Dr. Linda Speight

Biography

Linda Speight is a hydrometeorologist whose research focuses on developing early warning systems to improve disaster risk management, particularly in the context of flooding. She is interested in global flood forecasting, surface water flood forecasting, ensemble forecasts, impact-based forecasts, risk communication, and decision-making related to climate resilience. Since joining the University of Oxford in 2021, Linda has transitioned from the University of Reading where she worked as a postdoctoral researcher. Before returning to academia, she was a Senior Scientist with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, which involved operational flood forecasting and the scientific development of the Scottish Flood Forecasting Service. Linda completed her BSc at the University of Bristol in 2005, her MSc at Newcastle University in 2006, and her PhD research at Newcastle in 2013, focusing on developing methodologies to understand dependencies in flood risk exposure, with an emphasis on the insurance sector. She has also held associate lecturing positions at the University of Lincoln and the University of Portsmouth and began her career as a flood risk analyst at JBA Consulting. Linda actively collaborates with numerous agencies including the Environment Agency, SEPA, and the UK Met Office, and leads various modules and research initiatives at Oxford.

Research Interests