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    Why a strategic shift in action is needed to recognise and empower Indigenous plant pathology knowledge and research
    (Springer Nature on behalf of the Australasian Plant Pathology Society Inc, 2024-05-01) Ehau-Taumaunu H; Williams NM; Marsh A; Waipara NW; Higgins CM; Geering ADW; Mesarich CH; Rigano LA; Summerell BA; Johnson GI; Williamson P; MacDiarmid RM
    Plant pathology researchers play a pivotal role in thought leadership and its translation to action regarding the recognition and demonstration of the value of Indigenous knowledge and science. For many scientists, navigating the space of Indigenous rights and perspectives is challenging. In pursuit of a cultural shift in research and development within the field of plant pathology, the 2019–2021 Management Committee of the Australasian Plant Pathology Society (APPS) undertook a review and modernization of the Society’s Constitution. The aim was to ensure its alignment with principles that foster inclusivity of Indigenous peoples in the development and implementation of relevant research projects impacting their communities. Additionally, a dynamic repository of guidelines and resources was compiled. These resources are designed to assist plant pathologists, while respecting and not superseding the guidance provided by local Indigenous researchers, practitioners, and advisors. The collective efforts of plant pathologists hold immense potential in championing Indigenous Peoples and their rights, steering the field toward a more inclusive and equitable future. This paper builds upon the thesis presented in the APPS Presidential Address at the Biennial APPS Conference in 2021, held virtually in lutruwita (Tasmania) on the unceded lands of the Palawa people. It underscores the potential impact when plant pathologists unite in advocating for Indigenous Peoples and their rightful place within the field.
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    Challenges in strategic facilities management : analysis of problems faced by university facilities managers in New Zealand and Australia : a thesis presented in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PHD) in Construction, School of Engineering & Advanced Technology, College of Sciences, Massey University, November 2014
    (Massey University, 2014) Kamarazaly, Myzatul Aishah
    Like any set of professionals, the facilities managers (FMgrs) in universities face several challenges that constrain performance of their crucial roles. These range from internal managerial issues to external constraints which can be structured as PESTELI (i.e. political, economic, socio-cultural, technological, environmental, legal and institutional) constraints. The literature is replete with inexhaustible list of the challenges. However, a major gap in the literature is the lack of clear indications of the risk levels attached to these challenges or extent of their impact on the performance of the FMgrs. This study therefore aimed to contribute to filling this knowledge gap by exploring in depth the challenges and their relative levels of influences on the performance of university FMgrs. The specific objectives of the study were four-fold: (i) to identify the current internal and external challenges faced by universities facilities managers; (ii) to analyse the risk levels of the identified challenges based on their relative levels of impact on the achievement of the university strategic FM goals and their occurrence frequencies; (iii) to establish some innovative measures for addressing the key challenges; and (iv) to determine the key challenges facing tomorrow’s university facilities managers. Using the descriptive survey method, the study focused on the facilities managers in the Australasian universities. These comprised eight universities in New Zealand and forty universities in Australia. Views of facilities managers in these universities were obtained during three stages of data gathering: qualitative data gathering at the pilot interview stage, quantitative data gathering at the questionnaire survey stage, and some case studies at the model test survey stage. Descriptive statistics, multi-attribute analysis, rank correlation tests and statistical tests of significance were employed in the analysis of the research data and the tests of research hypotheses. Results showed that the critical challenges facing the university facilities managers (UFMs) comprised issues relating to the following: finance-related current internal challenge, economic-related current external challenges and sustainability-related future challenges. Overall, poor funding was identified as the root of all other issues faced by the UFMs, hence majority of the suggested strategies for addressing the key challenges related largely to financial improvement measures. Other key measures included optimizing asset utilization, supporting business case for capital investment with demonstrable returns on investment, improving FM’s strategic relevance through linking FM and corporate strategies, and investment in efficient technologies such as the building automation and management systems. The findings have contributed to filling an important knowledge gap by not only identifying the current and future challenges facing the UFMs, but also prioritising them based on their relative influences on the achievement of the strategic goals of the FM departments. This way, the limited resources at the disposal of the UFMs could be disbursed more cost-effectively in addressing the critical challenges in line with their identified risk levels. This would be of practical benefit to the facilities and property managers in formulating appropriate responses to the identified critical constraints with a view to achieving more satisfactory outcomes in their operations. Keywords: Australasia, challenges, facilities managers, risk analysis, strategic facilities management, university facilities.