Symposium preview
Vision - Focus - Results
By LCDR Antony Underwood
Personnel issues, with a range of initiatives to improve both efficiency of the Service and the lifestyle of members, are expected to take centrestage at the 2004 Navy Symposium to be held in Sydney as this edition of SeaTalk goes to press.
Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Chris Ritchie will host the conference at HMAS Waterhen on September 29 and 30.
" The format has changed from previous years to ensure senior and junior personnel are presented with and contribute to the information most relevant to their part in improving Navy's business," said Symposium Coordinator CMDR Paul Hornsby.
" Day one will focus on business tactics and results and will be aimed at more front-line personnel - Commanders/Executives Level 1 and below - but not exclusively."
" Day two will focus on strategic planning and results and will be aimed at more senior personnel working in policy and headquarters areas (CMDR/EL1 and above)."
Last year CN introduced his "Priorities for Action" and areas requiring particular focus, consolidated into a framework of seven priorities (7Rs). These were:
Actions
- Think
- Remember, Understand & Communicate
- Have unity of purpose and a course to steer
Priorities
- Recruiting
- Retention
- Reconstitution
- Realignment
- Re-equipping
- Resourcing
- Reputation
The intention this year is to build on these, and demonstrate how they fit into the past, existing (and future) leadership, management and planning practices that have contributed to the substantial results achieved in the past two years. Accordingly, the title of this year's symposium is Vision. Focus. Results.
" I anticipate the Chief of Navy and members of his advisory committee, will have a very positive message about Navy's productivity, but will then wish to highlight those areas requiring attention, given the subtantial number of new assets coming on line in the short to medium term," CMDR Hornsby said.
In addition to personnel issues, another key theme will be safety. New procedures will be announced at the Symposium that will ensure Navy's capabilities (in terms of both people and platforms) are comprehensively covered by a more robust network of processes. CMDR Hornsby said the venue at Waterhen could accommodate 150 and therefore in total, the same number of personnel would be given the chance to represent their ships and units as in previous years.
Most personnel will attend either one day or the other.
" Content will be tight and the approach pragmatic," he said, adding "there is a lot to cover".
Some attendees, both senior and junior, will be invited to attend both days.
" All attendees will be expected to contribute."
