I was shocked and saddened to hear yesterday of the sudden passing of Distinguished Professor David Johnston from Massey University, and formerly of GNS Science. David was my friend, mentor, former PhD supervisor, and he had a massive influence on my career. This is my tribute to David and the massive legacy he is leaving.

I stepped cautiously into an office at Massey University in Wellington, crowded with piles of paperwork, and with a very busy looking man peering at a computer screen.  It was early 2010, and little did I know it, but my life was about to change.

I had decided to do my PhD but was still working out the topic. My former Honours supervisor, Prof Vince Neall from Palmerston North, had recommended I come and talk to someone called David Johnston at the Wellington campus, due to his dual role at Massey and GNS Science. I introduced myself to David and described that I wanted to do a PhD on volcanology and communication. When I mentioned that I had previously been a summer student at GNS Science, and really wanted to get a job there, for the first time, he turned his full attention to me and appraised me with a twinkle in his eye. ‘Ok’, he said, ‘let’s make it happen’. And he did.

Not only did he become my PhD supervisor on the topic of volcanic unrest history and alert levels, but he also created me a scholarship to support my studies through core GNS Science funding, and with the New Zealand Earthquake Commission. I enjoyed my time at the start of my PhD being based at the Joint Centre for Disaster Research (JCDR), rattling around in the old wooden building with him, Emma Hudson-Doyle, Raj Prasanna, Heather Gunn, and a handful of other students.  Alongside fellow supervisor Gill Jolly, he set me up at the Wairakei GNS office amongst the volcanologists for my studies and gave me a part-time job starting with writing a report on Taranaki volcanic hazards. He kept renewing my 12-month contract there throughout my studies, fighting the case through justifications each time. I valued his wisdom and support throughout my thesis writing, all the way through to graduation in 2014.

Following my PhD, he secured me a post-doctoral project with funding through JCDR, working with MetService and being based at GNS in Avalon. This led into a parental leave cover position at GNS Science for Julia Becker, and then finally a permanent position in the social science team there, working alongside David, Julia, Graham Leonard, Kim Wright, Wendy Saunders, Maureen Coomer, and others. I had achieved my dream of working at GNS Science in the field I loved, and much of it was thanks to David.   

During my PhD, David supported me to travel the world, where I met people whom I am still close friends and colleagues with. In the decade following my studies, despite his leaving GNS Science to be full-time at Massey, he continued to encourage me to apply for opportunities, such as co-writing the Resilience to Nature’s Challenges (RNC) Weather & Wildfire research programme, and being part of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) World Weather Research Programme (WWRP) High Impact Weather (HIWeather) project in the Communication Task Team. When he stepped down as co-chair of the HIWeather project, he suggested I consider stepping up into the role. I did this, and it opened further doors for me.

I enjoyed working on research projects and programmes with David, learning how to plan programmes and work in an interdisciplinary manner. He was globally influential in integrating social science with physical sciences and working with scientists from many different backgrounds. I have fond memories of him and Graham shouting to each other through the wall at the GNS office in Avalon, while Julia and I watched on from across the hall, introverted amongst the extroverts, bemused and entertained. Those two had an uncanny ability to both talk loudly, often at the same time, sometimes saying the same thing in different ways, then suddenly parting to make it to the next meeting. But they both generally understood how to change gears and work effectively with us introverts.

He always welcomed me to the JCDR when I was in Wellington, and the barbeques there will remain fond memories – and hopefully future opportunities. He would send me a message every year on my birthday, as well as other photos that popped up as memories of our work together. When I decided to resign from GNS Science in 2024, I let him know and he called me straight away. He fully supported my decision and offered to help me and my new company in any way he could. He gave me valuable advice on funding and contracting on the spot, and I knew he always would have my back. I will miss him dearly, as a mentor and friend.

Given David’s huge influence on me and so many others like me, I have pulled together ten lessons I have learned from David, so that his legacy as a mentor lives on.

10 lessons I have learned from David Johnston on mentoring and supervising early career researchers

1. Give opportunities to colleagues who are at an earlier stage in their career

David knew how to support students and early career colleagues in a way I have rarely seen. I learnt from him the importance of spending golden nuggets of time with new colleagues to help get them on their feet, to pass on opportunities that arrive through the inbox or grapevine, and to come up with creative solutions to help fund students to do what they want to do.  

As described earlier, David was instrumental in getting me involved with national and international research programmes, including RNC and WWRP activities, like HIWeather. He also knew the importance of sharing funded hours on projects with colleagues, and not try to hold them for himself. He gave me opportunities to help run the volcano short course for several years, and present at the annual JCDR emergency management course. I have tried to pass these learnings on to others that I have worked with over the past decade, trusting others to take on tasks, and knowing when to step aside and bring someone else up into the space.

2. The importance of networking and travelling internationally

David had a magical skill of connecting people. This manifested in so many ways, but for me, it was being part of the wider New Zealand network through the JCDR, and having his support to travel the world and make new connections. This has made a significant difference in my career.

In 2010 I was going to be travelling to Turkey to play at the world beach handball championships for New Zealand, and he worked out a way that I could visit a university in Turkey afterwards and then carry on to see Campi Flegrei and visit INGV in Italy amongst other things. This way, a large part of my travel could be funded.  

