Executive team

Dr Stuart Minchin joined the Bureau as our CEO and Director of Meteorology in November 2025.

Stuart is an experienced CEO and executive leader of technical and scientific agencies in Australia and internationally. From 2020 he was Director-General of the Pacific Community, a science and technology for development organisation representing 27 member countries and territories across the Pacific region.

Previously, Stuart was Chief of the Environmental Geoscience Division of Geoscience Australia, a centre of expertise in the Australian Government for environmental earth science issues and the custodian of national environmental geoscience data, information and knowledge. He has also held senior roles with the CSIRO and Victorian Government organisations.

Stuart is a world leader in digital earth observation services and has represented Australia in key international forums. He has been the Principal Delegate to both the United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management Group of Experts (UNGGIM) and the Intergovernmental Group on Earth Observations (GEO).

He has also previously served on the Australian Space Industry Expert Reference Group and led the team responsible for ocean floor mapping for the Malaysian Airlines MH370 search.

Stuart holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with First Class Honours and a PhD at the Water Studies Centre and Cooperative Research Centre for Freshwater Ecology at Monash University.

Vicki Manson is our Group Executive, Business Solutions. She leads the Bureau's engagement with customers, partners and stakeholders across key sectors, helping ensure the Bureau's science, services and expertise support informed decision-making and practical outcomes for Australia.

Vicki brings more than 30 years of experience working across government, industry and research. She has a strong track record of helping decision-makers navigate complex challenges in climate, water, agriculture, resilience, natural resource management and regional development.

Vicki is recognised for translating complex scientific, technical and policy issues into practical advice and action, and building trust and alignment across diverse stakeholders and organisations.

Vicki previously led the Australian Climate Service, where she strengthened national capability to understand and manage climate and natural hazard risks. This included leading development and delivery of Australia's first National Climate Risk Assessment. She also held senior roles at the Murray-Darling Basin Authority and the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (now AgriFutures Australia).

Vicki is known for her collaborative leadership style, strategic thinking and ability to bring together diverse perspectives to address complex national challenges. She has a bachelor's degree in applied science from the Australian National University.

Piero Chessa is our Group Executive, Community Services. He joined the Bureau in March 2020 after 13 years at The Boeing Company, where he held senior positions in operations and data science activities.

A physicist by profession, Piero moved from theoretical physics to atmospheric dynamics and accepted the challenge to build a regional meteorological service in Italy. During this time, his work encompassed operations, research and development.

Piero spent a few years as senior scientist at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts in the United Kingdom. He then joined The Boeing Company, where he covered a few roles in operations and data science.

Piero combines a strong domain competence and an established experience in public services, with a deep and varied knowledge of operations in multinational corporations.

Nichole Brinsmead commenced with the Bureau of Meteorology in February 2018 as Group Executive Data and Digital, and Chief Information and Technology Officer.

In this position, Nichole is accountable for the operations, security and delivery of the data, infrastructure and systems that underpin the Bureau's operations. She is a member of the Bureau Executive Committee and chairs the Bureau's Security, Risk and Business Continuity Committee.

Nichole has had over than 20 years' experience in a diverse range of roles across several business and technology domains in the financial services, higher education, professional services, emergency services and government sectors.

Nichole has an outstanding track record of delivery in complex operating environments both in Australia and overseas. She has led a number of successful enterprise-wide transformations that have resulted in significant uplifts in performance.

She was appointed to the Board of Australia's Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) in 2019 and is an advisor to the Bureau's partner in the Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre. Nichole has a very strong people and customer orientation and is the Bureau's Gender Equality Champion.

Nichole was appointed as the Australian National Focal Point to the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Committee in 2020.

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.

Astrid Heward is our Group Executive, Enterprise Services, which includes Chief Operating Officer responsibilities.

Astrid is responsible for human resources, finance, property, health, safety and environment, government relations, corporate communication, legal services, risk management and internal audit.

Astrid joined the Bureau in 2018. Previously she worked across a range of private technology, fast-moving consumer goods organisations, and the not-for-profit sector. These roles focused on legal services, risk management and governance.

Her qualifications include a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and Bachelor of Economics.

Ella Harrison is acting as the Group Executive, Australian Climate Service.

Ella has led nationally significant programs and policy development in flood risk management, disaster resilience, and infrastructure. Her work in the public and private sectors has encompassed Commonwealth, state and local government settings.

Ella is based in Brisbane and joined the Bureau in 2024 as a general manager in the Business Solutions Group. This involved overseeing multidisciplinary teams delivering priority Bureau initiatives, including the National Flood Warning Infrastructure Network Program.

Ella has a Bachelor of Civil and Environmental Engineering (Honours), a Postgraduate Diploma in International Development, and is a Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland.