The National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF) has announced the appointment of an NCCARF Advisory Board to guide the facility through its operational phase from 2011-2013.
NCCARF Director Professor Jean Palutikof said the Board members selected comprised
a cross-section of influential decision-makers representing local, state and federal
governments, business and research.
“Each board member is at the forefront of climate adaptation policy, research or
sustainable business practice in his or her field. As a group, they are uniquely placed to
ensure NCCARF research meets the needs of their sectors,” she said.
“This board will provide a responsive, flexible and independent governance structure to
ensure NCCARF generates the information decision-makers most need, and delivers it in
the most effective manner.”
Professor Ned Pankhurst, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research) and Provost Gold Coast at Griffith University added: “As host of the NCCARF, Griffith welcomes the establishment
of such an experienced Board and we look forward to the contribution that it will make
towards the continued success of the facility.”
NCCARF was established and funded by the Australian Government in 2008 to generate
the research required by decision-makers in government, business and vulnerable
communities to adapt to the impacts of climate change.
It is hosted by Griffith University, Gold Coast, with additional funding from the
Queensland Government and eight university research partners from around Australia.
The NCCARF Advisory Board is:
Ian Carruthers – Chair
Ian recently retired as Division Head in the Department of Climate Change and Energy
Efficiency after 40 years in the Australian Public Service. He played key roles in
negotiating the UN Climate Change Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto
Protocol, and their implementation rules; in setting up Australia’s ability to measure
emissions of greenhouse gases in all sectors (a notable case being the world-leading National Carbon Accounting System for the land sectors) in communication on climate change; and in framing national climate change response strategies, in concert with the
States, Territories and local governments through COAG.
Chris Cocklin
Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research and Innovation, James Cook University
Professor Cocklin is a member of the Queensland Premier’s Advisory Council on Climate
Change. He is a Director of the Reef and Rainforest Research Centre Ltd and has served
as a Director of Greening Australia (Vic) Ltd and the Australian Housing and Urban
Research Institute.
Professor Cocklin is a member of the International Scientific Advisory
Council of the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and a member of the Steering Committee of
the Great Barrier Reef & Torres Strait Hub of the National Environmental Research
Program. In 2004 he was appointed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC) as a Lead Author of the Fourth Assessment Report.
Allan Jones
Chief Development Officer, Energy and Climate Change, City of Sydney
Prior to his appointment Allan was Chief Executive Officer of the London Climate Change
Agency and prior to that Woking Borough Council’s Director of Thameswey Ltd. During
his time at Woking, Allan reduced CO2 emission by 77.5% from 1990 levels to 2004 and
undertook work on energy efficiency, tri-generation, renewable gases from waste,
alternative fuels for transport and renewable energy.
Amanda McCluskey
Head of Sustainability and Responsible Investment, Colonial First State
Amanda’s work focuses on developing and delivering Colonial First State Global Asset
Management’s strategy on sustainability and climate change issues. Amanda is the
founding Deputy Chair of the Investor Group on Climate Change, a non-executive
director of the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and a non-executive director of the Climate
Change and Business Centre.
Jean Palutikof
Director, National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility
Jean took up the role in October 2008, having previously managed the production of the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report for
Working Group II (Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability), while based at the UK Met
Office. Prior to joining the Met Office, she was a Professor in the School of Environmental
Sciences, and Director of the Climatic Research Unit, at the University of East Anglia,
UK, where she worked from 1979 to 2004.
Ned Pankhurst
Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research) and Provost (Gold Coast), Griffith University.
Ned has served as Pro Vice Chancellor (Science, Environment, Engineering and Technology)at Griffith University and prior to that at James Cook University. His research interests lie in the area of the biology of fishes including the reproductive physiology and
endocrinology of fishes; broodstock management and induced spawning of fishes in aquaculture; and the effects of climate change on fish reproduction.
Jim Piper
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Macquarie University
After completing his PhD in Atomic Physics at Otago University, Jim worked as a
Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Laser Physics at Oxford University, before joining
Macquarie University in 1975.
He was Director of the Australian Research Council Special Research Centre for Lasers and Applications and Dean of Information and
Communications before taking up his current position. He has substantial experience with
the Australian Research Council, including Research Training and Careers, and National
and International Cooperation Committees. He is inventor or co-inventor of 12 awarded
patents, and has had substantial experience in commercialisation of research-derived IP
including by way of licensing and start-up companies.
Harinder Sidhu
Acting Deputy Secretary of the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency,
and First Assistant Secretary, Adaptation, Science and Communications Division
Harinder is responsible for developing and implementing a strategic approach to climate
change adaptation issues and coordinating climate change science activities, and for
delivery of Department-wide communications and public affairs activities.
Previous to this position she was the Chief Adviser in the International Division where she
was responsible for the development and management of Australia’s international climate
change policy, analysis, negotiation strategy and bilateral relationship development.
Prior to joining the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Harinder was
Assistant Director-General in the Office of National Assessments and senior economic
and held defence adviser positions in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Greg Withers
Assistant Director-General of the Office of Climate Change, Queensland
Greg has 25 years experience in public policy research, development and
implementation.
He leads the Queensland Government’s response to climate change, including coordination of actions to reduce the State’s carbon footprint and prepare individuals, communities and business for the impacts of climate change.
Greg coordinates Queensland’s contribution to the national climate change agenda,
management of the Queensland Climate Change Fund, operation of the Premier’s
Council on Climate Change, and the $196 million strategy ClimateQ: Toward a greener
Queensland.
He has represented the Queensland Government on the COAG Climate Change and Water Working Group and is a member of the National
Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility Management Committee and the Urban
Research Program at Griffith University.
Stephanie Ziersch
Executive Director of the Sustainability and Climate Change Division of the South
Australian Government Stephanie is responsible for leading climate change policy
development in South Australia.
Over the past four years she has led the development of state adaptation policy and has had a strong involvement in adaptation policy development nationally.
Stephanie leads work to reduce the State’s greenhouse gas emissions in areas such as energy efficiency, community-based mitigation programs and behaviour change initiatives.
She supports the Premier of South Australia in his role as Chair of the States and Regions Network, an international alliance of regional governments taking action on climate change, and has worked in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme on climate change projects in Timor-Leste.
Stephanie is a qualified legal practitioner with a Masters in International Law and
International Relations.