HomeTeamsPaul Somerville

Paul Somerville

Chief Geoscientist

Paul is Risk Frontiers lead scientist for the development of earthquake and tsunami loss models for Australia, New Zealand and Japan. Paul holds a PhD in Geophysics.

Paul is also Principal Seismologist for AECOM, where he does research and development on earthquake source and strong ground motion prediction models. These models are used in seismic hazard analyses for the design and analysis of major dams, buildings, bridges and power generation facilities in many countries, including Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Japan.

Paul is past President of the Australian Earthquake Engineering Society (AEES). He was a member of the National Seismic Hazard Assessment 2018 Project Science Advisory Panel for updating the seismic hazard map used in the Australian Building Code (AS1170.4). He was also a member of the update committee for the 2019 ANCOLD seismic guidelines for dams in Australia. He spent two years as a Visiting Research Fellow at the Earthquake Research Institute, University of Tokyo.

He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Geophysics from the University of New England, and his Master of Science and PhD degrees in Geophysics at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada.

Articles from Paul Somerville

Sumerheat
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...
Figure 2 main picture .2
15 Minute Read

The 24 June 2026 Venezuela Earthquake Doublet

On 24 June 2026, northern Venezuela experienced a rare and damaging earthquake doublet near...
The Taree Aquatic Club during the Mid North Coast and Hunter floods looking toward the severely impacted suburb of Glenthorne on the far bank (Image shared with Risk Frontier's survey team by member of Aquatic Club cleanup staff).
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....
Confluence of Risks Nuclear War and Global Existential Threats - Risk Frontiers
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....
Contact Us

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.


Our team is ready to answer your questions.

 In the spirit of reconciliation, Risk Frontiers acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land throughout Australia and their deep connections to land, sea, and community. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.