Met Office chief executive honoured for her “transformational leadership” for the South West
Under Professor Endersby’s leadership the city has become an international hub for climate scientists and researchers.
Met Office chief executive Professor Penny Endersby has been honoured by the University of Exeter for her transformational leadership for the South West.
Under Professor Endersby’s leadership the city has become an international hub for climate scientists and researchers.
Her work as a world-class scientist and role model was recognised as she was awarded an honorary degree by the University of Exeter.
Professor Lisa Roberts, University of Exeter President and Vice Chancellor, paid tribute to Professor Endersby’s work to turn the Met Office into a global leader in the fight against the climate emergency. This has included investment in technology including machine learning and AI.
She also paid tribute to Professor Endersby’s commitment to encouraging fairness in science, technology, engineering and maths research and careers, to make STEM accessible for all and boost diversity.
Professor Endersby’s belief that science should directly benefit people and the environment, and her passion for helping others develop, has guided her throughout her career. Her faith has also been a guide and she is the first Canon Scientist at Exeter Cathedral.
Professor Endersby told students graduating during the ceremony she hoped they would become Met Office employees. She spoke of the benefits of working with the University of Exeter on teaching and research.
She told the science and maths graduates she believed there was room for “good disagreement” among those working at the cutting edge of science, and those who corrected their opinions because of new information was a: “real benchmark of someone who can be trusted”.
She told students to: “continue to be a force for good with everything you have learned here, through your open mindedness, and your curiosity, and your intelligence and your knowledge and to spread that into your sphere of influence, personally and professionally.”
Professor Endersby became Chief Executive at the Met Office in 2018 and President of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts in 2023, becoming the first woman to hold either position.
Professor Endersby started at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory as a graduate researcher in armour, later serving as Head of the Physics Department and Director of Cyber and Information Systems. She helped develop Dstl’s capabilities in cyber and data science research and did much to increase their innovation and intellectual property generation.
She received the 2021 Society Medal from the British Computer Society for her use of IT in benefiting society, specifically through investments in the Met Office’s supercomputer and data systems supporting weather and climate prediction.
Professor Endersby is a visiting professor in the Electronics and Computer Science Faculty at Southampton University and an honorary professor of Physics and the Environment at the University of Exeter. She was made a CBE in the 2024 New Year’s Honours. She chairs the Dartmoor National Park Steering Group and spends much of her free time there.
