Biography

Professor David Close is the Director of The University of Queensland's Gas & Energy Transition Research Centre, where he leads an experienced, multi-disciplinary team undertaking research across all aspects of the role of gas in the energy transition. The Centre’s research focus areas include communities and co-existence, environment, decarbonisation and energy security. In addition to his current appointment, David has extensive experience in private sector, senior leadership roles leading the delivery of subsurface, stakeholder engagement, operations, and commercial workstreams.

David has volunteered widely on professional association boards, editorial boards, and in conference and workshop organising committees. These roles reflect David’s commitment to collaboration and science communication, which have been critical aspects of David’s professional career and led him to his current role in academia. David is actively increasing the Centre’s engagement in social media and broader online presence, and makes himself available to mainstream media for expert commentary as well as contributing articles relevant to the energy transition.

David has extensive applied and research experience in geology, geophysics, tectonics, basins, oceans and climate interactions; and is developing research expertise in energy and climate policy and energy systems.

David holds a D.Phil. in Marine Geophysics from the University of Oxford, where he studied as a Rhodes Scholar, and a B.Sc. (Hons) from the University of Tasmania.