Meet the Team

Management

Peter Urich

Managing Director

Dr Peter Urich is the Managing Director and a key scientist at CLIMsystems Ltd. He works at the cutting edge of climate science and its application in critical infrastructure projects around the world. With over twenty years’ experience I he has developed a world class team of practitioners, many with PhDs and great depth of practical experience. With projects in over 50 countries and with TCFD experience with high-profile clients CLIMsystems focuses on high quality and transparent assessments of local and distinctive problems. We have helped clients to define and derisk a wide range of infrastructure projects through climate extreme event analysis of precipitation through DDF/IDF modelling with high-resolution climate models, as well as risks posed by current and future drought, tornado, forest and grass fire, tropical cyclones, extreme still high-water levels, high and low temperatures and extreme winds, permafrost, among other project specific variables. We apply the latest GCM, RCM monthly, daily and sub daily climate model data and scientific methods with superior quality control leading to world-class, defensible deliverables.

Science and Data

Yinpeng Li

Senior Climate Scientist

Yinpeng is a senior climate scientist at CLIMsystems Ltd and is an internationally recognised expert in climate change modelling and adaptation with experiences of working in many countries over 20 years. His main expertise is climate change data and modelling, and integrated assessment. Yinpeng Li’s skills extend to broad fields, including: climate, land, and ocean big data analysis and downscaling; innovative and practical climate change adaptation and risk assessment tool development; extreme event analysis for precipitation, wind, drought and heat events and sea level rise; integrated assessment and decision making support system development, system dynamics modelling; interdisciplinary problem identification and strategy plan development; project development, implementation and reporting; stakeholder communication and training.


Chonghua Yin

Climate and Env’tl Scientist

Chonghua is a senior data scientist at CLIMsystems Ltd and is an internationally recognized expert in climate change modelling and adaptation. His main expertise is climate change data and modelling, and integrated assessment. Chonghua has over ten years’ experience in software design and development, system architecture and design, machine learning, distribution and parallel computing, and large data analysis. He applies his extensive and excellent data analysis skills in climate change adaptation and risk assessments. He also takes on strategic roles where he is tasked with formulating new and creative ideas aligned with the company's mission and long-term vision. He is currently working on design and development of the CLIMsystems Seasonal Climate Forecast Service System (CSCFSS) and climate risk modeling across diverse geographies around the world applying the latest CMIP6 climate model data.


Dr Wenyu Qiu

Climate Scientist

Dr Wenyu Qiu works as a climate scientist at CLIMsystems. She has research on tropical cyclone climate and intensity changes, has experience in using the regional model WRF to simulate typhoon activity, and is interested in climate change in tropical cyclones and other severe extreme weather systems.

  • PhD degree in Atmospheric Science from Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, China.
  • Developed a TC-track similarity index to forecast TC extreme precipitation, which has been operationally used in China.
  • Worked on the large-scale circulation’s impact on the offshore TC rapid intensification over the South China Sea.
  • Currently working on the data analysis of meteorological elements such as sea waves and extreme precipitation and the corresponding meteorological disaster assessment.

Meng Wang

Climate Scientist

Dr Meng Wang is a research fellow in International Global Change Institute. Her main expertise is climate change integrated assessment model development. She also has interests in disaster risk analysis, climate data analysis, decision support system, the application of Bayesian networks, and the application of Big Data/Machine Learning in climatic research.

  • Bachelor of Science Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, China
  • PhD degree in environmental science from the University of Waikato.
  • Developed a dynamic food security model for FAWSIM and SIMCLIM.
  • Involved in many projects on climate change and adaptation in Australia, China, New Zealand, Mongolia, Russia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.

Lu Sun

Climate Scientist


Sennye Masike

Environmental Economist

Sennye Masike is an environmental economist with a PhD in climate change impact assessment. He has extensive knowledge and experience on climate change impact, adaptation, vulnerability and mitigation assessments. Dr Masike has worked in over 10 countries in Africa, South America, the Middle East and the Pacific and Caribbean Islands. Some of the techniques that Dr Masike has expertise in include System Dynamic Modelling, Cost Benefit and Multi Criteria Decision Analysis. Climate change projects he has been involved in include Intended National Determined Contributions, National Appropriate Mitigation Actions, REDD+ and National Communications with expertise in the water sector.


Mo Chen

Environmental Economist

Mo (Ginny) Chen is an environmental economist at CLIMsystems. Mo has a Master's Degree in Finance from Waikato University, a Bachelor of Science and Management degree from Keuka College in New York and a Bachelor of Economics degree from Tianjin University of Science and Technology in China.

Mo has over fourteen years of experience in corporate management, human resources, administration management and training agency experience. Mo has supplied consulting and advisory services for multiple industries and sectors, including automotive, investment banking, derivatives, engineering, healthcare, ICT, medical groups and reinsurance brokers.

