Narelle VAN DER WEL

Narelle van der Wel is an experienced climate science professional with a Ph.D. in Polar Studies (Glaciology) and a decade of experience advancing global climate research priorities. She has played a central role in the WCRP Secretariat, with responsibilities that include project management, strategic planning, communication, program oversight, and leadership of a multidisciplinary international team. Narelle leads flagship initiatives and contributes to high-impact scientific assessments, leveraging her background in physical, social, and political sciences to effectively bridge science and policy. Passionate about international collaboration, Narelle excels at guiding complex projects and ensuring that cutting-edge climate research is translated into actionable insights that inform global decision-making.

Current responsibilities include:

• Supporting WCRP Joint Scientific Committee meetings, and overseeing membership calls and the development of strategic plans, guidelines, and procedures.
• Overseeing strategic and financial management of flagship initiatives, including the Safe Landing Climates and My Climate Risk Lighthouse Activities.
• Directing Secretariat support for the WCRP Academy, advancing training, mentorship, and capacity-building globally.
• Directing Secretariat support for the Climate and Cryosphere (CliC) Core Project, fostering collaboration and research on the climate–cryosphere nexus and emerging scientific priorities.
• Organising high-profile events, including the WCRP-IPCC Co-sponsored Workshop on Earth System High Impact Events, Tipping Points and their Consequences.
• Leading the planning and coordination of major scientific assessments, including the Tipping Points and Transient Climate Response to cumulative carbon Emissions (TCRE) assessments.
• Convening and delivering scientific workshops, e.g., the Coupled Physical, Economic, and Financial Impact Modelling Workshop (2024), Workshop on High Risk Cascading Shocks (2024), Assessing the Transient Climate Response to Emissions (TCRE) and Zero Emissions Commitment (ZEC) Workshop (2025), Workshop on Opening up Earth Observations for Climate Adaptation (2025).
• Support the strengthening of partnerships with co-sponsors and stakeholders,  contributing input to international policy and scientific collaboration efforts (e.g., IPY, Antarctic Treaty System, Arctic Council, UNFCCC Bodies).
• Driving resource mobilisation efforts and representing WCRP/WMO at global forums, including the SCAR Delegates Meeting 2024 and New York Climate Week 2025.
• Leading WCRP communications, managing WCRP’s digital platforms, publications, and outreach strategies to enhance global visibility and engagement.
• Supervising and mentoring consultants, interns, and staff, fostering professional growth and collaboration.

Narelle is originally from New Zealand. She completed a Ph.D. in Polar Studies (Glaciology) at Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge, UK, in 2012, focusing on the numerical modeling of ice streams in Antarctica. She then worked as a Postdoctoral Research Assistant at the Scott Polar Research Institute, where she contributed to two strategic reports on Greenland glacier change. In September 2018, she also completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Climate Change Management at the University of Edinburgh.

Risk KAN Steering Committee - Ex-officio member for WCRP

Contributing author to several recent publications:

Recent WCRP Reports: