Office of Bushfire Risk Management Advisory Panel - Chair and Members

The Minister for Environment is seeking expressions of interest for an independent Chair and up to four independent skills-based members to join the Office of Bushfire Risk Management Advisory Panel (the Panel).

The Office of Bushfire Risk Management (OBRM) is responsible for leading and coordinating the implementation of evidence-based bushfire risk management across all public and private land in Victoria, working across all involved Victorian Government agencies, local government, landholders, and communities. This includes developing and maintaining the comprehensive end-to-end framework for bushfire risk management that land and fire managers across all public and private land work within to achieve shared risk reduction outcomes.

The Panel is responsible for providing expert advice to the Secretary to the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) on agreed priority focus areas that assist OBRM in effectively acquitting its functions, including:

• the OBRM's operating strategy and priorities
• the OBRM's stakeholder and community engagement strategy
• the development of targets, planning and delivery frameworks
• monitoring and assurance mechanisms, and
• other areas of focus or priorities agreed by the Secretary.

Membership of the Panel is set out in the terms of reference and comprises:

• an independent Chairperson
• senior executive representatives from Victorian Government departments and agencies with bushfire risk management responsibilities (DEECA, Country Fire Authority, Fire Rescue Victoria, the Department of Transport and Planning, and the Department of Government Services
• up to four independent skills-based members who collectively possess significant technical expertise in bushfire risk modelling and management, fire ecology, community behaviour change, land use planning and other specialist capabilities required to ensure the Panel is equipped to provide high-quality, evidence-based advice
• up to two Traditional Owner representatives nominated by the Traditional Owner Corporation Caucus or an equivalent forum comprising Traditional Owners, and
• the Emergency Management Commissioner is a standing member of the Panel.

We are seeking expressions of interest from people with expert knowledge in one or more of the following areas:

• Land, fire and emergency management or another relevant field
• Bushfire risk modelling and management
• Fire ecology
• Community behaviour change
• Land use planning

The Chairperson, OBRM Advisory Panel, is a key leadership position, responsible for leading and overseeing the Panel.

Key responsibilities of the Chair include:

• provision of leadership and oversight of performance of the Panel’s functions and delivery of its accountabilities
• inquiring into and becoming informed of any matters relevant to the request for an expert opinion
• leading the proactive management of the Panel and key stakeholder relationships, and
• engaging with the Secretariat in setting up the agendas and planning the running of meetings.

Independent skills-based members of the OBRM Advisory Panel are responsible for providing expert advice to the Secretary, DEECA, on agreed focus areas.

Key responsibilities of members include:

• providing expert advice in conjunction with other members and in accordance with the terms of reference
• enquiring into and becoming informed of any matters relevant to a request for an expert opinion
• providing the Panel’s expert opinion, including the reasons for the opinion, within the timeframes specified by the Secretary DEECA and OBRM, and
• liaising with partner agencies and stakeholders where required.

Please refer to the attached position descriptions for relevant selection criteria for the roles.

The Victorian Government is committed to ensuring that government boards and committees reflect the rich diversity of the Victorian community.

We encourage applications from people of all ages, Aboriginal people, people with disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and from lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, gender diverse, intersex and queer people. We will provide adjustments to the recruitment process upon request.

DEECA’s diversity and inclusion outcome pillars include:

1. We are connected to liveable, inclusive, sustainable communities
2. We are diverse
3. We are inclusive and flexible
4. We are safe and respectful

The Victorian Government’s Women on Boards commitment applies to all Victorian boards and ensures that all public boards have no less than 50 per cent women and for boards that have less than 50 per cent women, no less than 50 per cent of all future appointments must be women.

Cultural safety of Traditional Owners and Aboriginal Victorians, as an underpinning principle of self-determination, is embedded in everything we do. Under the Aboriginal Cultural Safety Framework DEECA is committed to creating a culturally safe workplace, where there is space for culture to live and for spiritual and belief systems to exist.

DEECA is actively strengthening reconciliation and self-determination for Aboriginal people. In response to the needs of Traditional Owners and Aboriginal Victorians, DEECA developed Pupangarli Marnmarnepu ‘Owning Our Future’ – Aboriginal Self-Determination Reform Strategy 2020-2025.

Applicants from rural and regional Victoria are also encouraged to apply.

Applicants will be shortlisted based on their demonstrated experience and the ability to perform the functions required of the Panel.

Applicants are required to register an account on the Join a Public Board website ( https://www.boards.vic.gov.au) 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.

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).

If you identify as any of the above, we would welcome the opportunity to contact you and 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.