Dr Victoria Metcalf is a New Zealand scientist, science communicator and stakeholder engagement specialist committed to making a difference. She’s made many trips to the Antarctic, researching environmental change impacts on Antarctic fish and shellfish, along with research on New Zealand species since 1998. She has worked in the Office of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor as National Coordinator of the Participatory Science Platform, a flagship initiative engaging communities, educators and scientists to work together on locally meaningful community science projects. She was previously the External Engagement Advisor for the Royal Society Te Apārangi, a professional organisation supporting the entire New Zealand research sector. Currently, she is the Principal Advisor External Engagement for the Ministry of Education.

Victoria is a genuine, empathetic person passionate about engaging with and inspiring the wider community on global scientific issues and challenges, through innovative community approaches, public speaking, media, articles, blogs and social media. Victoria loves cold water swimming, hiking, photography, travelling, skiing, cycling, sewing and knitting, and generally just being in the great outdoors. Victoria is a mum to a thirteen-year-old daughter Briony; they love exploring the world around them, particularly the coast and sea.