Decision-makers in government and business who (a) recognise climate change as a factor; (b) are not themselves knowledgeable about adaptation; and (c) wish to be responsible about the way they account for climate change, access knowledge from professionals. These professionals may be in-house practitioners, consultants or academic researchers. Adaptation is a new, multi-disciplinary field of professional endeavour, meaning that the activities of professional groups can overlap. Each may be in a position to advise decision-makers, but which group fits which circumstance? How do the intrinsic attributes of each affect the quality, timeliness, suitability or slant of the guidance provided? Moreover, friction, misunderstandings and professional jealousy can exist among these groups, as evidenced by pejoratives like ‘bureaucrats', ‘ivory tower academics' or ‘money grubbing consultants'. This presentation aims to help redress misunderstandings and seed a dialogue that will lead to decision makers receiving a better mix of professional services on adaptation to help them make better decisions. In doing so, it establishes a clear distinction between the professional groups. The presentation reports emerging findings from an ongoing research program designed to examine how professional overlaps, misunderstandings and frictions might inhibit sound adaptation practice. Findings are drawn from the results of a structural analysis and surveys undertaken by members of each professional group.