In 2022, Mo joined the CLIMsystems crew full-time, joining our financial data analysis team, primarily focusing on sustainable finance data and climate and environmental risk disclosure and reporting methodologies. Her work is key in developing climate and environmental risk disclosure guidance and curriculum. Mo's research interests include the effects of economic, financial, and environmental policies and climate change risks on the economy and the community; climate-related financial risks and non-financial risks; ESG policies and programmes' impacts on economic growth and economic resilience; financial models to simulate climate and financial risk processes, and numerical analysis methods to develop climate financial risk and transition risk tools.


Zhaoquan Yu

Climate Data Management and Analyst

Zhaoquan (Johnny) Yu is a senior climate data analyst and programmer at CLIMsystems. He has a graduate diploma in computer and application from the Atmospheric Sciences of Lanzhou University, China. Johnny has over 20 years of experience in software development, system integration, data analysis, and business management. He now focuses on algorithm optimization, scientific computing, and data structure research, committed to developing climate data and service platforms and application systems, which has contributed significantly to scientific and technological innovation and rapid data application development, including designing and establishing the data centre, data API and climate risk reporting system.


Joshua Taohua Wu

Climate Data Management and Analyst

Joshua's position is a Climate Data Manager and Analyst in the CLIMsystems data team. He has a Graduate Diploma of Computer Science from Waikato University. His research interests are mainly in data analysis and machine learning. HIs work includes the augmenting of the massive meteorological/climatological data collection, sorting, analyzing and inspecting, as well as providing valuable data support for the smooth implementation of the scientific research across different projects. Joshua either develops or uses existing code and programs to automate modules of work, thereby promoting improved work output. As part of the data team Joshua's passion for the work exemplifies the team's slogan 'Data is Life'.

Business and Sales

Colin Roberts

Hydroinformatics Specialist

Colin Roberts is a specialist in hydroinformatics and has over 30 years of experience in modelling and analysis of earth systems (water) related projects including for planning, design, operations, and assessment. Colin has worked on projects as technical resources, technical lead, and team leader. He has developed many innovative approaches in carrying out water-related analysis in challenging environments – in terms of technical, informational and organisational complexities. He is a proficient communicator, both written and orally, and is passionate about carrying out work that is of value to his clients and collaborators. He has experience in hydrology, water resources, and flood risk from pluvial, fluvial and coastal sources. He has an academic background in engineering and science and a passion for earth systems and data science. He has worked for clients in many parts of the world and enjoys interacting with people and studying systems all over the world.


Siena Brody-Heine

Technical Project Manager


Clare Wimmer

Business Manager

In Clare's role as Business Manager of CLIMsystems, she uses management, research and communication skills when dealing with the financial aspect of our business and contracts. Clare is in charge of software license renewal, engaging with stakeholders to ensure efficient and consistent access to CLIMsystems' suite of tools. She also oversees the HR side of the business. Her community service includes the Chair of Permaculture in New Zealand. Clare is passionate about sustainable living, applying regenerative processes to business development, innovation and participatory facilitation techniques.

  • Trained Facilitation Technology of Participation, The Institute of Cultural Affairs (ICA)
  • Graduate Diploma (Sustainable Practice/Leadership for Change) with distinction from Otago, New Zealand
  • Trained Facilitation Professional of Living Environments in Natural, Social, and Economic Systems (LENSES), USA
  • Post-graduate Certificate (Business Research) from the University of Waikato Management School
  • Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Health Management from the University of New Hampshire, USA
  • Representative of Raglan for the first GREEN GLOBE 21 Sustainable Tourism Conference in Kaikoura, New Zealand
  • Environmental Community Research Award 2004 Trust Waikato
  • Permaculturalist, Educator and Studio Potter

Sarah Bolton

Support Services


Software and Web Development

Matthew Dooley

Head of Software and Web Development

Matthew is the software developer, web developer, and graphic designer at CLIMsystems. He has experience with developing various languages and frameworks including Delphi, C#, Objective C and various web technologies.

  • Bachelor of Information Technology degree from the Waikato Institute of Technology.

Zhenyan Jason Wang

Senior Programmer


Associates

Professor Tom Wigley

After completing his Ph.D. in 1967, he joined the faculty of the Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada where he stayed until 1975. Here he taught courses in applied mathematics, statistics, air pollution and meteorology. Apart from completing some work in plasma physics while on leave at the U.K. Atomic Energy Authority in Culham, U.K. during 1969, his main research interests during this period were in air pollution and aqueous geochemistry. The former included important work of the dynamics and dispersion of industrial plumes (particularly moist plumes), while the latter produced highly cited papers on the dissolution kinetics of calcite, chemical modelling and carbon isotope geochemistry.

In 1975, he moved to the U.K. to take up a "soft money" research job in climatology, in the then fledgling Climatic Research Unit in the School of Environmental Sciences at the University of East Anglia, Norwich, U.K. In 1978, on the retirement of CRU’s founder and first Director, Professor H.H. Lamb, he became Director of the Unit. Since then, the Unit has become firmly established as one of the world's leading centres in climatology. In 1993, he resigned as Director of the Climatic Research Unit to take up the position of Director of the Office for Interdisciplinary Earth Studies at the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO, a post held into 1994. He was appointed as an NCAR/UCAR Senior Scientist in 1994. In 2008 he moved back to Australia where he was awarded an Adjunct Professorship at the University of Adelaide. He retired from NCAR in 2009 and was re-appointed as a Senior Research Fellow (honorary). He currently spends time both at NCAR and at the University of Adelaide.

