Dr Andrew Watkins is currently a research associate at the School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment at Monash University. Previously Andrew worked for the Australian Climate Service where he was the climate science coordinating lead author for the Australian government's first National Climate Risk Assessment. The National Climate Risk Assessment combines the latest modelling of our current and future climate, with data on exposure & vulnerability, and systems expert opinion to determine the priority climate risks for Australia over the next century. Prior to this, Andrew was the Head of Climate Prediction and Operational Climate Services at the Bureau of Meteorology, where he often appeared in print and TV media to explain climate to the public, while also advising Government and Boards about emerging climate hazards. His PhD was studying Antarctic sea ice changes and impacts, and was lucky enough to visit Antarctica twice. In 2023 Andrew was awarded the William 'Bill' Gibbs medal by the Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society (AMOS) for his lifelong contribution to operational meteorological services; the first climatologist to win this award.