Our Science Department Managers

MSc (First Class Hons), Geology;  PhD, Paleontology 

Portfolio includes:

• Hydrogeology and geophysics
• Groundwater modelling
• Engineering geology
• Paleontology
• Geological Mapping and Stratigraphy
• Environmental chemistry
• Environmental processes and modelling

Total number of staff: 80 

As an experienced leader with a background in both science and executive management, Lucia brings a unique blend of technical expertise and strategic oversight to every role she takes on. With a solid foundation in geology and environmental change, she spent many years working in scientific research, focusing on environmental issues and sustainability. Since transitioning into leadership in 2011, Lucia has honed her skills in cross-functional team leadership, strategic planning, change management, and governance, risk management, and compliance. She is passionate about fostering people development and driving organizational success through effective financial planning, executive decision-making and leading change. Her expertise also extends to managing board relations, ensuring alignment between high-level strategy and day-to-day operations. Throughout her career, Lucia has remained committed to empowering people, navigating complex challenges, and guiding them through change and opportunities to foster long-term growth and resilience.

Skills: Strategic Planning • Leadership • Change Management • Financial Planning • People Development

• Environment and Climate Theme page
• Hazards and Risks Theme page
• Land and Marine Geosciences Theme page
• Laboratories and Collections page

Bruce Girdwood: Data Science and Geohazard Monitoring Department Manager
BSc (Mechanical Engineering); MSc (Civil Engineering), University of Capetown; PhD (Materials Engineering) University of Wales, Swansea.

Portfolio includes:

• Science System Architecture
• Remote Infrastructure Management
• Data Science Platform
• Science Operations and Data
• Science System Development
• Geohazard Operations Centre
• Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Analytics (AI & AA)
• Geospatial Data & Analysis
• GeoNet Programme

Total number of team members: 100

Bruce has broad experience across government, energy and private sector organisations in New Zealand and overseas. His specialist knowledge has influenced regulatory frameworks, increased commercial opportunities, and helped develop behaviour change and efficiency programmes in New Zealand’s energy sector.  Bruce is able to navigate regulatory environments to ensure best commercial outcomes and he understands the value and importance of positive stakeholder, government and community engagement.

In his Department Manager role at GNS Science, Bruce looks after the teams monitoring New Zealand’s four main natural hazards – earthquakes, tsunami, volcanic activity, and landslides – as well as the teams who analyse, measure and interpret monitoring data to ensure communities have the information and knowledge they need to respond, adapt and build resilience to these hazards. Data relating to geohazards is also accessed and used by scientists around the world.

Bruce’s teams also provide artificial intelligence and advanced analytics, and geospatial analysis, which is applied across a range of data and builds data science capability across GNS Science. Their collective capability contributes to GNS Science’s strategic direction and science priorities, including the Science Roadmap (link) and Science Theme Plans.

B. Eng (Geological Engineering) National University of Mexico; Geothermal Technology Diploma, Auckland University; MBA, Heriot Watt University, Scotland.

Portfolio includes:

• Geothermal Geology and Modelling
• Materials Science
• Hydrothermal systems and Minerals
• Geophysics
• Basin Analysis

No. of Staff: 58 

German combines technical field knowledge gained in over two decades working in the energy sector, with line management, project management, consulting, sales and marketing and business development skills. He enjoys leading technically minded people and transferring value into business.

German’s technical experience includes geological field mapping, seismic data management, 2-and 3D seismic interpretation, geological static modelling and reservoir characterization for exploration and production projects in the energy sector. He has led an extensive range of projects - well productivity, drilling optimisation, reservoir management and asset evaluation projects – in Australia, Mexico, USA and the Middle East.

In his role as Earth Resources and Materials Manager, German leads a highly skilled and diverse team of earth science and material science specialists with a strong focus on the energy industry. The team’s main research areas include Geothermal, Hydrogen and Technologies for a low-carbon future. The group works in partnership with other GNS scientists, national and international research partners, as well as other external stakeholders from energy companies and regulators.

German is a member of the New Zealand Geothermal Association, International Partnership for Geothermal Technologies and the Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists (ASEG).

Link to Pages:

• Energy Futures

Link to Projects:

• partnership between Contact Energy and GNS Science in the Tauhara project where new technologies and workflows are applied to enhance the field development.
• Geothermal: The Next Generation
• Green Hydrogen

MSc (1^st Class Honours) Geology, Exploration Geophysics; PGDip Environmental Management (University of Auckland)

Portfolio includes:

• Social and Behavioural Science
• Planning and Risk Management
• Risk and Engineering

Total number of team members: 30

Michele has a background in disaster risk management, with prior experience in local government (water resource and natural hazards management, and emergency management) and in the private sector with a focus on capacity building in the Pacific Since joining GNS Science in 2010, she has led a number of international development programmes in the Asia and Pacific regions, and her work has influenced national approaches to managing risk, most notably in Indonesia and Samoa. She also co-led a research programme looking at the economic consequences associated with disruption events, which resulted in the creation of the decision support tool, MERIT.

In her Department Manager role at GNS Science, Michele uses her specialist skills to enable and support her teams to deliver strategic research, development and applied science projects. The group’s focus is largely around risk science, risk engineering, risk modelling, risk management, hazard and risk communication, land-use planning, policy development and analysis, and social and behavioural science.

Michele is keenly focused on delivering excellent science and impact for Aotearoa New Zealand. As well as contributing to world-class fundamental research, her teams also have a strong commercial focus on client services and working closely with communities, Iwi-Māori, government and local authorities, and industry and infrastructure partners, both in New Zealand and across the Asia-Pacific region.

Michele is a member of the National Lifelines Council(external link),  the RiskScape(external link) governance group and GNS’ joint venture with Damwatch.