Wigley has published in diverse aspects of the broad field of climatology; from data analysis, to climate impacts on agriculture and water resources, to climate, sea level and carbon cycle modelling, to paleoclimatology. He has concentrated recently on facets of the greenhouse problem, and contributed as a lead author in each of the seven recent major reviews of this problem (US DOE, WMO/UNEP/ICSU-SCOPE, and the 1990, 1992, 1994, 1995, 2001 and 2007 IPCC Reviews). He is one of the most highly cited scientists in the discipline


Dr Juan M Pulhin

Dr Juan M Pulhin is full Professor and former Dean of the College of Forestry and Natural Resources (CFNR), University of the Philippines Los Baños. He also holds the title of Scientist III, under the University of the Philippines Scientific Productivity System in recognition of his scholarly outputs and international scientific standing. He has been a Visiting Professor at The University of Tokyo for two times in 2007 and 2010. He has more than 30 years of experience in natural resources education, research and development at the national and international level and has authored/co-authored more than 100 technical publications dealing on various aspects of natural resources management and climate change. He has also co-authored/co-edited eight books on forest rehabilitation, impacts of forest tenure reform, climate change, and disaster risk reduction published by reputable publishers. He was a Coordinating Lead Author of the Human Security Chapter (Chapter 12) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group II Contribution to the Fifth Assessment Report released last 2014 and a Lead Author of the adaptation chapter of the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report. Dr Pulhin earned his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Forestry degrees at the University of the Philippines Los Baños and Ph.D. degree in Geographical Sciences from the Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies of The Australian National University.


Dr Qian Ye

Dr Ye’s research background includes an expertise in social-economic impacts of climate changes and disaster risk governance. As the executive director of the Integrated Risk Governance Project, sponsored by Future Earth/ICSU and UNISDR, he has engaged extensively with the scientific research community, weather and climate services, government policy makers, business sectors, educators and general public around the world on the disaster risk reduction and green development, supervising two current doctoral projects in co-benefit of reducing disaster risks and building resilient society. He has been awarded over $3 million USD in competitive research funding and has published over 30 peer-reviewed papers in the area of climate change and disaster risk governance. He is the coordinator of Global University Consortium for Integrated Risk Governance Project, an international education network.


Dr Li Dan

Dr Li DAN is now a full professor of the Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IAP, CAS). He works in the Key Laboratory of Regional Climate-Environment for Temperate East Asia (RCE-TEA). In March 2008, He was appointed as the expert of short term consultant of World Bank for the climate adaptation. During 2008 to 2011, he was the program manager in Atmospheric Division of Earth Science Department, National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC). Since 2012, he is the assistant director of RCE-TEA. He is a member of Chinese Meteorological Society (CMS) and American Geophysical Union (AGU). Dr Dan’s research interests include interaction between biosphere and atmosphere, land surface model development, climate simulation and modeling, the impact of dynamical vegetation processes and carbon cycles on climate, and climate downscaling.


Greg Jenks

Greg Jenks has pioneered science-led and innovative dune restoration work. Many projects are successfully established that now accomplish affordable littoral restoration while also mitigating the effects of SLR.

  • A recognised leader of the new 21st Century Paradigm for Sustainable Coastal Management.
  • Inspected, quantified and prepared international restoration plans for degraded coastal areas in association with CLIMsystems Ltd.
  • Delivered a programme plan for viable and economical coastal restoration projects to mitigate existing and future concerns regarding anthropogenic-induced beach erosion.
  • Invited to present sustainable, leading-edge and community-focussed management options for mitigating coastal erosion concerns in Pacific Island nations, and to assist with the preparation of a National Adaptation Plan of Action (NAPA) for Vanuatu.
  • Inspect, quantify issues and prepare ecological restoration plans for mitigation of coastal erosion in Vanuatu, in association with CLIMsystems Ltd.
  • Prepared and submitted a leading-edge and community-focussed beach management and restoration plan for beaches on the Sunshine Coast, Australia.
  • Has recently contributed to the "Urban Coastal Zones" chapter of the UCCRN Second Assessment Report on Climate Change and Cities (ARC3-2), to be published by Cambridge University Press in December 2015 and launched at COP21 in Paris.”


Scientific Advisory Panel

One of the challenges faced by CLIMsystems is to ensure that the science behind its software is up-to-date, credible and robust. In this respect, CLIMsystems has established a new international Scientific Advisory Panel for the purpose of providing review and scientific oversight on the development and application of its software modelling system, SimCLIM. The Panel is chaired by Prof T.M.L. Wigley and includes:

  • Dr J. Meehl (National Center for Atmospheric Research, USA)
  • Prof B. Hewitson (University of Cape Town, South Africa)
  • Prof M. Manton (Monash University, Australia)
  • Prof M. Manning (Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand)
  • Dr J. Hunter (Antarctic Climate & Ecosystems Cooperative Centre (ACE CRC))
  • Prof R. Wilby (Loughborough University, UK)