In 2012, Dr Rob Vertessy was appointed as the Director and CEO of the Bureau of Meteorology, Australia’s national weather, climate and water information service. Prior to that, he was head of the Bureau’s Climate and Water Division, which includes responsibility for the National Climate Centre, the national flood forecasting and warning service, the agency’s new water information function, as well as a new initiative laying the foundations for a National Plan for Environmental Information. Rob commenced that role in 2007 after a 20year career as a research scientist at CSIRO. At CSIRO, Rob specialised in forest hydrology and catchment modelling and is widely published in those fields. Rob served as Chief Executive of the CRC for Catchment Hydrology (2002 - 2004) and Chief of CSIRO Land and Water (2004 2007). Between his CSIRO and Bureau appointments, Rob was seconded to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet to advise on the establishment of a national water information strategy (2006). That strategy was ultimately taken up by the Australian Government in 2007 and is now being implemented by the Bureau.