New Inspector-General for Emergency Management appointed

All hazards

Risks spanning across multiple hazard types and across the emergency management system.

Biosecurity

Exotic animal and plant disease outbreaks and pest incursions can have significant economic, community and environmental impacts.

Bushfire and other fires

Bushfire and other fires have potential consequences including loss of life and property, and damage to infrastructure and environment.

Climate change

Risks include more days of extreme heat, harsher fire weather, less rainfall and rising sea levels.

Communications disruption

Communications services are crucial in keeping communities safe, connected and informed before, during and after emergencies.

Cyber security and ICT systems failure

Risks relating to the confidentiality, availability, integrity of information and data and disruption of services.

Energy supply disruption

Reliable energy supplies are critical to many social and economic activities.

Flood

Major flood events have occurred in Victoria every 10 to 20 years, with much of the increasing risk created by human settlement.

Hazardous material incident

Potential risks relate to many places where Victoria’s hazardous materials are manufactured, stored, transported, used and disposed.

Heatwave

Heatwaves are considered to be the ‘silent killer’ of extreme weather events and are the leading cause of weather-related deaths in Australia.

Public health emergency

Risks may relate to the delivery of public health services, with impacts on community health and wellbeing and potential for loss of life.

Supply chain disruption

Geopolitical, environmental, economic, societal and infrastructure-related shocks can expose supply chains to wide ranging consequences.

Terrorism and extremism

Attacks carried out by individuals or non-state groups with ideological, political or religious goals can result in loss of life, severe injury and/or material damage.

Water supply disruption

Risks include collection, storage, treatment, delivery, availability and allocation of water for consumption and environmental, recreation and cultural uses.

Workforce and resourcing

Risks may relate to human resource supply and skills to support emergency management operations.

16 April 2024
The Victorian Government has appointed Dr Emily Phillips (External link) as the new Inspector-General for Emergency Management (IGEM).
The IGEM is a statutory role that provides assurance to government and the community on emergency management arrangements.
Dr Phillips brings a wealth of knowledge to the role having served as Deputy Secretary and Chief Executive Officer across key emergency management responsibilities including water, agriculture, telecommunications and local government.
This work included leading Agriculture Victoria as the control agency for biosecurity emergencies.
Dr Phillips has a background in agriculture, water and natural resource management and has experience engaging with rural and regional Victorian communities. Dr Phillips also served as Chairperson of the Top 50 Public Sector Women Victoria and is a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration.
Dr Phillips succeeds Mr Tony Pearce who was appointed as the inaugural IGEM in 2014, overseeing incidents including the 2019-20 Victorian bushfires and the remediation of Fiskville training college.
Dr Phillips begins her five-year term as the IGEM on 3 June 2024, taking over from interim Inspector-General Mr Sam Redlich.

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