Steering Committee

Under this new model, the team has a proud track record of sensible compliance outcomes, from criminal and civil prosecutions, through to working with regulatory partners to improve voluntary compliance in response to emerging compliance risks.

Monica most recently worked with the New South Wales Office of Environment and Heritage and has more than 25 years’ experience working in the environment and natural resources management sector.

Monica has worked in environmental regulation, compliance and enforcement, community engagement, and environmental program delivery roles, including in the Murray-Darling Basin, biodiversity and threatened species programs, environmental impact assessment, kangaroo management, floodplain and coastal erosion management, forestry regulation, renewable energy and energy efficiency programs.

Monica also brings significant experience in managing regulatory reform and change management. 

This is coupled with high level achievements in inter-governmental relations, stakeholder engagement and negotiating and collaborating across the tiers of government, including driving NSW’s engagement with the ACT to deliver the inaugural ACT and NSW Memorandum of Understanding for Regional Collaboration.

Narelle has administrated a number of pieces of Commonwealth, ACT and NSW legislation relating to environment protection, nature conservation, water management and land use planning.

Narelle is responsible for leading the day to day regulatory functions of the ACT EPA and works collaboratively both within government and with the community to achieve positive environmental outcomes. The ACT EPA regulates activities related to air, land and water, environmental noise, water resources, lakes, contaminated sites, firewood merchants, clinical and hazardous waste, and pesticide use.

She holds a Bachelor of Rural Science (Hons) and a Graduate Diploma in Management & Professional Studies.

Germaine has experience in international waste shipment regulation under the European Union’s Network for the Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental Law and in the practical application of a wide range of environmental legislation both in Ireland and Australia.

Germaine holds a Bachelor of Science with Honours from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland.

She leads teams responsible for environment impact assessment, permits and licensing, community response, as well as supporting regulatory changes and capability and safety across the division.  Prior to working in DES, Claire led Fisheries Queensland in the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. This included leading fisheries management, monitoring, compliance and licensing, along with swimmer safety programs.

Prior to her time in DAF, Claire worked in the former Department of Environment and Heritage Protection coordinating Great Barrier Reef policy issues and prior to that at the Department of Premier and Cabinet in Environment Policy.

At the EPA, Ms Howard has led regional teams delivering operational work for air, water, noise and chemical pollution, threatened species, Aboriginal cultural heritage, community engagement, catchment management, environmental education and groundwater and surface water environmental management.

Ms Howard’s work has been largely focused in metropolitan areas, working extensively with industry groups and community organisations to find sound environmental solutions among strongly competing demands.

Ms Howard holds a Bachelor of Science in Ecology with first class honours from the University of NSW.

Peter’s duties at the NT EPA include the compliance and enforcement of the NT Waste Management and Pollution Control Act and Water Act amongst others. His current area of responsibility includes the environmental regulation of all air, noise, water, waste, contaminated sites, pollution from ships (MARPOL), NPI issues. His work also entails the development of policy across all of these areas.

Peter also participates and represents the NT EPA on Commonwealth initiatives. Peter has an extensive background in compliance and enforcement and has worked as an environmental regulator in Victoria, Tasmania, Western Australia and Queensland. He has also spent some time as a principal investigator with the former Office of Police Integrity of Victoria (now IBAC).  

Peter holds a BSc in Chemistry and microbiology and has extensive experience in the field of environment protection with more than 30 years’ experience.

Prior to joining the EPA, Peter worked in mining regulation, development assessment and on public health projects including the original government response to lead issues in Port Pirie in the 1980s.

Peter enjoys resolving technically and politically complex environment protection and pollution issues both directly and through the direction of professional teams and has contributed to government responses to issues as wide ranging as management of the expansion of the aquaculture industry to regulation of in-situ uranium mining.

Peter has a passion and enthusiasm for the environment and managing the interface between the environment, communities and industry, with a strong focus on improved customer service and keeping the community informed and engaged.

Cindy came into  the Tasmanian State Service in 1999 and before commencing with EPA Tasmania, worked in weed management and biosecurity where she specialised in risk assessment and policy development.

She also spent two years as an advisor to the minister responsible for agriculture and biosecurity and animal welfare.

Cindy moved to Tasmania from Victoria in the 1980s seeking rain, mist, frost and snow, got all those things and will not live anywhere else. She holds a Bachelor of Applied Science from the University of Tasmania with Honours in Biogeography, and a Graduate Certificate in Public Sector Management.

Greg has extensive experience in all aspects of public sector legal work including military and civilian policing, with a strong background in investigations and court and tribunal hearings in prosecutions and disciplinary proceedings.

After spending 9 years at Victoria Police in general duties and criminal investigations, Greg spent a further 7 years with Victoria Police as a prosecutor and discipline advisor.  Following that, he spent 8 years with 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.

Greg is a military police investigator and is still an active Reservist with the Australian Army, involved in investigations as well as acting as prosecuting or defending officer in administrative and disciplinary matters.

A highlight of Greg's military career was his deployment to East Timor in 2007 where he provided peace keeping and criminal investigative capacity-building assistance to the East Timorese authorities.