Dr Victoria Metcalf is a New Zealand researcher, science communicator, and strategic and stakeholder engagement specialist committed to making a difference. As a scientist, she’s made many trips to the Antarctic, researching environmental change impacts on Antarctic fish and shellfish, along with research on New Zealand species. She 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, Principal Advisor External Engagement for the Ministry of Education, and is currently Principal Advisor, Careers and System Integration at the Tertiary Education Commission.

Victoria is a genuine, empathetic person passionate about engaging with and inspiring the wider community on global scientific issues and challenges, through community approaches, public speaking, and lecturing on cruise ships. Victoria loves photography, cold water swimming, hiking, travelling, skiing, cycling, sewing and knitting, and generally just being outdoors.  Victoria is a mum to a fifteen-year-old daughter; they love exploring the world around them.