Dr Stuart Minchin has been appointed as the new CEO and Director of Meteorology for the Bureau of Meteorology, with his term due to begin on 10 November.
He succeeds Dr Andrew Johnson, who led the Bureau for nine years until September 2025.
Dr Minchin comes to the Bureau having served since 2020 as Director General of the Pacific Community, a science and technology for development organisation in the Pacific region.
Prior to that, he was Chief of the Environmental Geoscience Division of Geoscience Australia, had previously served with the CSIRO, and was Principal Scientist with the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment.
Dr Minchin has also been Australia’s Principal Delegate to both the UN Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM) Group of Experts and the Intergovernmental Group on Earth Observations (GEO).
Earlier this year he was presented with a lifetime achievement award at the 2025 Group on Earth Observations Awards in Rome.
Minchin was the architect behind Digital Earth Australia and a key figure in launching Digital Earth Africa and efforts in the Pacific, and has championed access to satellite-based tools for climate resilience, water security and disaster response.
“I’m honoured to be the next CEO and Director of Meteorology at the Bureau of Meteorology,” said Minchin.
“The Bureau has a significant responsibility to all Australians and its staff work tirelessly to contribute to the lives and livelihoods of communities all day, every day.
“I look forward to representing the Bureau and continuing to serve the Australian community with trusted, reliable and responsive weather, water, climate, ocean and space weather services.”
Federal Minister for the Environment and Water, Murray Watt, said Dr Minchin will be a valuable addition to the Bureau.
“Dr Minchin’s reputation as a respected, experienced and dedicated leader in environmental data management uniquely positions him to lead an agency as important as the Bureau,” Minister Watt said.
“I look forward to working with him to ensure the Bureau continues to adapt and respond to the needs of Australians for accurate and timely weather, water, climate and ocean services and information.”
