Alex Thompson Email & Phone Number

Wellington, New Zealand

Oversees the planning and direction of NIWA science and research, Ensures NIWA has the capability to meet current and future needs of the public, government, and private sectors in climate, ocean and freshwater science and related advanced technology. Builds collaborations and partnerships with government and industry, across the sector and internationally. Leads the Science Management Team and the Strategy and Research Office team.

Wellington, Wellington Region, New Zealand

Leads the development, implementation and reporting on NIWA’s research strategy, and leads NIWA’s Strategy and Research Office team.

Wellington & Wairarapa, New Zealand

Drives the strategic development of NIWA's research, and in particular its competitive government-funded research portfolio, including creating and implementing idea development, and ensuring our science is developed and planned with line of sight to impact. Also, is responsible for the review of major science programmes to ensure science excellence and to inform research development.Supports NIWAs engagement with other parts of the science system (other research organisations, government and other stakeholders etc), building relationships, promoting collaboration, and delivering results.

Wellington & Wairarapa, New Zealand

Responsible for ensuring a high performing science sector for New Zealand, through stewardship of the science sector (from science providers to science users), strategic investment in science research and related infrastructure, and via leveraging international links. Responsible for relevant stakeholder management within MBIE, across other government agencies, and with research organisations. Business lead of the Regional Research Institutes Initiative, manager of The Deep South and Sustainable Seas National Science Challenges contracts, Lead operations of the new Antarctic Platform, and Sector Lead on marine, Antarctic and climate research. Governance advisor to The Deep South National Science Challenge Board, Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge Board, and the Centre for Space Science Technology (now Xerra) Board.Member of MfE's Technical Advisory Group on Climate and Atmosphere. Represented NZ in international science diplomacy fora.

San Pancho, Nayarit, Mexico

A years escape to a small surf town in Mexico during which time I deepened my yoga practice, learnt spanish, studied the MITx MOOC "Transforming Business, Society and Self", and gained perspective.

Wellington, New Zealand

Provided policy, strategic and technical advice to the Commissioner, and supported her engagement with Ministers, parliamentary processes, stakeholders and the public. Achievements include:Lead author of "Lignite and the Climate Change: the High Cost of Low Grade Coal".Independent advisor to the Emission Trading Scheme select committee review, Author of ongoing advice to Government on climate change, the Emission Trading Scheme, and forestry.

London, United Kingdom

Established new journal. Made publication decisions on, and edited, top quality papers across the geosciences.Identified appropriate technical referees, managed peer review process.Kept abreast of new developments in the geosciences and wrote short pieces to highlight key findings reported in other journals.

Cambridge, United Kingdom

Responsible for research into emissions of gases from snow and their impact on the regional atmosphere.Climate Change Communication Award, British Council 2006.

Berkeley, California

Created, won funding for, and implemented an interdisciplinary research programme to understand emissions of nitrous oxide, a major greenhouse gas, using stable isotopes. Led a diverse research team across soil science, chemistry and biology.AWARDS: UC Berkeley Miller Research Fellowship 2003-2006; NSF Antarctic Research Principle Investigator Travel Award 2004; University of Alaska and the Russian Arctic and Antarctic Institute Arctic Ocean Climate Change Scholarship 2005.

Jülich, Germany

Customised a computer model of the global atmosphere to predict isotopic compositions of hydrocarbons in the air.

Doctor Of Philosophy (Phd), Atmospheric Chemistry And Climatology

Thesis title "Stable carbon isotopes of non-methane hydrocarbons in the atmosphere". AWARDS: York University International PhD Scholarship.

Postgraduate Diploma In Science Communication (1St Year)

Msc(Hons), Chemistry

Finance And Strategy Essentials

Graduate Diploma, Psychology, (Incomplete)

Governance, Finance, Risk And Strategy Essentials For Science Organisations