We welcome the newest additions to the MetOcean Solutions team
At MetOcean Solutions (MOS), we recognise that our employees are invaluable. Each of them brings expert knowledge and skills that make us a unique team and allow us to continue to push boundaries. Finding the right people for the job often means sourcing talent from far afield, as a result, we are a diverse and international bunch. In the past few months, four new people have joined us. We will take this opportunity to introduce our newest team members and to welcome them on board.
Dr Christopher Roach
Dr Christopher Roach joined us as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow for the Moana Project in February 2021. Chris was working as a postdoctoral researcher for LOCEAN (Oceanography and Climate Laboratories) in France when he decided to join the MOS team. However, due to the global pandemic situation, he was held up in France, then forced to make a pit stop in his native home of Tasmania before finally being able to travel to Raglan, New Zealand in May 2021. “We are extremely excited to have Chris join our team here in Raglan. Chris made an amazing effort to travel to New Zealand under the given circumstances and his expertise is a crucial addition to the Moana Project,” explains Moana Project Manager, Malene Felsing.
At MOS, Chistopher will be researching how connectivity between populations of three key commercial marine species (green lipped mussels, pāua and crayfish) are likely to respond to changing oceanographic conditions under future climate trajectories. “The Moana backbone model configuration offers unprecedented NZ-wide spatial and temporal resolution. Combined with forcing from the NZ Earth System model, this enables us to explore how circulation and water property changes under high and medium emissions scenarios will affect the NZ seafood industry,” explains Chris.
Christopher gained his PhD in Quantitative Marine Science from the University of Tasmania and CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research studying the Ekman Currents in the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. He spent the next two years working at the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Institute (Florida State University) examining isopycnal mixing in the Southern Ocean using Argo float trajectories. His following Postdoctoral research projects were at the International Pacific Research Center (University of Hawaii); the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (University of Tasmania) and LOCEAN (CNRS & Sorbonne University).
Chris's research experience has ranged from the Southern Ocean to the Arctic, with an emphasis on the use of lagrangian techniques and platforms. He has used real world lagrangian data, such as Argo float and surface drifter trajectories, to create maps of global cross-stream mixing and used of numerical lagrangian particle tracking to examine the inflow of water to the Ross Gyre and Arctic Sea. His other research experience includes the use of EM-APEX velocity profiling floats to describe upper ocean wind driven flow in the Southern Ocean, and the use of novel mapping techniques to create a new time-evolving atlas of ocean oxygen content.
Dr Annick Terpstra
Dr Annick Terpstra, an Atmospheric Scientist specialised in (polar) atmospheric dynamics, joined our team in July 2021. "The term ”metocean” is an abbreviation of meteorology and oceanography. It emphasizes the importance of including both atmospheric and oceanic processes in coastal and offshore forecasting and studies,” explains MOS general manager Dr Brett Beamsley. ”Compared to terrestrial atmospheric modelling, there are different focuses for metocean studies, which requires close interaction between the atmospheric and oceanic modelers. Having Annick with atmospheric expertise and strong modelling capabilities on the MOS team is vital to ensure we are providing our clients with the most accurate and reliable solutions" adds Dr Beamsley.
Annick completed her under- and postgraduate studies in the Netherlands where she originates from. She gained her PhD in Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Bergen in Norway. Her PhD focused on dynamical perspectives on the formation and intensification of polar lows. After completing her PhD, she continued working as a research fellow for The University of Bergen, working on the project “High Impact Weather in the Arctic", which focused on air-sea interactions during polar low development.
After her time in Norway, she migrated further south to Portugal, where she worked as a research fellow for the University of Aveiro. Here she researched the link between Antarctic precipitation and sub-tropical evaporation and provided weather forecasts to the “Antarctic Circumnavigation Expedition." During this time, Annick produced a successful proposal that launched her into a three-year postdoctoral fellowship. Her new project investigated marine cold air outbreaks at high latitudes, focusing on the dynamics and imprints on the ocean of mesoscale cyclones. Annick has conducted both airborne and seagoing fieldwork in the Arctic during field trips to northern Sweden and Iceland.
Warwick Howland
Warwick joined the MOS team in July 2021, as our newest Business Development Manager. He has extensive experience in government and tertiary education sectors, including policy, research commercialisation, project management and innovation. Warwick has an engineering background and enjoys working in a scientific environment. Originally from New Zealand, he has worked for both the Australian Governments Bureau of Meteorology (BoM), and CSIRO. “As a non-Scientist (and lapsed engineer) I enjoy the passion of those engaged in discovery.”
When working for BoM, Warwick took on a lead role on the ARM Project (Atmospheric Radiation Measurement) funded by the US Dept of Energy to which BoM provided both research and facilities management. The project deployed mobile atmospheric radiation measurement equipment in scientific (and geographic) places of interest such as the Himalayas, Antarctica, and Tropical West Pacific (Nauru, Papua New Guinea & Darwin). “I was lucky enough to visit the Azores and Amazon basin to inspect planned sites and then on to Los Alamos National laboratories in New Mexico to finalise the contract. The thing that struck me about the Azores was, that despite being so far from NZ, there were familiar sights and smells. Pohutukawa trees, flax and geothermal activity reminded me of Rotorua. I can only surmise that whalers brought the plants back from their voyages to the Pacific,” recalls Warwick.
"Warwick compliments and adds to the expertise in the Business Development team,” explains Dr Beamsley. “His background working with CSIRO, the BoM and on large government contracts sits well with our strategy to become an integral part of the broader MetService safety orientated offerings and to roll out our developing products and capabilities both nationally and internationally."
Warwick is a dedicated Business Manager and is used to being on the road. He remembers one of the best aspects (and at times worst) of working as a Business Development Advisor for CSIRO, was the chance to travel around Australia, talk with researchers and get an insight into their work. “I visited the marine labs in Hobart, Canberra, Brisbane & Perth on a regular basis – travelling for about 1 week in 3. There was a couple of occasions I wasn’t 100% certain which city I was in” explains Warwick.
Warwick was born and raised in Putaruru, New Zealand, and has lived in London, Barcelona, San Fransisco, Melbourne, and is currently based in rural Victoria, Australia with his wife. When he is not working, he keeps busy in his workshop where he puts his Grandad’s old tools to good use making handmade furniture.
Jessika Verryt
Jessika took on the role as Office Manager at the MOS Raglan office in June 2021. Jessika has a Bachelor of Visual Arts from the Auckland University of Technology (AUT) and has since worked in telecommunications, education, and theatre design. In her previous role as a Service Development Analyst at 2degrees, she developed experience in change management, telecommunications, and business process change. The role developed her skills in stakeholder management, project management, customer service and communications. “Jess's diverse background and her immaculate organisational skills, coupled with her pragmatic and creative approach, make her a perfect match to MetOcean,” explains Engagement Manager, Thea Eytan.
Jess enjoys being in a highly varied role and using her organisational skills to ensure the smooth running of our Raglan office. "I enjoy working at a forward thinking and dynamic company, with such an international and diverse group. It’s great using my customer focus to make sure our team has everything they need from an administrative perspective to deliver exceptional products and service. My love for surfing, the environment and the ocean attracted me to the role as well.” Jessika is originally from Auckland but escaped the city for Raglan four years ago. When Jessika is not busy supporting our team, she spends her time with family and friends, enjoys the beautiful environment of Whaingaroa, and squeezes in dancing whenever possible.