Kelvin Berryman, PhD, FRSNZ, QSO


Advisor on Hazard, Risk and Resilience
Founder and Principal Consultant Berryman Research & Consulting Ltd

Plimmerton, Porirua, New Zealand
T: +64 21 582519        E: Kelvin@brc.nz Web: www.brc.nz

Objective

Use robust hazard and risk assessments to support engineers, planners, communities, local and central government agencies and elected officials to achieve improved disaster risk management and resilience to natural hazards and climate change.

Skills

Although formally trained in geology and earthquake studies Kelvin Berryman has 45+ years of professional experience that has bridged extensively into disaster risk management, policy, risk communication and mitigation options for threats that society faces. His talent is integration across the breadth of hazards and risk and from science to practice.

These skills have been widely utilized and acknowledged in New Zealand and across the Pacific region. He has been centrally involved in many integrated research and resilience initiatives, which has been recognized as an invited member of the Advisory Board of the Global Assessment Report of UNDRR, and an elected Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand and of the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering. In 2011 he was recognized in the national honors list with the Queens Service Order for services to science and Canterbury earthquake recovery.

Professional Experience

2020 – present – Berryman Research & Consulting Ltd
1974 – 2020 – GNS Science and forerunner agencies

Contributions to policy and science-to-practice:

  • Advisor and peer reviewer for Earthquake Commission, Beca Ltd, Capital & Coast District Health Board, Damwatch Engineering Ltd, GNS Science and Kiwirail (2020- present)
  • Writing assignments on risk and resilience – Spinoff (2021), Listener interview (April 2021), IPANZ journal (June 2021).
  • Invited member of Advisory Board for Global Assessment Report of UNDRR (2018-present).
  • As Director of the Natural Hazards Research Platform 2009-2014 (including weather, engineering and climate change research) provided extensive advice across government.
  • Local Government White Paper on natural hazards 2013 (steering committee)
  • Formulation of NZ position for Sendai Agreement with Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) & Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management (MCDEM) 2014/15 (member of consultative group & producer of NZ documentary- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQQRI5ITja8)

  • Convener of NZ Sendai Symposium 2015
  • Local Government Risk Agency proposal with Local Government New Zealand & New Zealand Treasury (advisor and contractor).
  • Principal science advisor to MCDEM, Christchurch City Council, Environment Canterbury regional council, Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority and Government during the Canterbury Earthquake response and recovery 2010-2014.
  • Development of national risk register with MCDEM 2013-15 (member of consultative group)
  • Development of the National Disaster Resilience Strategy with MCDEM (member of consultative group)
  • Earthquake prone buildings legislation 2015, including select committee (Ministry of Business Innovation & Employment consultative group).
  • New Zealand representative on the GEM Foundation Governing Board 2013-2020 (http://www.globalquakemodel.org/).
  • Science advisor to MCDEM National Recovery Office following the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake.
  • Expert witness for the Crown on the Christchurch City Replacement District Plan (2017-2018).
  • Member of OECD High Level Risk Forum, (https://www.oecd.org/gov/risk.htm).

Applied Science with impact:

  • Earthquake hazard studies from site specific to regions in New Zealand and overseas (1975-present); Roles: Researcher and/or project leader for many large building and infrastructure projects, and New Zealand National Seismic Hazard Model to underpin seismic provisions of the New Zealand building code, Fiji (1978 – lead researcher developing national earthquake hazard model to underpin building code development), Japan (2002-2015: NZ lead in an international consortium of experts assisting Nuclear Waste Management Agency of Japan develop site requirements for a high level nuclear waste repository and to assist several NPP owners in evaluating seismic safety requirements following all NPP shutdowns following 2011 Tohoku earthquake), Iran (2007: international reviewer of fault displacement hazards at Rudbar-Lorestan hydroelectric dam), New Zealand (1981- present – reviews and investigations at most hydropower facilities including Manapouri, Clyde, Roxburgh, Waitaki system dams, Waikato system dams, Cobb, Waikaremoana), Vietnam (2007-present) tsunami and dam safety projects for MFAT.
  • Seismic design for the Replacement Reactor Project at ANSTO, Sydney, Australia (1999-2002). Role: Project leader and consultant on active fault characterization, probabilistic fault rupture hazard assessment and seismic design parameters.
  • New Zealand national tsunami risk study (2005). Role: Project leader and research leader of first (globally) national level probabilistic tsunami risk assessment.
  • Global Earthquake Model (GEM Foundation) (2009-2020). Roles: Project leader of GEM Faulted Earth international project (2009-2012). New Zealand representative to GEM Governing Board (2012-2020).
  • Canterbury earthquakes (2010-2015); Advisor to national and local government, CERA, civil defence, insurers, business, and the public, based on integration of national research efforts in seismology, engineering, risk assessment and social science.
  • Kaikōura earthquakes (Nov 2016); Advisor to national and local government, civil defence, insurers, business, and the public.

