The National Cultural Flows Planning and Research Committee was established in March 2011 to oversee the development of the research program. The Research Committee delegates reported to their member organisations and comprised representatives from: 

• Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations (MLDRIN)
• Northern Basin Aboriginal Nations (NBAN)
• Northern Australia Land and Sea Management Alliance (NAILSMA)
• Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA)
• Office of the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH)
• NSW Department of Primary Industries Water 
• NSW Office of Environment and Heritage
• Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) 
• South Australian Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources 
• Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines (DNRM)
• ACT Environment and Planning Directorate 
• National Native Title Council (NNTC)

The Research Committee ensured that the research was developed in a way that met the needs of the First Nations organisations, was conducted with the free prior and informed consent of Aboriginal participants and had regard to Aboriginal decision-making processes.

The Research Committee oversaw the research, provided strategic direction and advice to the researchers and ensured information was communicated regularly to First Nations and other key partners. 

The National Native Title Council was appointed to manage delivery of the research.