Ken Wilson—Focus on the 'Big Picture'

Ken was appointed Superintendent Program Coordination and Information (STCI), SPOA, Executive and International Affairs Branch, in December, succeeding Alan Coleman

As STCI, Ken is responsible for coordinating the preparation of the Bureau's Long Term Plan, its Five-year Forward Program, the Annual Budget and Program Statement and the Annual Report. Ken also provides input to the Forward Estimates process, oversights the development and maintenance of the Bureau's Management Information System and chairs several major Bureau committees, including the Capital Review Committee.

Ken will work closely with the Bureau Executive, program managers and Regional Directors. At this level, he sees an opportunity to focus on the big picture and contribute to the Bureau's future development.

Cold Fronts Project

Born in Melbourne, Ken joined the Bureau as a cadet in 1969. He continued his post-graduate studies at Melbourne University until 1975 (completing his MBA at Monash University with a Bureau scholarship in 1993), then worked in various areas of research and training before being appointed Lead Scientist, Cold Fronts Research Program, which started in 1980.

There's a certain sense of nostalgia when Ken talks about the 'fun' days gathering data. He worked out of the Mount Gambier observing office, and says the exercise taught him a lot about coordinating activities and managing resources. The field phases, which took place in November/December 1980, 1981 and 1984, added to work done by CSIRO in the 50s and 60s. Ken spent about five years analysing the massive amounts of information. 'It was satisfying work. I feel we advanced the state of knowledge of the early summertime cold fronts.'

Back to 'Basics'

In 1986 Ken moved to the Basic Systems Program Office of the then newly-created Services Policy Branch, where they 'did a lot of really interesting things'.

Bureau of Meteorology