Jim Abraham (Chair)

Jim Abraham has spent about 45 years studying weather, water and climate. As President of ClimAction Services Inc., he led initiatives to assist communities to adapt to climate change and extreme weather. He is well known nationally and internationally. He is frequently invited as an expert by a variety of organizations, including the insurance industry, the World Meteorological Organization, and the media.

As a senior executive within Environment Canada, Jim managed a wide variety operational and research weather and environmental programs. He was responsible for the weather, water, and climate observing program for Canada. Much of his early work focused on marine weather extremes, and in the 1990’s Jim started the Canadian Hurricane forecast and research program, which included being lead investigator for several reconnaissance flights into tropical cyclones threatening Canada.

Recent volunteer activities include the President of the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society, and Member of the Board for the Black Environmental Initiative. He was Past President of Oakfield Golf and Country Club. Jim is also an active member and volunteer for the American Meteorological Society, the Canadian Water Resources Association, and the Canadian Risk and Hazards Network.

Jim was awarded the Patterson Distinguished Service Medal in 2003, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012, and a Fellow of the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society in 2017.

---