Public Weather Services (PWS)

WMO International Symposium on Public Weather Services (PWS): a Key to Service Delivery, Geneva, Switzerland (3-5 December 2007)

Paper Title: Past and future of service delivery

Names: Graeme Leitch

Institution: UK Met Office

Title: Acting PWS Programme Manager/ Head Civil Sector Services Programme

E-Mail Address: graeme.leitch@metoffice.gov.uk 

I have been employed by the Met Office some 25 years. Following my initial appointment in radio sonde, my career moved onto weather observing and forecaster support before becoming a forecaster in 1991.  

My first forecasting post was in Northern Ireland moving to Scotland in 1992, where I spent 10 years as forecaster before moving into an operational management role.

In April 2005 the Met Office set up a team of Public Weather Service (PWS) Advisors who have responsibility for liaison with our public partners in the emergency response community. On inception of this role I took responsibility for this team and continue to manage them to date.

During the early summer of 2006 I moved to Exeter where I have worked in the Government Business area until now. My substantive post is as PWS Assurance Manager, with the responsibility for ensuring delivery and quality of the PWS operational outputs to meet customer requirements.

I am currently deputising as Head Public Weather Service, whilst current incumbent is acting as Interim Government Business Director.