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James O’Brien

General Manager

James is Risk Frontiers’ Chief Geospatial Scientist developing solutions and providing thought leadership for the integration of physical, social science and climate change factors in modelling risk, exposure, vulnerability and resilience for people, property and infrastructure using geographical information science.

He manages the National Flood Information Database, our Risk Rating database and leads the development of our ARPC blast loss model (link – https://www.transparency.gov.au/annual-reports/australian-reinsurance-pool-corporation/reporting-year/2018-2019-16) drawing on over 20 years of experience applying GIS and spatial analysis to solving geographical problems in the US, UK, Europe, Asia and Australia. James has worked for a range of clients across government, insurance and infrastructure providers on large scale hazard modelling, hydrological modelling, physical and social vulnerability indices, spatial analysis developing web mapping platforms and mapping human and infrastructure exposure and small scale site-focused assessments.

James also has extensive experience designing and conducting field surveys, interviews, focus groups and managing teams of data collectors. He obtained his PhD in Geography at The Pennsylvania State University specialising in GIS and visualisation.

Articles from James O’Brien

5 Minute Read

From Europe’s extreme summer to a wider climate-system risk

On 24 June 2026, northern Venezuela experienced a rare and damaging earthquake doublet near...

15 Minute Read

The 24 June 2026 Venezuela Earthquake Doublet

On 24 June 2026, northern Venezuela experienced a rare and damaging earthquake doublet near...

6 Minute Read

Australia’s Most Costly Perils of 2025

Rising extinction risk is increasingly driven by human-made threats, especially emerging technologies like AI....

7 Minute Read

Confluence of Concerns about the Risk of Nuclear War

Rising extinction risk is increasingly driven by human-made threats, especially emerging technologies like AI....

Interested in Learning More About Our Detailed Australian Bushfire & Grassfire Loss Model?

The latest release of FireAUS, modelling bushfire and grassfire risk across Australia, represents another leap forward in the quantification of risk at the location and portfolio level. Risk Frontiers are the local, Australian-based experts and have used our recognised artificial intelligence, machine learning and climate modelling capabilities, decades of peer reviewed research and on the ground post-event surveys to continue to evolve our leading edge fire loss model. 

Soon to be released FireAUS 4.0 will continue from FireAUS 3.2’s Australia wide coverage at the individual address level and can report losses at address level, SA1, postcode, and Cresta zones. 

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