Downey, William (1942 - )

Summary

William Downey has worked for the Bureau of Meteorology since 1959, and as Deputy Director (Research and Systems) is responsible for the overall planning and coordination of research and systems activities throughout the Bureau. He also coordinates system developments across the Bureau including the activities of the Bureau's Observations and Engineering Branch and the Central Operations and Systems Branch.

Details

Educated: Diploma of Applied Physics, RMIT, 1961. Diploma of Public Administration, RMIT, 1967. MSc (Meteorology), 1971. PhD (Meteorology and Oceanography), University of Wisconsin, 1972. Joined the Bureau of Meteorology as a cadet meteorologist in 1959, and worked as a forecaster in the Victorian and South Australian Regional Offices, 1962-1964. Lecturer, Central Training School, Melbourne, 1964-1969. Worked in the Australian Numerical Meteorology Research Centre, 1972-1981. Visiting Scientist, Space Science and Engineering Center of the University of Wisconsin, 1974, and Honorary Fellow, 1980. During 1981-1982 he was attached to Ansett Airlines working on the introduction to Australia of the air-ground digital data link system, ACARS, and in 1983 was seconded to the Department of Aviation to work on policy aspects of Operational Control. In May 1983 he became Head of the Synoptic Research Section of the Bureau and during 1983-1984 frequently acted as Assistant Director Research. In April 1984 he was appointed Head of the Bureau's Projects and Secretariat Section, and Secretary to the Meteorology Policy Committee. From 1989 to 2000 he was the Assistant Director (Executive and International Affairs), supporting the Director on matters involving the Minister (Parliamentary Secretary), the Secretary, the Central Office of the Department, the World Meteorological Organization and the National Meteorological Services of other countries, other Government Departments and agencies, national scientific and technical bodies; and coordinating the overall policy and management of Bureau programs. He was appointed to his present position of Deputy Director (Research and Systems) in January 2001.

Published resources

Journal Articles

• 'Senior Appointment - Bill Downey, ADE', Weather News, 290 (August 1989) (1989), 9. Details

Resources

• 'Downey, W K (1942-)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-617320. Details

See also

• Federation and Meteorology, 2001, http://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/fam/index_d.html. Details