Dr David Wratt, QSO, Wellington
For services to science. Dr David Wratt is a nationally and internationally respected climate change scientist. He is a leader in communicating complicated climate science concepts in accessible ways to New Zealand and international audiences. He is Chief Climate Scientist at the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research. He is a Bureau member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which was jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 with Al Gore. He was pivotal in establishing the New Zealand Climate Change Centre in 2008. His leadership in facilitating collaboration has meant he was appointed Director of the joint research initiative between the Crown Research Institutes and Canterbury and Victoria Universities. Dr Wratt is a specialist on the Pacific region and is a trustee of the Hikurangi Foundation, a non-profit organisation that aims to help New Zealanders take action on climate change in ways that will enhance their lives.