Awards:

  • Otto Glogau Award of NZ Society Earthquake Engineering 1993, 2000 & 2003.
  • Hochstetter Lecture Award, Geological Society of NZ 1995.
  • Royal Society of NZ Medal 2000.
  • Royal Society of NZ Marsden Award 2007.
  • Queens Service Order for services to science and Canterbury earthquake recovery 2011.
  • Elected Fellow of NZ Society Earthquake Engineering 2012.
  • Joyner Memorial Lecture Award, Seismological Society of America, 2013.
  • McKay Hammer Award of the Geosciences Society of New Zealand, 2014.
  • Elected Life Member of NZ Society for Earthquake Engineering, 2016.
  • Elected Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 2019.

Professional Memberships:

  • New Zealand Geosciences Society
  • Royal Society of New Zealand
  • Seismological Society of America
  • New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering
  • Earthquake Engineering Research Institute

Education

BSc 1974; BSc Honours 1977; PhD 1990 – Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand

Country Experience

Past and current projects have been undertaken by Dr Berryman in many Pacific countries and more broadly. These projects have provided opportunities to understand regional and local context of geological hazards and disaster risk management, along with cultural and social familiarity. Research and DRM activities have been undertaken in:

  • Australia – (i) Peer review of earthquake hazard at Snowy River hydropower stations; (ii) Project lead developing earthquake design parameters for Replacement Reactor Project for ANSTO at Lucas Heights, Sydney; (iii) member of team developing design parameters for Green Square metro station, Sydney
  • Fiji – (i)project lead developing earthquake zoning in Fiji to underpin first national building code; (ii) member of research team investigating the record of past sea level changes
  • Samoa – member of research team investigating the record of past sea level changes
  • Papua New Guinea – member of research team studying formation and deformation of coral reef terraces in Huon Peninsula
  • Vietnam – leadership and technical roles in two NZ Aid projects identifying (i) hazard and risk of tsunami and (ii) disaster risk management associated with dams in several provinces of Vietnam
  • Laos – member of review team examining siting of Xayaburi hydropower station on Mekong River
  • Indonesia – leadership role in a NZ Aid project identifying disaster mitigation options at local level in multiple provinces in Indonesia
  • Taiwan – preliminary discussion with Taiwan agency investigating a geological repository for nuclear waste
  • Japan – (i) member of research teams investigating active faults; (ii) project co-lead developing a risk-based criteria for siting a nuclear waste repository in Japan for Japan nuclear waste management agency; (iii) member of teams investigating site safety for re-starting nuclear reactors at Higashidori and Tsuruga NPPs for power plant owners
  • Mongolia – member of several research teams studying the 1957 Gobi Altai earthquake
  • USA – extensive comparison and collaboration studies (geological, engineering, administrative) on hazards and risks in New Zealand and USA.
  • El Salvador – member of research teams investigating past large earthquakes and future hazard and risk
  • Iran – technical review of siting and design requirements at Rudbar-Lorestan damsite for Poyry (Switzerland) and Iran Water.
  • Spain – member of research team investigating active faults and seismic hazard in Spain.

Contribution to Research

>250 peer reviewed reports, journal articles & book chapters (H citation index = 57 in Google Scholar) http://scholar.google.co.nz/citations?user=pHUTpCQAAAAJ&hl=en

Publications since 2010

Berryman, K., Rattenbury, M., Bannister, S., Ellis, S., Villamor, P., Eberhart-Phillips, D., Upton, P., Howell, A. 2023. Geological structure informs rupture propagation and surface rupture complexity during the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake, New Zealand: insights for future large earthquake hazard. Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences, 32(3), 330-350.

Almond, P., Berryman, K., Villamor, P., Read, S., Alloway, B., Tonkin, P. 2023. Alluvial fan response to Alpine Fault earthquakes on the Westland piedmont, Whataroa, Aotearoa-New Zealand. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 1–26. doi.org/10.1002/esp.5589

Berryman, K., Villamor, P., Nairn, I., Begg, J., Alloway, BV., Rowland, J., Lee, J. and Capote, R., 2022. Volcano-tectonic interactions at the southern margin of the Okataina Volcanic Centre, Taupō Volcanic Zone, New Zealand. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 427, p.107552.

