Will Steffen

Professor Will Steffen is a world leading expert and researcher in the field of climate change and sustainability.

Born in the United States of America, Professor Steffen completed a Bachelor of Science at the University of Missouri, before being awarded a Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Florida. After spending time as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Cornell University, Professor Steffen moved to Australia to work at the Australian National University as a Research Fellow before beginning a decade long career with the CSIRO.

It was at the CSIRO's Division of Environmental Mechanics in the 1980s where Professor Steffen had the opportunity to work with a world-class group of scientists studying the soil-plant-atmosphere system, a period he identifies as one of the most inspirational of his life.

In 1990 Professor Steffen's work moved to a global level when he joined the terrestrial ecosystems project of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme, an international network of scientist studying global environmental change based in Stockholm Sweden. From 1998 to 2004 Professor Steffen served as executive director of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme, as well as Chief Scientist from 2004 to 2006.

Upon returning to Australia Professor Steffen fulfilled a number of different roles at the Australian National University, including Director of the Centre for Resource and Environmental Studies, Director of the ANU Institute of Environment, Pro Vice-Chancellor Research, the inaugural Director of the Fenner School of Environment and Society, and Executive Director of the ANU Climate Change Institute.

From 2011 to 2013 Professor Steffen served as Climate Commissioner with the Australian Government's Climate Commission. It was during this time that Professor Steffen was the principal author of the climate report "The Critical Decade", which summarised the state of climate science and the urgency for action. Professor Steffen is currently a Climate Councillor with the independent, publically funded Climate Council of Australia.

Professor Steffen has held a number of advisory roles including being Science Adviser with the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Chair of the Antarctic Advisory Committee, member of the APEC Climate Centre's Science Advisory Committee, Multi-Party Climate Change Committee, ACT Climate Change Council and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology's Advisory Panel.

Professor Steffen has authored numerous publications on climate science across a broad range of research interests within the fields and climate change and the Earth System. Professor Steffen was an Adjunct Professor at the Australian National University, an Adjunct Professor with the University of Canberra's Faculty of Business Government and Law, Senior Associate with the University of Cambridge's Programme for Sustainability Leadership, Honorary Professor at Copenhagen University, and Guest Researcher at Stockholm University.

It is in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the field of climate change and sustainability that Professor Will Steffen was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Canberra.