Independent review underway at Bureau of Meteorology

AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW has been commissioned by CEO of the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM), Stuart Minchin, to help inform the organisation’s future organisational strategy and ensure it delivers value to Australians in a rapidly changing environment.

The review will form part of the bureau's preparations for its next strategic plan, which will come into effect in the second half of 2027. It will examine how the organisation can best meet the future needs of Australians, industry and community stakeholders, while maintaining the trust and confidence that underpin its role as the nation's trusted source of weather, water, climate and environmental intelligence.

The review has been commissioned in consultation with Federal Environment and Water Minister, Murray Watt, and the Department of Climate Change, Energy Environment and Water (DCCEEW).

It will be led by Phillip Glyde, former chief executive of the Murray–Darling Basin Authority. Mr Glyde will be supported by an expert panel including DCCEEW Deputy Secretary, Sean Sullivan and internationally experienced public policy advisor, Raj Nahna.

The panel will assess:

• The bureau's service offering and its alignment with current and future community needs.
• The effectiveness of public communications and responsiveness to stakeholder needs.
• Opportunities to strengthen reputation, resilience and strategic partnerships.
• Strategic challenges and opportunities likely to influence the bureau's value over the next decade.
• Areas of unmet customer demand and alignment with the bureau's legislative mandate.

The review panel is expected to report back by March 31 next year.

“The work BoM staff do every day is complex and they face a range of pressures, so this review will bring an independent perspective to understanding the services being delivered and how that value can be strengthened into the future," Environment and Water Minister Murray Watt said.

"BoM’s role in keeping Australia safe, informed and prepared in a changing climate has never been more vital. Maintaining trust in, and ensuring the effectiveness of, BoM’s information and services is essential," he said.

"Many Australians rely on BoM to make decisions on-farm, at work and in severe weather, and I know we’re all committed to ensuring that future services meet people’s needs and expectations."

BoM CEO and director of meteorology, Stuart Minchin said, "The development of our next strategy is a significant opportunity to take a fresh look at what matters most to the Australian community and to ensure we are well positioned to meet future challenges and opportunities.

"We deeply value the trust that the Australian public and our customers place in us. Our work underpins essential services, economic activity, environmental health and community wellbeing, for all Australians every day, so it’s important we get it right," Dr Minchin said.

"This review will help the Bureau of Meteorology better understand current and future customer needs and ensure our strategy and services are squarely focussed on the things that are important to the Australian community, our customers and partners.

"The review is firmly focused on the future. It is about ensuring the bureau remains a trusted, modern and responsive organisation that continues to meet the needs and expectations of a changing world."

Click here to learn more about the independent review.

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