Dr Gualdi is a Principal Scientist at the Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici (CMCC) and Head of the Earth System Modelling and Data Assimilation Division (ESYDA). With a background in Physics from the University of Modena, Italy, and a PhD in Geophysics from the University of Hamburg, Germany, he has built an international profile at the forefront of climate modelling, prediction and Earth system science. Over more than 25 years, he has led the development of CMCC’s seasonal and decadal prediction systems, as well as CMCC climate and Earth System models, including SINTEX, INGV–SXG, CMCC–CM and CMCC-ESM, used in global climate scenario simulations and projections for CMIP3, CMIP5 and CMIP6. He has served as CMCC Principal Investigator in numerous European research projects and has contributed extensively to the advancement of operational climate prediction and climate-change research. His scientific output includes more than 140 peer-reviewed publications and a Web of Science h-index of 47.