Research

My research interests lie in the science of weather-producing systems, with a particular interest in high-impact weather such as heat waves, droughts, and compound events. I use a combination of observational and reanalysis data sets to understand the large-scale synoptic-dynamics of extreme weather, and innovative statistical methods to investigate the underlying processes that are of importance for the structure and development of these events.

Supervision​​

• Chenhui Jin (PhD 2025, Monash University): Understanding the dynamics of synoptic systems and their role in drought over Southeastern Australia
• Co-supervised a UK Met Office Academic Partnership undergraduate summer research project (2016, Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics, University of Oxford)

Awards​​

• Australian Bureau of Meteorology 2026 Australia Day Achievement Award (2026): Recognising key contributors to Australia's first National Climate Risk Assessment. The NCRA exemplifies outstanding public service. It demonstrates scientific rigour, objective advice, inclusive engagement, digital innovation, and reflects a deep commitment to collaboration, transparency and national impact. Australia Day Achievement Medallions provide the Bureau of Meteorology with the opportunity to acknowledge the contribution of their people and partners for their outstanding performance in special projects or in performance of their core duties. Australia Day Medallions are reserved for the highest level of recognition for this work.
• CSIRO Trusted Award (2025): Awarded to the CSIRO Future Climate and Hazards Team: "For exemplary leadership and impact in delivering Australia's next-generation climate and hazard information to support evidence-based adaptation and risk planning across government and industry. The team's work enables evidence-based decisions that support a safer, more secure, and climate-resilient Australia, creating sustained national impact, exemplifying excellence in scientific leadership and delivery, and reinforcing CSIRO's role as a trusted advisor on climate science."
• ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Systems Science award for the best paper published by a student (2014): ​Parker, T. J., Berry, G. J., and Reeder, M. J., 2013: The influence of tropical cyclones on heat waves in Southeastern Australia, Geophys. Res. Lett., 40, 6264-6270, doi:10.1002/2013GL058257

Media

1. Anatomy of a heatwave: how a cyclone, humid air and atmospheric waves drove brutal heat in the southeast. The Conversation, 30 January 2026 [Link]
2. Radio interview with Anand Ram, CBC News Toronto, about the heatwave and bushfires in southeast Australia in January 2026
3. The silent drought. The Age​, 23 June 2024 [Link]
4. This is your climate forecast. Monash Life, November 2023 [Link]
5. Why is it so damn cold right now? A weather researcher explains. The Conversation, ​21 June 2023 [Link]
6. Rossby wave in jet stream triggers flooding rain, scientist says. ABC News, ​7 July 2022 [Link]
7. Huge winter chill hits the southeast bringing snow, rain and wind. Yahoo News, 27 May 2022 [Link]
8. Planetary waves, cut-off lows and blocking highs: what’s behind record floods across the Southern Hemisphere? The Conversation, 25 May 2022 [Link]​​
9. ​Heat, Floods, Fires: Jet stream is key link in climate disasters. ​Bloomberg Green, ​22 July 2021 [Link]
10. Flash droughts can dry out soil in weeks. New research shows what they look like in Australia. The Conversation, 4 June 2021 [Link]. This article has been nominated for The Best Australian Science Writing 2022 and the UNSW Press Bragg Prize for Science Writing 2022.
11. What's cranking up the heat across south-eastern Australia? The Conversation, 13 January 2014 [Link]

Briefing Notes / Reports

1. The state of weather and climate extremes 2022. ​ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes [Link]
2. High impact compound events in Australia. ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes Briefing Note, September 2022 [Link]
3. ​Understanding Australia's Rainfall. ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes Briefing Note, ​June 2022 [Link]
4. ​The state of weather and climate extremes 2021. ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes [Link]
5. Fact sheet: Flash drought in Australia. Earth Systems and Climate Change Hub, National Environmental Science Program, 2021. [Link]
6. Climate Change in a land of extremes (Contribution to section on flash drought). Earth Systems and Climate Change Hub, National Environmental Science Program, ​2021 [Link]

Professional Appointments

 I am an Ordinary Council Member (and past Treasurer) of AMOS, the Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society.