PreviousNext
Page 1364
Previous/Next Page
Federation and MeteorologyBureau of Meteorology
----------
Table of Contents

Weather News

Introduction

History

Personal Notes
Mr. B. W. Newman, Deputy Director, Sydney
Mr. G. W. Mackey—Deputy Director, Perth
Mr. J. Johnston—Deputy Director, Hobart
Mr. A. J. Shields—Deputy Director, Brisbane
Mr. B. J. Retallack—Supervising Meteorologist, Training
Mr. J. Hogan—Deputy Director, Adelaide
Mr. F. Bell—Officer-in-Charge, Darwin
Mr. P. Ryan—Officer-in-Charge, Darwin
Bureau Profile #1
Dr. Kevin Spillane: The Quality of Tenacity
Taking the World View [John Zillman]
Fred Bell, the Pilot's Friend
Mildura's Harry Storer
Computers—New ADC [Ross Maine]
H. G. Bond
The Sky is the Limit [Bettye Macnicol / Jenny Hopwood]
Hobart Weather Birds [Judy Morris / Felicity James]
Professional Officers' Association Award to Henry [Phillpot]
New Assistant Director Facilities is Keith Henderson
Tasmania's New Regional Director [Ted Phillips]
New Head for ANMRC [Doug Gauntlett]
Tony Powell New Regional Director Victoria
Lynn Mitchell Takes Over the Reins in SA RO Fillerup!
Pat Sullivan New Regional Director, NSW
Bettye Dixon Heads Canberra Liaison Section
Dr Michael Manton Chief of BMRC
Graeme Furler, Regional Director South Australia
Ian Mason, Regional Director ACT
Regional Director Queensland [Rex Falls]
Don Linforth, STPM
Bob Brook, Asst Director (Observations)
Jim Arthur, Regional Director, Northern Territory
Neil Streten Appointed Deputy Director (Services)
Bill Downey, Assistant Director (Executive)
Antarctic Medal Winners
Agrometeorology's Leading Lady [Gloria Bedson]
Ken Wilson—Focus on the 'Big Picture'
Sue Barrell's 'Balancing Act'
Dr Geoff Love Appointed Deputy Director (Services)
Serendipity at 33,000ft: A Win for Metrology—Bruce Forgan's WMO Vaisala Award
Pressure's On for New NCC Head [Mary Voice]
Bob Leighton Wins AMOS Honor for Climate Studies

Retirements

Obituaries

Observers and Volunteers

Media

Computers


Index
Search
Help

Contact us

Bill Downey, Assistant Director (Executive)

No. 290 August 1989

Dr Bill Downey took up his appointment of Assistant Director (Executive) in March this year, succeeding Dr Neil Streten (now Deputy Director Services).

Bill Downey

Dr Bill Downey

Bill joined the Bureau as a Cadet Meteorologist in 1959, and after completing his studies at RMIT worked initially as a forecaster in the Victorian and South Australian Regional Offices.

Since 1965 he has worked in Head Office, firstly as a lecturer in the Central Training School (1965-69), the Australian Numerical Meteorology Research Centre (1972-81), Research and Development Branch (1982-84), and Executive Branch (1984 to present), where he headed the Projects and Secretariat Section until taking up his present appointment.

In addition to his Bureau duties he completed a Diploma in Public Administration at RMIT in the 1960s, followed by three years as a Research Associate at the University of Wisconsin under a Public Service Board post-graduate study award. He was awarded a MSc degree in 1970, and the following year gained a PhD. He made two return visits to Wisconsin, as a visiting scientist in 1974, and as an Honorary Fellow in 1980.

Bill regards as a highlight of his recent career his attachment to Ansett Airlines in 1981, to work on the introduction to Australia of the air-ground digital data link System (ACARS), followed by a secondment to the Department of aviation to work on policy aspects of Operational Control.

He has been Secretary to the Meteorology Policy Committee (MPC) for the past five years, and has oversighted the production of the MPC Annual Report, which is tabled in Parliament by the Minister.

During his term as STPS he was heavily involved in the resolution of the long standing question of Commonwealth-State responsibilities in flood forecasting, which is now on a firm footing. Other challenges included working on the Bureau's charging policy and coordination of the production of the first charging manual earlier this year. Associated with this was formulation of the broad outline of the prospective functions of a commercially operating Special Services Unit.

As ADE he sees his principal task to be one of '. . . harnessing the talents of Branch staff to ensure that we achieve the objectives that have been set for us in the next few years. I am optimistic that we can build on the tasks we already perform and make significant advances in such areas as: the development of an effective Management Information System; assistance to the national meteorological services of neighbouring countries in the SW Pacific; the Bureau's public education program; and longer term strategic planning for the Bureau'.

For many years a competition tennis player, Bill says he is 'still keen, but slower'. His other interests include woodwork and leatherwork. He and his wife Carol have a son Aron, aged 17, and two daughters, Leah, 15, and Claire, 12.

Aron is a VCE student at lvanhoe Grammar and a keen baseball player. Leah is in year 10 at Macleod High School, plays netball and is a budding philanthropist. Claire is in her final year at Rosanna Golf Links Primary School, plays netball and enjoys role playing games and maths puzzles.

Carol is an acomplished textile artist and an active member of the Arts and Crafts Society of Victoria. She is currently the Resource Projects Officer for 'Arts Access', an organisation that provides access to the performing and visual arts for disabled or disadvantaged persons.


Organisations in Australian Science at Work - Australian Numerical Meteorology Research Centre

Previous Page Bureau of Meteorology Next Page


© Online Edition Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre and Bureau of Meteorology 2001
Published by Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre, using the Web Academic Resource Publisher
http://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/fam/1364.html