Cliff coordinates the Ocean-Atmosphere Research and advises the Chief Scientists of the Coast and Oceans, Atmosphere and Climate Centres. He currently contributes to international policy development on ocean fertilisation via the London Convention and national perspectives on ocean fertilisation and acidification via the NZ government Ocean Fertilisation stakeholder group and the NZ Royal Society. He is also a member of the Scientific Steering Committee for the IGBP program SOLAS (Surface Ocean Lower Atmosphere Study). His current research interests include trace gas cycling and sources in coastal and open ocean regions, nutrient limitation of phytoplankton and impacts of ocean acidification.