Recognition of performance
Throughout 2020–21, the Bureau continued to recognise the excellent work of individual staff, volunteers and teams who are contributing to the trusted, reliable and responsive weather, water, climate and ocean services provided for all Australians.
Australia Day Achievement Awards
Australia Day achievement medallions are awarded under the auspices of the Australia Day Council to promote good citizenship and achievement, and to acknowledge employees that have made a significant contribution to the nation.
CEO and Director of Meteorology Dr Andrew Johnson presented three awards to acknowledge and celebrate the contribution made across several teams, and across Australia during the prolonged 2019–20 fire season.
The Bureau’s collective efforts in managing the 2019–20 bushfire season were recognised in three key areas: Preparedness, Response and Recovery.
Bureau Excellence Awards
In October, the Bureau recognised and celebrated the extraordinary service and performance at its 2020 Bureau Excellence Awards. CEO and Director of Meteorology Dr Andrew Johnson announced this year’s award recipients and congratulated them for their outstanding achievements.
2020 award | Recipient(s) |
Director’s Choice | The ROBUST Tranche 3 Business Case Team were recognised for sustained excellence and outstanding leadership in securing new government investment that ill result in a more secure, stable and resilient Bureau. |
Director’s Choice | The Aviation Meteorological Services Transformation Program was recognised for sustained excellence and outstanding leadership in its successful implementation, enabling a safer and more resilient aviation industry for Australia. |
Impact and Value | Digital Channels and Customer Experience Design were recognised for the successful delivery of the new Bureau Mobile Weather app, enhancing the safety and productivity of the Australian community. |
Impact and Value | Luke Shelley was recognised for his outstanding leadership in designing, developing and implementing Climate Guides that will significantly build the resilience of Australian agriculture. |
Insight and Innovation | Ben DiGregorio was recognised for outstanding innovation and operational excellence in developing a highly impactful tool that will enhance customer experience. |
Insight and Innovation | Kevin Tory was recognised for outstanding scientific research and customer engagement in developing a new way of predicting fire-generated thunderstorms. |
Operational Excellence | The End User Services Team were recognised for excellence in internal customer service, supporting the Bureau to mobilise and maintain operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. |
Operational Excellence | The COVID Support and Implementation Team were recognised for their excellence in enabling the smooth and sustained transition to home-based work arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic. |
The Bureau Way | Daniel Knowles was recognised for his outstanding contributions to the health, safety and well-being of Bureau staff through leadership and innovation in the safe maintenance of our radar network. |
The Bureau Way | Ally Oates was recognised for her outstanding leadership and delivery in support of the Bureau’s operations in Tasmania and Antarctica. |
The Bureau Way | Cassy Baker was recognised for her outstanding support of the COVID-19 Incident Management Team, ensuring the safety of staff and continuity of Bureau services to the Australian community. |
New South Wales Bushfire Emergency Citation
In September, the Premier of New South Wales, Premier Gladys Berejiklian, awarded the Bushfire Emergency Citation to recognise the outstanding contribution of volunteers and service agency personnel who played a significant role in the emergency response effort to combat the 2019–20 bushfires. Many Bureau staff who were involved in the response effort, including through the provision of forecasts, warnings, communications and restoration of data and equipment, received the citation.
CSIRO Awards
In November, the Bureau was recognised for its contributions to two high-impact projects conducted with CSIRO.
- Bureau staff were awarded a CSIRO Collaboration Medal for the collaboration necessary to successfully deliver the most extensive, multi-disciplinary water and agricultural assessment of its kind in the world: The Northern Australia Water Resource Assessment.
- The Sir Ian McLennan Impact from Science and Engineering Medal was awarded to Bureau staff for their contributions to pioneering research towards the Transport Network Strategic Investment Tool (TraNSIT) and revolutionising the way Australia’s transport-related infrastructure investments are prioritised.
Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society Awards
In December, two Bureau scientists were recognised for their contribution to meteorology.
The 2020 Meyers Medal was awarded to Dr Acacia Pepler. The Meyers Medal acknowledges high-quality and innovative contributions by young researchers in the early stages of their academic career and honours Dr Gary Meyers.
The 2020 Gibbs Medal was awarded to Philip King. Named in honour of former Director of Meteorology WJ (Bill) Gibbs, the award recognises long and distinguished service to operational forecasting.
Emergency Media and Public Affairs Award for emergency communication
In June, the Bureau received the Emergency Media and Public Affairs Award for emergency communication in the response category for its work on the New South Wales flood emergency in March. The award recognised the Bureau’s long-term commitment to enhancing its communication capability to ensure key information gets to communities when they need it, however they are listening.
The Bureau’s weather calendar wins gold for Australia
In June, the Bureau’s 2021 Australian Weather Calendar won four awards at the World Calendar Marketing Awards:
- Best Graphic Design (gold award)
- Best Scenic Photography (gold award)
- Best Colour Separations (gold award)
- Best Printing (silver award).
American Meteorological Society Awards
In January, two Bureau staff received awards from the American Meteorological Society. Blair Trewin received an Editor’s Award for his exemplary, thoughtful reviews that significantly improved manuscripts through careful attention to critical details. Matthew Wheeler was elected as a Fellow of the American Meteorological Society in recognition of his career achievements in tropical meteorology and climatology and its application for prediction.
World Meteorological Day – Long Service Awards
In March, the Bureau recognised 18 staff members who have contributed more than 30 years of service to the Bureau and our customers, as part of World Meteorological Day celebrations.
Secure Code Warrior
The Bureau’s Nikeeth Ramanathan was an equal winner of the inter-agency Secure Code Warrior tournament. The tournament provides a forum for training and experience in software security skills, which in turn improves code quality, improves efficiency in development and builds careers.
Volunteer Rainfall Observer Excellence Awards
Manual rainfall observations are collected from across Australia and transmitted to the Bureau by around 4600 volunteers who form an integral part of the Bureau’s composite observations systems. The Bureau recognises the dedicated and sustained commitment of its long-serving volunteer rainfall observers by presenting them with excellence awards for 50 and 100 years of service.
In 2020–21, the following three families were presented with 50- or 100-year Family Rainfall Excellence Awards:
- the McLaughlin family for providing rainfall observations at Mounefontein (Queensland) since 1907
- the Walsh/Carter family for providing rainfall observations at Coolesha (Queensland) since 1920
- the Bligh family for providing rainfall observations at Condamine Plains (Queensland) since 1906.
- Two 50-year Individual Rainfall Excellence Awards were also presented to:
- Mr Peter Laws for providing rainfall observations at Willows Gemfields (Queensland) since 1963
- Mrs Pearce of Kyneton (Victoria) for providing rainfall observations since 1969.
Certificates of appreciation were also sent to:
- Mr Peter Stone of Baynton (Victoria) for recording rainfall observations at his property for 30 years
- Mrs Williams of Coonooer Bridge (Victoria) for recording rainfall observations for 26 years. The family had a 133-year family history of recording observations at the site (1887–2020)
- Mrs Lade of Gentenaar (Victoria) for recording rainfall observations for 20 years. The family are continuing the observations and are approaching 50 years of service.
Visit
https://www.transparency.gov.au/annual-reports/bureau-meteorology/reporting-year/2020-21-26