Longstanding Queensland Regional Director hands over the reins
13/07/2012
After 43 years with the Bureau of Meteorology, the last 10 as Queensland Regional Director, Jim Davidson starts a well-earned retirement today.
Services Division Head, Dr Ray Canterford, commended Mr Davidson’s leadership of a dedicated team through many intense and challenging periods of protracted severe weather in recent years.
“The commitment of Queensland staff during these periods is something we can be very proud of,” said Dr Canterford.
Of his time with the Bureau, Jim Davidson said, “Probably the most satisfying forecast outcome of my career was that no direct loss of life or serious injury was reported when tropical cyclone Yasi made landfall early last year. This can be largely attributed to Queensland’s multi-agency approach to disaster management.”
After completing the Bureau’s meteorology training course in 1969, Mr Davidson was posted to Brisbane. In a matter of weeks he was working in the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre when Ada slammed into the Whitsunday Islands in January 1970. Apart from short stints in Darwin and Townsville, Mr Davidson has been based in Brisbane.
Mr Rob Webb has been appointed the next Queensland Regional Director, and will take up the post later this month. He is currently weather services manager in New South Wales and has extensive operational experience. Rob grew up in Brisbane, finished school in Innisfail and completed a science degree in Townsville. After completing university Mr Webb studied meteorology, and has worked with the Bureau for nearly 20 years.
The role of Regional Director is one of the most senior positions in the Bureau, and with it comes great responsibility in providing leadership in the delivery of essential services to the public, and liaising with partners including local and state government and emergency services agencies.
The Bureau has been providing continuous meteorological services to the Australian public for more than 100 years, since 1908. The Bureau’s current strategic focus is to provide Australians with environmental intelligence for safety, sustainability, well-being and prosperity.
