About Climate Comms

Over 200 publications on climate variability, climate change, and extreme events.

• 27 journal papers, 96 reports, 54 conference papers, 17 book chapters and 19 other articles;
• Total citations: 1894;
• H-index: 18.

A variety of business development and management roles:

• Founding member of the CSIRO Climate Impact Group in 1989, led by Dr Barrie Pittock up to 1999 and by Dr Penny Whetton up to 2007. Kevin was deputy leader from 2005-2007. This group developed new climate projection methods, secured consultancy projects with a range of stakeholders, and produced many State, Territory and National climate projections over 18 years. These products were used in impact assessments;
• One of four leaders of the CSIRO Climate Impacts and Adaptation Working Group (IAWG), which was formed in 1999 and involved about 70 scientists. The IAWG coordinated a number of cross-disciplinary activities and provided a platform for the Climate Adaptation Flagship in 2008.
• Leader of the Risk, Adaptation and Policy team comprising nine scientists in the CSIRO Climate Variability and Change Program from 2008-2009;
• Leader of the CSIRO Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability team comprising 12-14 scientists from September 2009 to May 2013;
• Theme Leader of Pathways to Adaptation in the CSIRO Climate Adaptation Flagship from May 2013 to June 2014, overseeing 30 projects, with a budget of around $9 million;
• Leader of Climate Variability, Extreme Weather and Adaptation Group in the CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship from July 2014 to July 2016. Acted as Research Director of the Ocean and Climate Dynamics Program from 11-18 Oct 2014 and 20 July – 13 Sep 2015;
• Deputy Director of the NESP ESCC Hub from July 2015 to February 2017;
• Interim Research Director for the CSIRO Climate Science Centre from August 2016 to March 2017;
• Leader of the NESP ESCC Hub from March to May 2017;
• Director of Climate Comms from July 2017 to date.

Leader/Manager of some large projects:

• Leader of the $1.4 million Climate Extremes project in the Australian Climate Change Science Program (ACCSP) from July 2009-June 2011;
• Leader of the $5.7 million Climate Projections Component in the Pacific Climate Change Science Program (PCCSP) from 2009-2011;
• Manager of the $19.5 million climate science part of the Pacific-Australia Climate Change Science and Adaptation Planning (PACCSAP) program from January to June 2012 (a transition period between long-term managers). This also involved closing-out the PCCSP and significant challenges related to finalization of the PACCSAP Implementation Plan, budget management, recruitment of a new Science Program Manager, building capacity in the science management team, and developing relationships with new staff in partner agencies;
• Leader of the $4.0 million Climate Projections Theme in the PACCSAP program from July 2012 to May 2013;
• Manager of the $8.3 million Australian Natural Resource management (NRM) climate projections program from October 2014 to June 2016;
• Leader of the $1 million Data Delivery project in the Australian NRM climate projections program from July 2012 to June 2016;
• Leader of the $1.1 million Regional Projections Science, Products and Services project in the NESP ESCC Hub from July 2016 to March 2017.

Significant IPCC input:

• Contributing author of Chapter 6 “Climate models: projections of future climate” in the 1996 Second Assessment Report on “The Science of Climate Change”;
• Contributing author of Chapter 2 “Observed climate variability and change” in the 2001 Third Assessment Report on “The Science of Climate Change”;
• Consultant for the Australian government review of the 2001 Third Assessment Report on “Climate change impacts, vulnerability and adaptation”;
• Coordinating Lead Author of Chapter 11 “Australia and New Zealand” in the 2007 Fourth Assessment Report on “Climate change impacts, adaptation and vulnerability”;
• Expert Reviewer of Chapter 25 “Australasia” and Chapter 29 “Small Islands” in the 2014 Fifth Assessment Report on “Climate change impacts, adaptation and vulnerability”.

Impact:

• My papers and reports on snow, fire and drought have influenced planning and decision-making, e.g. increased investment in snow-making infrastructure, inclusion of fire weather projections in the Victorian 2009 Bushfires Royal Commission; and use of drought projections in the 2008 National Review of Drought Policy.
• Contributions to products and services delivered through the PCCSP (2009-2011), PACCSAP (2012-2014) and Climate change in Australia (2012-2016) projects have significantly raised awareness about climate change, been used in planning and decision-making, improved CSIRO’s public profile, developed key stakeholder relationships, and raised external revenue for CSIRO.
• Contributions to the BoM/CSIRO State of the Climate reports (2010, 2012, 2014, 2016) have also raised awareness about climate change in Australia.
• My management roles have contributed to strategic directions, tactical decisions, resource management, client relationships and external revenue.

• The CSIRO Climate Impact Group won the Australia Museum’s Eureka Prize for Environmental Research in August 2003. The citation was ‘For providing… innovative and authoritative assessments of the likely impact of global climate change for Australia, with applications spanning a wide range of activities, sectors and regions, and underpinning national and international adaptation and mitigation strategies.’
• Contributed to the IPCC, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007;
• CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research Recognition Award: one of CSIRO’s top 10 spokespersons during 2007;
• CSIRO Look Out Award 2008: part of the Climate Change in Australia project team;
• CSIRO Climate Adaptation Flagship Recognition Award: outstanding performance in relation to media demands associated with the catastrophic Victorian bushfires of February 2009;
• Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research Award 2009: recognition of leadership and management contributions in the role of Research Group Leader;
• CSIRO Certificate of Appreciation for providing outstanding leadership in PACCSAP management during a transition period (27 Aug 2012);
• Nominated for 2012 Victoria Prize for Science and Innovation (with Penny Whetton)
• CSIRO Certificate of Appreciation for demonstrating a commitment to CSIRO’s role as a trusted advisor by delivering a series of “Climate change in Australia” briefings to federal Government Ministers and senior Federal Government officials (Dec 2014).
• CSIRO Performance Cash Reward to all 39 members of the ”Climate change in Australia” project team (July 2015).