As the project manager for the Australian Community Climate Earth-System Simulator – Seasonal Model (ACCESS-S), I assumed full accountability for both project phases within the challenging supercomputer environment. My responsibilities extended to managing budgets, ensuring timely delivery of products, and orchestrating seamless coordination among six distinct sections:
- National Forecasting Services (NFS),
- Science & Innovation Group (SIG),
- DevOps Team,
- Research to Operations (R2O),
- High-Performance Computing (HPC), and
- IT Command Centre (ITCC).
An essential facet of my role involved:
- Proactive risk and issue management.
- Addressing challenges promptly.
- Managing expectations both internally and externally.
This approach was crucial in steering the project towards success. The primary objective was to deliver a high-quality product, ACCESS-S2, which not only met but exceeded the expectations set by replacing the existing operational model, POAMA, which had effectively served the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) for over a decade.
The project's magnitude was substantial, with a total cost of approximately AUD 17 million spanning the two phases. Over 30 staff members, representing diverse expertise, collaborated on this intricate initiative. The successful completion of the ACCESS-S project demonstrated my adept project management skills. It showcased my ability to navigate complex interdisciplinary collaborations, manage substantial budgets, and deliver high-quality outcomes that align with the organisation's evolving needs.