Chief Executive Officer, NSW Environment Protection Authority

• Lead NSW’s independent environmental regulator and environmental steward
• Build trusted relationships across government, industry and communities
• Sydney preferred, with regular travel across metropolitan and regional NSW

Lead the continued delivery of effective environmental regulation in NSW, building on a strong legacy of stewardship, trusted relationships and practical outcomes.

The organisation
The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is the State’s independent environmental regulator and steward. It works with Aboriginal people, communities, industry, businesses and government to protect, restore and enhance the environment of NSW and safeguard human health.

The EPA regulates activity across a broad and complex legislative remit, monitors compliance, investigates environmental harm and takes enforcement action where required. It also provides policy and legislative advice to government, supports emergency and incident responses, and leads work across priorities including waste, the circular economy and climate change.

With a highly committed workforce and a strong culture of stewardship, the EPA is focused on delivering its established reform agenda and translating policy into practical outcomes. This includes maintaining public confidence in environmental regulation while responding to increasingly complex environmental, economic and social challenges.
 
The opportunity
Reporting to the Board, the Chief Executive Officer provides executive leadership and direction across the EPA’s operations, people and resources. The role is accountable for governance, culture, organisational performance and financial stewardship.
This is a significant leadership and delivery mandate. Working with the Board, you will build on the EPA’s strong strategic foundations and lead the delivery of its established priorities and reform agenda. You will ensure the organisation continues to provide effective, efficient and evidence-based regulation, overseeing compliance, audits, investigations, enforcement and prosecutions while maintaining strong policy and legislative capability.

Central to the role is maintaining the EPA’s regulatory independence while working constructively and transparently with the Minister, Board and government. You will provide authoritative policy and legislative advice, maintain clear accountability and ensure there are no surprises between the EPA and government. You will also engage productively with industry, Aboriginal people and communities to improve compliance, minimise environmental harm and deliver better outcomes.

You will lead a passionate, values-driven workforce and continue the development and maturation of the executive team. Building on the EPA’s strong culture of stewardship, you will combine respect and collaboration with pragmatism, delivery discipline and accountability. You will also sustain the EPA’s commitment to meaningful engagement with Aboriginal people and ensuring their perspectives and outcomes remain integral to its work.
 
About you
You are an accomplished and strategic executive with strong intellectual capability and deep knowledge of environmental issues, relevant industries and the factors that shape industry behaviour. You bring substantial experience spanning environmental regulation, policy, law, science or a related field, together with a sound understanding of the Australian government and regulatory context.
 
You understand the distinct but complementary responsibilities of an independent regulator: exercising regulatory authority with integrity while remaining accountable to the Minister and working constructively across government. You can provide authoritative policy and legislative advice, lead complex implementation and engage productively with industry without compromising regulatory independence.

A credible and trusted relationship builder, you bring strong operational, financial and governance judgement and can make balanced decisions in complex and politically sensitive circumstances. Your leadership style combines intellectual rigour with empathy, generosity and sound judgement. You listen well, address difficult issues directly and respectfully, and can harness the commitment of a highly values-driven organisation to deliver practical and measurable environmental outcomes.
 
How to Apply
For a confidential discussion or role-related questions including the need to make any reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process, please contact Felicity Stalley, Jess Lewy or Lisa Gleichmann of The Orchard Talent Group at EPA@orchardtalent.com.au. 
 
To apply, please submit your current CV and a cover letter via I Work for NSW - https://iworkfor.nsw.gov.au/job/chief-executive-officer-601448 
 
Probity Checks
If you are a recommended candidate following your interview and assessments, we will invite you to complete various background checks before a final decision is made on the outcome of your application. Our background checks may include, but are not limited to, Reference Checks, National Police Checks/Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check, and National Security Clearance.
 
Talent Pool
A recruitment pool may be created for ongoing and temporary opportunities of the same role or role type that may become available over the next 18 months. To be eligible for a talent pool, you must meet all required capability levels for the role. You will be notified at the end of the process if you have been successful in being placed on the talent pool.
 
Applications close Sunday 18th October 2026.


The Orchard Talent Group acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work. We pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging, for they hold the memories, traditions, culture and hopes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.