Structure of the Proposed Australian e-Humanities Research Network

Administrative Operations

The administrative operations of this distributed network will be carried out from The University of Sydney, where the Network Convenor, Professor Margaret Harris, and the Project/ Communications Manager (to be appointed), will be stationed. Subject and format nodes will be variously located across the country, depending on concentrations of expertise in particular institutions. (A component of the budget will be allocated to travel expenses so that "in person" communication can supplement various forms of on-line and web-based interaction.) The exact mix of nodes based on format expertise and those based on critical mass of discipline-based activity which will be most appropriate and effective is yet to be determined.

Governance

Governance will be by a Steering Committee, maximum 20 members, made up of nominees of key constituencies, and including external members providing expertise from policy and industry perspectives. The Steering Committee will meet three times per year. The Executive Committee, a subset of the Steering Committee (6-8 people), will meet monthly.

Staff

Project/Communications Manager, plus

Some at least of these personnel will also be located at The University of Sydney. In certain instances it is likely be appropriate and efficient to make joint appointments with network nodes based elsewhere. Investment in personnel will be the major infrastructural expenditure. Provision of equipment and facilities will be largely the responsibility of each institution accommodating a node.

Membership

Members of the Network will be:

Individual researchers, including early career researchers and postgraduates;

Participating institutions: a status accorded to institutions and organisations contributing in cash and/or in kind to a level to be determined;

Affiliated organisations, national and international (for example, the National Library of Australia; H-Net: Humanities and Social Sciences OnLine).