Our senior executive team brings extensive experience and a wide range of qualifications to our organisation.
Our Chief Executive Officer leads the organisation and works with our Governing Board to set the strategic direction.
We have 4 divisions and 3 branches that are responsible for managing and aligning us with our regulatory and organisational responsibilities.
Joss Crawford
Interim Chief Executive Officer
BEng (Honors), EMPA, GAICD
Reporting to the Governing Board, Joss leads EPA and is responsible for its day-to-day management and operational performance. In association with the Board, Joss also sets the organisation’s strategic direction.
Joss has worked both within Australia and abroad and has had a distinguished career in senior executive leadership roles in the petroleum, transport, and building and construction industries. Joss has a deep understanding of duties-based legislation and the standards by which to regulate. With a degree in civil engineering and an Executive Masters in Public Administration, Joss combines deep regulatory expertise with strategic thinking, a strong collaborative and consultative approach, and a passion for building high performing teams and a culture of business excellence.
Matt D'Abbs
Acting Executive Director Strategy
EMPA, LLB, BA
Matt joined EPA in 2018 as Director Regulatory Approach and Capability. Prior to EPA, Matt was Director Strategy, Policy and Corporate Services and General Counsel at Transport Safety Victoria and Senior Policy and Legal Adviser for the Department of Transport. Before joining the Victorian Public Sector, Matt spent 15 years in offshore commercial fishing and maritime tourism.
The Strategy division defines and drives the regulatory direction, strategic priorities and capabilities across EPA and leads the organisation through changes in the regulatory and policy landscape.
Rachel Gualano
Acting Executive Director Operations
BAppSc (OT), Grad Dip Business Management, Grad Dip Organisational Behaviour, Dip OHS
Rachel has held senior leadership roles across several regulators, implementing new and world leading legislation including in OH&S, environment, and transport safety (maritime safety) in Victoria.
She established EPA’s waste crime prevention capability, led regulatory programs and regulatory service delivery across Metropolitan Melbourne. Rachel holds qualifications in applied science, OH&S, organizational behaviour, business management, and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She is recognised as an Established Leader in the Institute of Public Administration Australia (Victoria)’s Top 50 Public Sector Women’s Award List of 2024.
The Operations division leads EPA’s frontline regulatory response to prevent harm to human health and the environment through engagement and education; inspections and monitoring; and enforcing compliance with the law.
Jen Martin
Acting Chief Environmental Scientist
PhD Chemistry, BSc, Postgraduate Diploma Medical Toxicology
Dr. Jen Martin received her Ph.D. in Chemistry from The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland in 2004. She has worked in the field of contaminated land and human health risk assessment for 20 years and is a Fellow of the Australasian College of Toxicology and Risk Assessment. Currently, she is the Acting Chief Environmental Scientist at Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA).
The science division enables regulatory excellence at EPA, delivering innovative and targeted scientific advice to support strategy and policy development, and strategic and operational decision making.
Carmel Flynn
Executive Director Corporate Services
GAICD, MBA, BComm
Joining EPA in October 2022, Carmel brings diverse and senior experience. She previously worked in corporate and emergency management executive positions in the Victorian Public Sector for more than 10 years, in international humanitarian leadership roles and in professional services. Carmel was a commissioned officer in the Royal Australian Air Force for 10 years and a veteran of active service. She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
The Corporate Services division defines and drives the people, finance, information technology, and enterprise program priorities for EPA, and enables a culture of high performance in the delivery of regulatory and enterprise functions.
Dru Marsh
Acting Chief Quality Officer
BSc (Hons), LLB (Hons), PhD (Environmental Science)
Dru joined EPA in 2017 and played a leading role in developing the Environment Protection Act 2017 and its regulations. With a strong background in duties-based regulation, Dru has practiced as a lawyer in both occupational health and safety and environmental law and as a consultant specialising in asbestos management. He was seconded to WorkSafe Victoria during the development of its 2017 regulations and was a legal member of the Victorian Department of Health’s Human Research Ethics Committee for 9 years.
Dru holds a number of academic appointments and regularly lectures university students on environmental regulation.
The Quality and Capability branch drives and enables the quality of regulatory and enterprise decision making and operations through an independent quality and assurance function that works across EPA.
Greg Elms
General Counsel
LLB GDLP
Greg started in the role of General Counsel at EPA in 2019. Before joining EPA, Greg spent 16 years at Victoria Police in general duties, criminal investigations, as a prosecutor and discipline adviser. Following that, he worked for 8 years at the Victorian Government Solicitor’s Office providing specialist advice and advocacy to a broad range of government regulatory clients both directly and as a team leader. He then returned to Victoria Police for two years in the role of Principal Legal Adviser.
The Legal branch provides a legal centre of expertise, responsible for defining and overseeing legal policies and processes, providing legal advice and support on regulation and enforcement matters, and managing EPA’s legal obligations.
Jo Missen
Director, Public Affairs
BSc (Applied Chemistry)
Jo joined the EPA in 2012 and has held many roles including heading up the Regulatory Enablement Branch to build capability in EPA’s regulatory decision makers, as well as industry to assess and manage risks. Jo has more than 28 years’ experience, both as an environmental regulator and consultant, working with industry, community, and government to influence and support timely and risk-based decision-making.
The Public Affairs branch enables regulatory excellence through communications and engagement with communities and industry to promote understanding and compliance with the laws that prevent harm to human health and the environment.
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