He brought me into an IRDR meeting in Sanya, China in 2013, where we stayed at a seaside resort that had just been struck by storm surge from Typhoon Haiyan.  I also went to Montreal in 2014 for the World Weather Open Science conference with his support, and my first WMO SERA working group meeting. That year I also travelled through Europe for my post-doc, making connections at the UK Met Office, MeteoFrance, and the WMO, that have since only grown. In 2017 we had seafood chowder in Seattle together, and I have no idea what that was even for – probably a weather-related conference. What a fortunate person I am, to have had such a driven, supportive, and solution-oriented supervisor and mentor.

3. Know when to pull back from travelling and commitments

When your travel schedule starts to impact on your health, you know it’s time to pull back. And David did – he quit international travel to regain some balance in life, and his commitment to do that was impressive. He knew that it’s ok to stay in New Zealand and still be a leader in your field. Mind you – he began to travel to the Chatham Islands, which is as far off-shore as you can get, but still technically be in New Zealand. He loved it there and would often gush about what he did there, and how wonderful the scenery and people were from his latest trip.

4. Support and advise your students, even when very busy

Even when you’re super busy, as a supervisor to PhD students, it’s important to ensure you are giving them some attention, advice, and share your knowledge with them. David would be flat out on other things, but still come to a regular student meeting, often late and sometimes in a bit of a flap. But he would tune in, listening to the current issue, then spout words of wisdom that would be so valuable, it would all suddenly make sense. As a student, you would be trying to write down what he was saying as fast as possible for later digestion. He also would pass on journal articles that would turn out to be crucial – for me one of these was Lindell and Perry’s 2012 Protective Action Decision Model that came out part-way through my PhD.

I have tried to channel David in giving wisdom to my students, and was fortunate to co-supervise Sara Harrison with David throughout her studies, and for the first year of Simone Phillips' PhD.

5. It is crucial to collaborate

It’s so important, it is in the name of his centre – the Joint Centre for Disaster Research. Right from the establishment of the place, it was about collaboration, building the network, and allowing people to be part of the field of disaster and emergency management research. The number of people that had their lives touched by David is testament to his success in connecting people and building such an amazing Joint Centre.

David taught me that when setting up a project, identify all the people and institutes that should be involved, and involve them. Don’t be protective of your space, be inclusive.

6. Acknowledge everyone involved – the more, the merrier, on an authorship list

On a similar line, David always encouraged everyone who had touched on a project to be part of the authorship of a journal article. He remembered those of us who were away on parental leave but were an earlier part of the project and made sure to include us.

Google Scholar states David as an author of an incredible 598 articles to date, and over 21,000 citations. What an extraordinary legacy.

7. Use strategic and flexible funding

David had a way with funding that I haven’t seen before, but have since applied myself. If something needed to be funded, but there wasn’t currently enough in the appropriate kitty, he would pull it from elsewhere. Then, he would somehow pay that fund back, often with a third fund, and the money just seemed to go round and round until all funds where back to square again by the closure date, and everyone was happy. He made things work and found a way even when it was looking dire.

I also learned from him that even getting smaller contracts is helpful, and worth the effort – especially if it can help support an early career staff member or student in some way.

8. Get up early and get the work done

When it is difficult to have the time to read student’s work, or work on a paper – wake up early and get it done then. David once told me he got up early every morning, and with a hot cuppa, he’d sit and get through a draft paper and get it back to the student or main author. While I have found this difficult to do when I had young kids, I’m now learning from his example.

9. Demonstrate the importance of taking breaks, exercising, and being with nature

David loved hiking and seemed to be out walking the hills most weekends. I found it inspiring to see his photos and to join him on occasion.

About 10 years ago, a couple of years after the 2012 eruption of Te Maari craters on Tongariro, my husband, Nick, and I joined David and Carol in walking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. Talking the whole way, we dissected the risk of the walk, took photos at the warning lights, closures of paths due to volcanic risk, and finished with a well-deserved drink. It was wonderful to have that quality time with David and Carol – and getting exercise and admiring our dynamic country at the same time.

10. Have purpose, passion, and drive

David had such a strong passion and drive to improve community resilience to natural hazards. I was fortunate to have an aligned passion, bringing me to cross paths with him, and in many ways, follow in his footsteps. I am going to be inspired by his commitment to that purpose going forward.

Even more remarkable is that these are just the things I personally learnt from David. He touched the lives of so many people – masses of us, both in New Zealand and internationally. From his work in volcanology and social science, emergency management and teaching courses, and supervising other students, to his work in the field of history, the Chathams, Te ao Māori, planting natives, and volunteering – and so many things I probably didn’t even hear about. I feel for his current Massey University colleagues at the JCDR, his friends, and former colleagues. And first and foremost, my thoughts are with his partner Carol, and son Joshua, who I am devastated for. David often updated me on how Joshua was going – through school and his university studies. I know David was extremely proud of him.

David’s legacy reaches far and wide and I am truly honoured to have been part of his life. He is inspiring in the way he left the world a better place – what better legacy is there?