Bureau of Meteorology executive Peter Stone, who oversaw bungled website revamp, departs role

Peter Stone, the Bureau of Meteorology’s (BOM) chief customer officer and group executive of business solutions, will leave his role at the end of June. Stone briefly acted as CEO in October 2023, during which the BOM launched a multi-million-dollar website revamp that received widespread criticism for its design flaws, including unreadable place names on the rain radar map. The project’s initial cost estimate of $4.1 million was later revealed to be $96.5 million, with $78 million spent on a contract with Accenture—originally $31 million but expanded through nine extensions. Public backlash led the BOM to revert to the previous color scheme and radar map, though Stone stated at the time that further improvements were in development. Stone’s departure follows the BOM’s apology and adjustments to the website, which he described as part of efforts to better familiarize the public with the platform. He has worked at the BOM since 2017, previously holding roles at CSIRO and in industry and government sectors in Australia and abroad. Stuart Minchin took over as CEO in November 2023 after Stone’s temporary tenure. The BOM has not provided further details on leadership changes or future website plans beyond ongoing assessments for updates. The revamp remains a contentious issue, with Greens senator Barbara Pocock questioning contract management, though Stone defended the process to some degree.