Villamor, P., Litchfield, NJ., Gómez-Ortiz, D., Martin-González, F., Alloway, BV., Berryman, KR., Clark, KJ., Ries, WF., Howell, A. and Ansell, IA. 2022. Fault ruptures triggered by large rhyolitic eruptions at the boundary between tectonic and magmatic rift segments: The Manawahe Fault, Taupō Rift, New Zealand. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 427, p.107478.

Sadashiva, V., Mowll, R., Uma, SR., Lin, SL., Heron, D., Horspool, N., Nayyerloo, M., Williams, J., Syed, Y., Buxton, R., King, A., Lukovic, B., Berryman, K., Daly, M. 2021. Improving Wellington region’s resilience through integrated infrastructure resilience investments. Bulletin of the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering, 54(2), 117-134.

Litchfield, NJ., Clark, KJ., Cochran, UA., Palmer, AS., Mountjoy, J., Mueller, C., Morgenstern, R., Berryman, KR., McFadgen, BG., Steele, R. and Reitman, N. 2020. Marine terraces reveal complex near‐shore upper‐plate faulting in the northern Hikurangi Margin, New Zealand. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 110(2), 825-849.

Clark, K., Howarth, J., Litchfield, N., Cochran, U., Turnbull, J., Dowling, L., Howell, A., Berryman, K. and Wolfe, F. 2019. Geological evidence for past large earthquakes and tsunamis along the Hikurangi subduction margin, New Zealand. Marine Geology, 412, 139-172.

Litchfield, NJ., Villamor, P., Van Dissen, RJ., Nicol, A., Barnes, PM., Barrell, DJA.,  Pettinga, JR., Langridge, RM., Little, TA., Mountjoy, JJ., Ries WF., Rowland, J., Fenton, C., Stirling, MW., Kearse, J., Berryman, KR., Cochran, UA., Clark, KJ., Hemphill-Haley, M., Khajavi, N., Jones, KE., Archibald, G., Upton, P., Asher, C., Benson, A., Cox, SC., Gasston, C., Hale, D., Hall, B., Hatem, AE., Heron, DW.,  Howarth, J., Kane, TJ., Lamarche, G., Lawson, S., Lukovic, B., McColl, ST., Madugo, C., Manousakis, J., Noble, D., Pedley, K., Sauer, K., Stahl, T., Strong, DT., Townsend, DB., Toy, V., Williams, J., Woelz, S., and Robert Zinke, R. 2018. Surface rupture of multiple crustal faults in the 2016 Mw 7.8 Kaikōura, New Zealand, earthquake. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 108(3B), 1496-1520

Berryman, K., Clark, K., Cochran, U., Beu, A. and Irwin, S. 2018. A geomorphic and tectonic model for the formation of the flight of Holocene marine terraces at Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand. Geomorphology, 307, 77-92.

Berryman, K., Hamling, I., Kaiser, A. and Stahl, T. 2018. Introduction to the special issue on the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 108(3B), 1491-1495.

Howarth, JD., Cochran, UA., Langridge, RM., Clark, K., Fitzsimons, SJ., Berryman, K., Villamor, P. and Strong, DT. 2018. Past large earthquakes on the Alpine Fault: paleoseismological progress and future directions. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics, 61(3), 309-328.

Villamor, P., Berryman, KR., Ellis, SM., Schreurs, G., Wallace, LM., Leonard, GS., Langridge, RM. and Ries, WF. 2017. Rapid evolution of subduction‐related continental intra-arc rifts: The Taupo Rift, New Zealand. Tectonics, 36(10), 2250-2272.

Clark, KJ., Berryman, KR. 2017. Assessing long-term stability of the geological environment. In: Geological Repository Systems for Safe Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuels and Radioactive Waste. Woodhead Publishing pp 195-227.

Collins, A., Tatano, H., James, W., Wannous, C., Takara, K., Murray, V., Scawthorn,C., Mori, J., Aziz, S., Mosalam, K., Hochrainer-Stigler, S., Alcántara-Ayala, I., Krausmann, E., Li, W-S., Cruz, A-M., Samaddar, S., De Groeve, T., Ono, Y., Berryman, K., Suzuki, K., Ashley Parry, M., McGowran, P., Rees. J. 2017. The 3rd Global Summit of Research Institutes for Disaster Risk Reduction: Expanding the Platform for Bridging Science and Policy Making. International Journal of Disaster Risk Science 8, 224-230.

