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Doctoral student, University of Adelaide

Ben Heard is a doctoral student at the University of Adelaide, examining pathways for the decarbonisation of Australian electricity with the inclusion of nuclear energy.

As director of (currently in hiatus) ThinkClimate Consulting he delivered modelling of carbon neutral pathways for South Australia's largest local government and recently advised the South Australian Freight Council in a detailed report called Green Freight.

Ben’s appreciation of the climate crisis forced a rethink of his long-held opposition to nuclear power. In early 2011 he delivered his seminal presentation Nuclear Power: From Opponent to Proponent to a strong response. Ben has since become one of Australia’s most prominent nuclear advocates, presenting his work to audiences large and small around Australia including the 2011 Local Government Association State Conference, the 2012 Frontiers in Science conference and a landmark televised nuclear debate victory in 2012. Ben has written on nuclear power extensively in print and on-line media, including a recent popular article for ABC Environment, Renewable vs nuclear is the wrong battle. His advocacy website, Decarbonise SA, has become a popular resource, attracting over 100,000 hits.

In 2012 he launched his independently funded research Zero Carbon Options, with a first-of-a-kind direct comparison of nuclear and renewable options for the replacement of coal-fired electricity in Australia. In July 2013 he was a presenter and panellist for the ATSE conference "Nuclear power for Australia?"

Ben lives in Adelaide with wife Gemma Munro and their two children.

Experience

  • –present
    Director, ThinkClimate Consulting
  • –present
    Founder, Decarbonise SA

Education

  • 2006 
    Monash University, Masters of Coroporate Environmental and Sustainability Management
  • 2001 
    University of South Australia, Bachelor of Applied Science, Occupational Therapy

Research Areas

  • Climate Change Processes (040104)
  • Nuclear Physics (020202)
  • Sustainability Accounting And Reporting (150106)