Exploring the behavioural attributes, strategies and contextual knowledge of champions of change in the Canadian water sector

Figures & data

Table 1. Characteristics of champions of sustainable urban water management in Australia (Taylor 2008).

Personal characteristics
General and relational knowledge	Champions typically possess general knowledge of the water sector, as well as specific expert knowledge and credibility.
Openness to experience	Inclinations to be innovative, creative and open to new approaches were strongly developed amongst champions.
Demographics
Career mobility	The majority of champions studied had a higher degree of career mobility in the preceding five years than typical non-champion leaders in their organizations.
Power
Personal power	Personal power derived from the champion’s personality characteristics and leadership skills were used in preference to their formal role in the organization (i.e. their position power).
Networking	Strategic networking focused on building relationships to achieve medium to long-term strategic organizational goals was a common behaviour of champions.
Leadership behaviours
Articulating an inspiring vision	Highly relevant behaviours for champions and often distinguishing characteristics compared to local control groups. ‘Questioning the status quo’ and ‘gathering political and managerial support’ were particularly distinguishing factors.
Questioning the status quo
Gathering political and managerial support
Expressing enthusiasm and confidence
Persisting under adversity

Table 2. Research sample.

	Level	Organization Type
Environment Canada	Mid level & Senior	Federal Government Institution
International Joint Commission	Senior	Independent Government Consulting
Canadian Partnership Initiative	Senior	United Nations Initiative
Rosenberg International Forum on Water Policy	Senior	Private
FLOW	Senior	NGO
RBC Blue Water Project	Mid-level	Private
Brock University Environmental Sustainability Research Centre	Senior	Private
One Drop	Mid-level	NGO
Western Watersheds Climate Research Collaborative	Senior	Private Non-Profit
Canadian Rivers Institute	Senior	Private Research Group
Canadian Water Issues Council	Senior	Private Research Group
POLIS	Senior	Private Research Group
Walkerton Clean Water Centre	Senior	Provincial Government Agency
Water Voices	Senior	NGO

Taylor, A. 2008. Ten attributes of emergent leaders who promote sustainable urban water management. Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Urban Drainage, 1–11. UK: Edinburgh.

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