Villamor, P., Berryman, K., Ellis, S. Schreurs, G., Wallace, L., Leonard, G., Langridge, R., Ries. W. 2017. Rapid Evolution of Subduction‐Related Continental Intraarc Rifts: The Taupo Rift, New Zealand. Tectonics, 36, 2250-2272.

Cochran, UA., Clark, KJ., Howarth, JD., Biasi, GP., Langridge, RM., Villamor, P., Berryman, KR. and Vandergoes, MJ., 2017. A plate boundary earthquake record from a wetland adjacent to the Alpine fault in New Zealand refines hazard estimates. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 464, 175-188.

Clark, KJ., Nissen, EK., Howarth, JD., Hamling, IJ., Mountjoy, JJ., Ries, WF., Jones, K., Goldstien, S., Cochran, UA., Villamor, P. Hreinsdóttir, S., , Mueller, C., Berryman KR., Strong, DT. 2017. Highly variable coastal deformation in the 2016 Mw7. 8 Kaikōura earthquake reflects rupture complexity along a transpressional plate boundary. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 474, 334-344.

Gómez-Vasconcelos, MG., Villamor, P., Cronin, SJ., Procter, J., Kereszturi, G., Palmer, A., Townsend, D., Leonard, G., Berryman, K. and Ashraf, S., 2016. Earthquake history at the eastern boundary of the South Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics, 59(4), 522-543.

Langridge, RM., Ries, WF., Litchfield, NJ., Villamor, P., Van Dissen, RJ., Barrell, DJA., Rattenbury, MS., Heron, DW., Haubrock, S., Townsend, DB., Lee, JM., Berryman, KR., Nicol, A., Cox, SC., and Stirling, MW. 2016. The New Zealand Active Faults Database. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics, 59(1), 86-96

Persaud, M., Villamor, P., Berryman, KR., Ries, W., Cousins, J., Litchfield, N. and Alloway, BV. 2016. The Kerepehi Fault, Hauraki Rift, North Island, New Zealand: active fault characterisation and hazard. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics, 59(1), 117-135

Fragaszy, RJ., Cowan, HA., Berryman, KR., & Pauschke, JM. 2015. New Zealand–United States Engineering Research Collaborations in the Aftermath of the Canterbury Earthquake Sequence.

Van Ballegooy, S., Berryman, K., Deam, B., Jacka, M. 2015. Repeated major episodes of tectonic deformation, lateral spread and liquefaction in Christchurch during the Canterbury Earthquake Sequence of 2010–2011. Engineering Geology for Society and Territory, 5, 1043-1049.

Christophersen, A., Litchfield, N., Berryman, K., Thomas, R., Basili, R., Wallace, L., Ries, W., Hayes, GP., Haller, KM., Yoshioka, T. and Koehler, RD. 2015. Development of the Global Earthquake Model’s neotectonic fault database. Natural Hazards, 79(1), 111-135.

Biasi, GP., Langridge, RM., Berryman, KR., Clark, KJ. and Cochran, UA. 2015. Maximum‐Likelihood Recurrence Parameters and Conditional Probability of a Ground‐Rupturing Earthquake on the Southern Alpine Fault, South Island, New Zealand. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 105(1), 94-106.

Berryman, K., Wallace, L., Hayes, G., Bird, P., Wang, K., Basili, R., Lay, T., Pagani, M., Stein, R., Sagiya, T. and Rubin, C. 2015. The GEM faulted earth subduction characterization project, Version 2.0.

Pierepiekarz, MR., Johnston, D., Berryman, K., Hare, J., Gomberg, J., Williams, R., & Weaver, CS. 2014. Lessons from the 2010-2011 Earthquake Sequence in Canterbury, New Zealand. In Tenth US National Conference on Earthquake Engineering.

Litchfield, NJ., Van Dissen, RJ., Sutherland, R., Barnes, PM., Cox, SC., Norris, R., Beavan, RJ., Langridge, RM.; Villamor, P., Berryman, KR., Stirling, MW., Nicol, A., Nodder, S., Lamarche, G., Barrell, DJA., Pettinga, JR., Little, T., Pondard, N., Mountjoy, JJ., Clark, KJ. 2014. A model of active faulting in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics, 57(1), 32-56.

