Budget Forecast FY2026–2027
Executive Summary
This document presents the Centre for Sustainable Development Reform’s budget forecast for the period FY2026 to FY2027. Total revenue is projected to grow 15% year-on-year, driven by expanded government programme funding and new industry partnerships. Expenditure growth is forecast at 12%, preserving a healthy operating surplus.
Revenue Projections
Projected revenue by source across the forecast period:
| Source | FY2025 (Actual) | FY2026 (Forecast) | FY2027 (Forecast) | CAGR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Government grants | $8.4M | $9.6M | $10.8M | 13% |
| Industry partnerships | $6.0M | $7.2M | $8.4M | 18% |
| Consulting services | $1.6M | $2.4M | $3.2M | 41% |
| Other income | $0.5M | $0.5M | $0.6M | 10% |
| Total | $16.5M | $19.7M | $23.0M | 18% |
Government grants remain the largest revenue source, though the proportion is forecast to decline from 51% to 47% as consulting and partnerships grow.
Expenditure Budget
Planned expenditure by category:
| Category | FY2025 (Actual) | FY2026 (Budget) | FY2027 (Budget) | CAGR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personnel (salaries & benefits) | $10.2M | $11.4M | $12.8M | 12% |
| Research operations | $2.8M | $3.2M | $3.6M | 13% |
| Infrastructure & IT | $1.2M | $1.6M | $1.8M | 22% |
| Travel & stakeholder engagement | $0.8M | $0.9M | $1.0M | 12% |
| Professional development | $0.3M | $0.4M | $0.4M | 15% |
| Total | $15.3M | $17.5M | $19.6M | 13% |
Capital Investments
Key capital investment programmes planned for the forecast period:
- Research computing platform ($0.5M FY2026) — High-performance computing cluster for climate modelling and data analysis
- Data platform modernisation ($0.3M FY2026, $0.2M FY2027) — Migration to cloud-native data infrastructure
- Office expansion ($0.4M FY2027) — Additional laboratory and collaboration space at Kensington campus
Risk Factors
Key risks to the budget forecast:
- Government funding uncertainty — Federal budget decisions in May 2026 may affect grant allocations for FY2027
- Foreign exchange exposure — International partnership contracts denominated in USD and EUR
- Staffing costs — Competitive market for senior climate researchers may require above-forecast salary adjustments
- Infrastructure cost escalation — Cloud computing costs subject to vendor pricing changes