Overview
About the board
The Minister for Environment, Ingrid Stitt, is please to invite applicants for a position on the Environment Protection Board.
The Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) is a statutory authority established originally under the Environment Protection Act 1970 and continues in existence by the Environment Protection Act 2017 (EP Act). The EP Act commenced a process of major legislative reform to the EPA and Victoria's framework for environment protection. One of the key reforms introduced by the EP Act was the establishment of the new EPA Governing Board. The Board was established on 1 July 2018.
The EPA Governing Board is responsible for the governance, strategic planning, and risk management of the EPA as well as pursuing the objectives of the EPA.
EPA's objective is to prevent the harmful effects of pollution and waste on the environment and human health. It achieves this objective through:
- using public reporting and environmental monitoring to assess the state of the environment.
- using environmental standards in policies, regulation, and guidelines.
- assessing and approving activities and premises to ensure that they meet environmental standards.
- making sure businesses and community comply with the law.
EPA also responds to public health concerns about environmental issues. These can include concerns about noise, pollution, odour and air quality.
EPA develops and reviews environmental policies and regulations with the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA).
The EPA Board reports to the Minister of Environment, who is supported by DEECA.
The EPA works in collaboration with DEECA, government departments, statutory authorities, local government, business, and the community to achieve its objectives.
The powers, duties, and functions of the EPA are vested in the Board. The Board is responsible for the governance, strategic planning, and risk management of the EPA.
Further information regarding the board and its functions can be found at .
About the role
Board members, working together under the guidance of the Chairperson, provide strategic direction in the best interests of the entity. Board members are expected to actively contribute to board decisions, applying their specialist skills and experience. The CEO is accountable to the Board for all operational and day-to-day decisions of the EPA.
In performing their role, Board members must conduct themselves in a manner that is consistent with:
- statutory, constitutional, internal policies and regulatory requirements applicable to the public entity;
- the public sector values of responsiveness, integrity, impartiality, accountability, respect, leadership and human rights (as set out by Section 7 of the Public Administration Act 2004);
- The duties of board directors (as set out under Section 79 of the Public Administration Act 2004); and
- the Code of Conduct for Directors, which requires board directors of all public entities to:
- act with honesty and integrity;
- act in good faith in the best interests of the public entity;
- act fairly and impartially;
- use information appropriately;
- use their position appropriately;
- act in a financially responsible manner;
- exercise due care, diligence and skill;
- comply with the establishing legislation; and
- demonstrate leadership and stewardship
Who we're looking for
Collectively, the EPA Governing Board will need to have the skills, knowledge and experience outlined below.
- Science or engineering
- Environment protection or regulation
- Regulation of industry
- Local government
- Public administration or governance
- Finance or accounting
- Legal practice
- Health
Applicants will be shortlisted on the basis of these high-level skills, experience or knowledge.
The following skills will also be considered highly desirable:
- Community engagement
- Data intelligence
- Diversity
- Information technology/industry technology
- Change management
- Regulatory frameworks and their applications
- Risk management
- Rural and regional communities
- Stakeholder and relationship management
- Strategic thinking
- Succession planning
The Victorian Government is committed to ensuring that our boards represent the diversity of our communities. Women, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with a disability, young people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, gender diverse and intersex people are encouraged to apply.
The Victorian Government’s Women on Boards commitment has been in effect since 2015 and is ensuring that all public boards have no less than 50 per cent women.
Applicants from rural and regional Victoria are also encouraged to apply.
What you need to apply
Applicants are required to register an account on the Join a Public Board website at prior to applying online.
Applicants will have the opportunity to address the key selection criteria and outline relevant qualifications and experience when completing the online application and should view all documents including the position description.
Applicants are invited to look at the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) support modules at for its agencies to learn about how DEECA selects its board members and other recommended reading.
Applicants should view all documents attached to the advertisement prior to applying.
You do not have to disclose any personal information if you do not want to, but it can help us understand how we can support you through the recruitment process and beyond.
We invite you to tell us if you identify as Aboriginal, a person with disability, from a culturally or linguistically diverse background, LGBTIQ+ or a young person, aged 25 years old or less.
We would welcome the opportunity to discuss how we can support you through the recruitment process.
Sharing this information will help you access support should you need it and will also help us to better understand the impact of our work.
If you need assistance of adjustments to fully participate in the application or interview process, please contact us on the details below.
Applicants with further enquiries or those with difficulties in accessing the documents should contact DEECA by email climate.changegovernance@delwp.vic.gov.au or by calling on (03) 8508 1435, using the National Relay Service 133 677 if required.
Expressions of Interest close midnight 12 March 2023
Note: if you have trouble submitting your application, please complete the document marked manual application attached above and email it, along with your CV and cover letter (if applicable), to: climate.changegovernance@delwp.vic.gov.au by the closing date, midnight 12 March 2023.
You do not need to complete the manual application document if you are successful in submitting your application via this system.