I was responsible for the development, execution and leadership of research and commercial projects for NIWA. This includes leading the NIWA component of a collaborative programme to develop and implement a tsunami warning system for New Zealand using deep ocean DART buoys; and leading the development and implementation of a weather and ocean current forecasting system for Emirates Team New Zealand for the America’s Cup.

This role involved leading and undertaking both interest-driven and commercially oriented applied research over a wide range of topics focused on climate change, physical oceanography, ocean acidification, and polar processes. In this role I have published scientific papers, produced briefings and reports for commercial and government clients and presented to the public. This role included the development of technology and applying it in Antarctica to take unique ocean measurements under ice shelves and to measure wave propagation in sea ice. I also planned and lead Antarctic and Subantarctic research voyages and Antarctic field work.

As a Programme Leader I was also responsible for leading, developing and delivering science in the climate observations portfolio. This includes contributing to science strategy and priorities, internal and external communication, staff mentoring and leadership.

I was active in leading (co-chair: 2020-2022; vice-chair: 2017-2020) the development on an international observing system for climate and biological change in the Southern Ocean, and particularly in the Ross Sea.

I led the Deep South National Science Challenge where my role focuses on the delivery of a mission driven multi-partner climate change research programme. I reported to the Challenge Governance Group and was responsible for the effective management of the 10-year $52.1 M budget and development of the Challenge research portfolio. I also managed and the led the Challenge’s engagement with Māori and stakeholders using a two-way approach to ensure our research was useful, useable, and used.

I have been on both the interim and permanent Science Leadership Teams for the Deep South Challenge. Here I have worked on the business plan development and implementation, science project design and implementation and science leadership for the processes and observations programme for the Southern Ocean and Antarctica.

The focus of this position was on applying and running numerical models on high performance computing systems to address climate scale problems in the ocean, in particular to the Southeast Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. In addition, I also developed an innovative iceberg tracking model and participated in field work in the Greenland Sea.