Our People

Jordy is internationally recognised as a leading interdisciplinary cryosphere/snow scientist, with publications spanning from climate change impacts on snow, to avalanche forecasting, hazard mapping, hydrology and decision-making science. He has worked in both the Arctic and Antarctic, with extensive experience leading and supporting research.

Prior to joining Antarctica New Zealand in 2022, he was the Director of the Snow & Avalanche Laboratory and a Professor in the Department of Earth Sciences at Montana State University. He served as Department Head for Earth Sciences, and as the Director of Liberal Studies. He is also an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Geosciences for the Arctic University of Norway.

He started his career at Victoria University of Wellington, worked at the Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research in Switzerland, and then completed his PhD at Canterbury University. He then worked for NIWA before moving to the United States in 2010. Jordy leads the Antarctica New Zealand science team, supporting the delivery of world-class research and the communication of research findings.

Ceisha has been involved in Antarctic policy and environmental management for 18 years, working in the Science, Policy, Environment and Safety teams at Antarctica New Zealand. She has championed and led the development of the organisation Environmental Management System, Health and Safety System, the Environmental Impact Assessment process, developed and reviewed specially protected areas and advanced international environmental policies through science collaboration.

Ceisha was elected the Chair of the Committee for Environmental Protection in 2024, the technical advisory body that advises the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) on all environmental issues in Antarctica. She has been a member of the New Zealand delegation to the ATCM for a decade and has been New Zealand’s representative to the CEP since 2019. She was formally the expert group leader of the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programmes Environmental Protection Group and now sits on the Steering or Advisory Groups for several international Antarctic science projects with a particular focus as a user of science from a policy perspective.

Adam is a lawyer by profession. He has previously held chief executive roles in central government, local government, and the private sector, including the Serious Fraud Office and Queenstown Lakes District Council. In recent years he has operated as a professional director and consultant, primarily involving major projects in New Zealand local or central government, including the $1.5b development of new Dunedin Hospital. He has also had consulting and private sector management roles in Australia, the Pacific, the UK, and Europe. Adam is a chartered director of the Institute of Directors New Zealand and was a member of the Independent Panel that reviewed the Scott Base Redevelopment project.