Chapman, N.; Berryman, KR.; Villamor, P.; Epstein, W.; Cluff, L.; Kawamura, H. 2014. Active faults and nuclear power plants. Eos, 95(4), 33-34; doi. 10.1002/2014EO040001.

Clark, KJ., Cochran, UA., Berryman, KR., Biasi, G., Langridge, RM., Villamor, P., Bartholomew, T., Litchfield, NJ., Pantosti, D., Marco, S., Van Dissen, RJ., Turner, G., Hemphill-Haley, M. 2013. Deriving a long paleoseismic record from a shallow-water Holocene basin next to the Alpine fault, New Zealand. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 125(5/6), 811-832. doi: 10.1130/8203; B30693.1

Villamor, P., Capote, R., Stirling, MW., Tsige, M., Berryman, KR., Martinez-Diaz, JJ., Martin-Gonzalez, F. 2012. Contribution of active faults in the intraplate area of Iberia to seismic hazard: the Alentejo-Plasencia Fault. Journal of Iberian geology, 38(1), 85-111. doi: 10.5209/rev_JIGE.2012. v38.n1.39207

Stirling, MW., McVerry, GH., Gerstenberger, MC., Litchfield, NJ., Van Dissen, RJ., Berryman KR., Barnes, P., Wallace, LM., Villamor, P., Langridge, RM., Lamarche, G., Nodder, S., Reyners, ME., Bradley, B., Rhoades, DA., Smith, WD., Nicol, A., Pettinga, J., Clark, .J., Jacobs, K. 2012. National seismic hazard model for New Zealand: 2010 update. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 102(4), 1514-1542. Doi. 10.1785/0120110170 [August 2012].

Berryman, KR., Cochran, UA., Clark, KJ., Biasi, GP., Langridge, RM., Villamor, P, 2012. Major earthquakes occur regularly on an isolated plate boundary fault. Science, 336, 1690-1693.

Berryman, K., Cooper, A., Norris, R., Villamor, P., Sutherland, R., Wright, T., Schermer, E., Langridge, R. and Biasi, G. 2012. Late Holocene rupture history of the Alpine fault in south Westland, New Zealand. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 102(2), 620-638.

Berryman, K., Ota, Y., Miyauchi, T., Hull, A., Clark, K., Ishibashi, K., Iso, N., Litchfield, N. 2011. Holocene paleoseismic history of upper-plate faults in the southern Hikurangi subduction margin, New Zealand, deduced from marine terrace records. Bulletin Seismological Society of America, 101, 2064-2087.

Villamor, P., Berryman, K.R., Nairn, IA., Wilson, KJ., Litchfield, NJ., Ries, W. 2011. Associations between volcanic eruptions from Okataina Volcanic Center and surface rupture of nearby active faults, Taupo rift, New Zealand: insights into the nature of volcano-tectonic interactions. Geological Society of America bulletin, Online first: doi:10.1130/B30184.1

Canora, C., Martinez-Diaz, JJ., Villamor, P., Berryman, K., Alvarez-Gomez, JA., Pullinger, C., Capote, R. 2010. Geological and seismological analysis of the 13 February 2001 Mw 6.6 El Salvador earthquake: evidence for surface rupture and implications for seismic hazard. Bulletin Seismological Society of America, 100, 2873-2890.

Nicol, A., Walsh, JJ., Villamor, P., Seebeck, H., Berryman, KR. 2010. Normal fault interactions, paleoearthquakes and growth in an active rift. Journal of Structural Geology, 32(8), 1101-1113. doi:10.1016/j.jsg.2010.06.018

Clark, KJ., Berryman, KR., Litchfield, NJ., Cochran, UA., Little, T. 2010. Evaluating the coastal deformation mechanisms of the Raukumara Peninsula, northern Hikurangi subduction margin, New Zealand and insights into forearc uplift processes. New Zealand journal of geology and geophysics, 53(4), 341-358. doi:10.1080/00288306.2010.520324

Berryman, KR., Marden, M., Palmer, A., Wilson, KJ., Mazengarb, C., Litchfield, NJ. 2010. The post-glacial downcutting history in the Waihuka tributary of Waipaoa River, Gisborne district: implications for tectonics and landscape evolution in the Hikurangi subduction margin, New Zealand. Marine geology, 270(1-4), 55-71. doi: 10.1016/j.margeo.2009.10.001