He has chosen to live and work in Australia. In another world, for culture, habits and lifestyles. A very different environment from his Sardinia. With courage and curiosity Piero Chessa, 59, originally from Torralba, faced the challenge. He now lives in Melbourne, with his wife and two daughters. His work is a complex horizon that involves commitment and great responsibility. Chessa is at the top of the Australian Meteorological Service.
Responsibilities
«I am at the head - he says - of the Community Services Group (CSG), the department that deals with the production and dissemination of meteo-hydrological forecasts for the whole territory of Australia, including the surrounding seas. The group is divided into three sectors in which about 350 people working in eight offices work, including meteorologists, climatologists and hydrologists ». Piero Chessa has a degree in Physics. He contributed to the creation of the Regional Agrometeorological Service of Sardinia, of which he directed the operational and research sections for a long time, and worked in Reading, England, at the European Center for Medium-Term Forecasts. “Never stop” is his motto. After the experience at the top of Boeing Italy, he decided to participate in an international competition launched by the Australian authorities who were looking for the new head of the national meteorological service.
Test passed and new professional experience. «The Community Services Group determines and disseminates the meteorological-hydrological alert for the National Civil Protection and for the agencies that manage emergencies in the various states. This function is of vital importance as the meteorological phenomena in Australia are varied, often very intense, and often occur simultaneously. Managing the alert and supporting the Civil Protection in these situations is complex and requires high specialization and long training. To give an example, last March we had extensive and persistent floods in the area of New South Wales, which led to the evacuation of about twenty thousand people ”.
What has been the most difficult moment so far? “I arrived at the beginning of the pandemic, without the family. Bringing it to Australia, with closed borders, was no small feat. To this must be added the fact that I found myself managing both the daily activities of the group and also its profound transformation. A bit like having a car overhauled while traveling on the motorway at high speed ».
Tsunami warning
Piero Chessa, together with his team, deals with tsunami prevention: «Australia is part of a surveillance network, coordinated by a United Nations agency. We take care of the alert in the event of a tsunami that can affect the national territory or other regions of the Pacific ». Compared to Italy, in the prevention and management of adverse climatic events, is Australia ahead? "In Italy we do not have specializations related to tropical cyclones, but for the rest we have nothing to envy to anyone".
The relationship with the island
The roots are cultivated, the land of origin is a safe haven: «I come back every summer for a few weeks. I am sorry that the island is not able to exploit its full potential. We have great cultural and environmental resources. I always hope that it goes faster than it actually happens ». Even Piero Chessa's brother, Massimo, chose the path of emigration: «He left before me. Now he is a specialist in the treatment of congenital heart disease and works in Milan ». What's your next goal? “I am focused on the present. I have to complete the transformation taking place in the service I lead and it will take time. We will see".
Massimiliano Rais
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