Dr Mike Williams
Chief Scientist - Oceans
Mike joined NIWA in 2001 and has a science background in physical oceanography, ocean acidification, climate change and ocean processes associated with Antarctic sea ice and ice shelves. Prior to his appointment as Chief Scientist - Oceans in 2021, Mike held a joint appointment as Director of the Deep South National Science Challenge and Principal Scientist, Marine Physics.
Dr Joshu Mountjoy
Strategy Manager - Oceans
Joshu Mountjoy has a background in marine geoscience and has undertaken research across New Zealand’s EEZ, the Southern Ocean and Antarctica. His role as Strategy Manager Oceans enables him to develop new business and research directions drawing on the range of technical and research capability within the Oceans Centre and across NIWA. Joshu works closely with Te Kuwaha to develop stronger working relationships with Māori, and is building NIWA’s presence in renewable energy to support Aotearoa New Zealand’s decarbonisation goals.
Dr Vonda Cummings
Principal Scientist - Marine Ecology
Vonda is a marine ecologist with interest in the diversity and functioning of coastal seafloor communities and habitats and the environmental factors that influence them. Her research is focused on the implications of acidification, climate change and other anthropogenically-derived changes to our oceans, and how they influence key components of NZ and Antarctic ecosystems – now and into the future.
Dr Alan Orpin
Principal Scientist - Marine Geology
I'm a marine geologist and have been on NIWA staff since 2006, after postdoctoral fellowships with NIWA 2000-2003 and the Geological Survey of Canada (Atlantic) at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography 2003-2005. I'm also the Group Manager of Ocean Sediments within the Coasts & Oceans Physical Resources programme.
My current research is primarily focused on post-glacial marine sedimentation and dispersal on continental shelves, slopes and basins. Collaborative research within active international research programmes includes the application of detailed analysis of sediment cores, core chronology, high resolution seismic, multibeam bathymetry and backscatter, and sedimentary physical properties. This work embraces a range of environmental drivers for sedimentary processes including climate, tectonics, volcanism, and human-induced land-use change. In addition, my research and commercial activities are ongoing into techniques for seafloor characterization, sediment dispersal and hydrodynamics.
