Giovanni Di Virgilio, CCRC Adjunct, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday—devastating news for all of us who knew him.
Giovanni began his climate science career at UNSW, where he undertook a research internship with Alex Sen Gupta and Caroline Ummenhofer while completing an MPhil in Environmental Management in BEES supervised by Shawn Laffan and Malte Ebach. He then completed a PhD with the same supervisors, researching the spatial ecology of Australasian flora and fauna. He went on to work as a postdoc with Grant Wardell-Johnson at Curtin University. He then returned to the CCRC, working in climate science and modelling, where he collaborated with many of us, including Jason Evans, Melissa Hart, Angela Maharaj and Anna Ukkola. He later became the Climate Research Team Leader at the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
Giovanni made an enormous contribution to climate science in Australia. He coordinated the NARCliM downscaling simulations for the NSW DCCEEW—a huge initiative that required extraordinary commitment and organisation, and that few could have delivered with such care. He maintained a close relationship with the CCRC and employed many of its graduate students, including Yue Li, Dipayan Choudhury, Rishav Goyal and Youngil Kim, guiding and mentoring them through the unfamiliar world of government.
Much more than an outstanding researcher and manager, Giovanni was a kind, thoughtful and considerate friend. He was an exceptional supervisor and mentor: honest, dependable and always willing to help. He made a lasting impression on so many people through his generosity, encouragement and genuine care for others. Many of us will also remember happy nights at AMOS, laughing with Giovanni over a glass of red wine.
Giovanni will be deeply missed by all of us—his colleagues and friends.
We will miss you, Giovanni.
