Dr Jess Melbourne-Thomas is a Transdisciplinary Researcher and Knowledge Broker in the marine ecosystem modelling and risk assessment group based at CSIRO Oceans & Atmosphere in Hobart. With a background in ecosystem science and marine ecosystem modelling, her current role is focused on helping to bridge the science-user-policy divide, as well as understanding how people make decisions, how they use information, and how best to communicate and engage regarding change and management for marine social-ecological systems. Jess was a Lead Author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on the Oceans & Cryosphere in a Changing Climate (2019), and is a Theme Leader with the Centre for Marine Socioecology (https://marinesocioecology.org/). She is the 2020 TAS Australian of the Year.