TAG October 2006 Meeting
Carolynne Bourne, CEO, ISS InstituteAs a girl, Leonardo da Vinci was Carolynne Bourne's hero. Her life is that of a Renaissance person: scientist, designer, chemist, archaelogist, graphic artist, entrepreneur, visionary. ISS, which she helped to co-found 16 years ago, was the subject of her talk to the TAG Monthly Meeting on October 9. In case you missed it, or if you wanted to be refreshed on some of her very compelling points, here is a synopsis of that presentation.
ISS Institute (International Specialised Skills Institute) was the brainchild of Sir James Gobbo, who could not understand why stone and the stonemasons to work it were imported from Italy when stone of comparable quality could have been more easily quarried in Australia. However, the stonemasonry skills did not exist in Australia. From this grew the desire to get skills and abilities from overseas into Australia. Formed without funding and with a belief that individual people, not bureaucracy, are important, ISSI has had Carolynne as its full-time CEO since 1996.
Skills acquisition has been accomplised through a series of fellowships which allow selected candidates to reside in the pertinent region to gain the required knowledge. This apparently philanthropic front allows invitation to business areas and skills bases which would be normally denied. On their return to Australia, the new skills are documented in a report and the fellow becomes the teacher of this skill to others, not necessarily from within the same area of expertise. Cross-pollination is just one of the hoped-for results of this method of cultural transmission.ISS Institute's vision statement is to build, sustain and improve partnerships between designers, artworkers, artisans, trade and professional people, nationally and internationally, towards an innovative and productive future for Australia.
For Carolynne, design simply means "problem solving" and innovation is "creating and meeting new needs". Skills shortages exist where there are unmet but recognized demands for labour. Skills deficiencies exist where skills shortages go unrecognised. Such areas are "gaps" which ISS attempts to fill by sending fellows overseas or by bringing experts here to workshop with suitable applicants.
ISS Institute also puts pressure on State and Federal governments by acting as a catalyst for change. Carolynne uses a diagram to explain the mechanism ISS Institute believes either inhibits or supports change:
COMFORT <------> DENIAL : tension can lead to confusion
RENEWAL <------> CONFUSION : once resolved, leads to renewal
Here, the impetus for change moves the subject out of their comfort zone into a situation of denial. They may go back and forth between these modes. If the impetus is enough, they will move into a state of confusion. At this point, the chance for successful change exists, if the situation is dealt with correctly, which will lead to a point of renewal. From here, the cycle will start again, ensuring that progress and growth continue.
The antidote to the confused stage is to take a "brave pill" and ask for help. If you don't know who to ask, just ring around. Often the answer will lie within the circles which exist around you: in your studio, within your friendship/acquaintance group or within your business/industry.
Carolynne believes that Australia has to think and work in a holistic approach along the supply chain using collaboration and communication between all components, not competitive isolation which is the current paradigm. She feels that if we do nothing and this current situation is allowed to prevail, that we will be lost and that Australia will become a second rate country.
ISS Institute has had success in creating new businesses, developing existing businesses, returning lost skills and improving the knowledge base of the workforce. Workshops have also spread the awareness of skills to other areas which may use them, but in a different, innovative way.
For further information, including fellowships and/or workshops currently on offer: ISS Institute
Suite 101
685 Burke Rd
Camberwell 3124
AUSTRALIA
Ph 61 3 9882 0055
Fax 61 3 9882 9866
Email issi.ceo@pacific.net.au
posted by Textile Art @ the Guild @ 9:02 PM
0 comments
