Our researchers
Find out about the experts behind our world-class research and how we support their innovative work.
Experts delivering impact and value
Our researchers are exploring the frontiers of science and technology. We're tackling some of the biggest challenges of our time, and our people are our most valuable resource.
Our areas of focus include weather and environmental prediction, climate variability and change, Earth system modelling, water research and space weather research. We partner with relevant national and international research centres, as well as industry and private enterprise.
We're expanding our capabilities for multidisciplinary Earth sciences, social sciences, next-generation scientific and high-performance computing, and transformative approaches to data science, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning. This is also fostered through partnerships with universities to support students, post-doctoral fellows and academics.
Our team also focuses on the transition of research into operations, accelerating the transition of experimental systems and concepts to operations and services.
To find out more about our approach, view our Research and Development Plan 2020–2030.
Leaders in research and development
Meet the experts who lead our research and development team.
Chief Scientist – Robert Argent
Dr Robert Argent is the Bureau's Chief Scientist and Group Executive, Science and Innovation.
Rob was appointed to this role in 2025, after 5 years as our General Manager, Research to Operations. In this capacity, he managed the team responsible for turning numerical models and analytical and post-processing systems research into reliable operation systems.
Rob is the Australian representative on the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Panel on Polar and High-mountain Observations, Research and Services. It provides strategic, advocacy and engagement recommendations to the WMO Executive Council. He also chairs the Panel's Antarctic Advisory Group.
Rob joined the Bureau in 2008 to lead development and delivery
of the Australian Water Resources Information System. Since
then, he has managed the Climate and Water Information
Technology Services Branch, directed our Water Information
Research and Development Alliance partnership with CSIRO,
managed the research portfolio for weather and climate, and was
general manager for our water program.
View Rob's profile on ResearchGate.
General Manager, Research – Bertrand Timbal
Dr Bertrand Timbal is the General Manager of the Research Program within the Science and Innovation Group.
Bertrand joined the Bureau in 1996 as a research scientist specialising in climate change science. Between 2017 and 2019, he left the Bureau to lead the Climate Branch of the Centre for Climate Research in Singapore. He re-joined in 2020 as General Manager.
Bertrand leads about 140 scientists and science managers, as well as visiting scientists. He is responsible for advancing the science and development behind the Bureau's forecasts, warnings and services, focusing on research that will provide impact and value for the Australian community.
View Bertrand's ResearchGate and Google Scholar profiles.
Discover our research team
Find out more about the team that contributes to our research achievements by exploring their personal profiles.
Note: Our researchers manage their own profiles on these platforms.