Message from the CEO

Broadly speaking, stewardship refers to the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care. This certainly describes our work in protecting the environment, but it also runs a lot deeper than that. For us, stewardship is at the very heart of what we do. It’s where it all starts. As a steward of the environment, we hold the responsibility for caring for, preserving, and protecting our unique ecosystem for future generations. We do this by focusing on the ultimate outcomes and deeply understanding the perspectives and viewpoints of our stakeholders, while adopting a humble and collaborative approach to how we resolve environmental challenges.  
  
Stewardship is also closely connected to Aboriginal concepts of caring for Country. As we strive to better integrate these ancient perspectives into our work, or our ability to act as an effective steward will continue to expand. 
  
Stewardship aspiration underpins how we operate, both broadly as a government organisation and also on a day-to-day basis as individuals. It focuses our energy on finding the best solutions for both the environment and wider community. I look forward to sharing examples of our approach to stewardship and continuing to foster the strong relationships we need to protect our environment.  
  
I’m excited about 2024 and continuing to work with you all to help solve our state’s environmental challenges together. 
  
Finally, it seems I started something in the last EPA Connect when I shared two of my own favourite spots to visit in NSW. Some staff members must have been thinking about this over the break and are now beginning to share their own stories of places they love. Storytelling about nature is a powerful tool in communication and can help us demonstrate the outcomes our stewardship approach can support. I love seeing people share examples of their favourite natural spots. 

Tony Chappel
NSW EPA Chief Executive Officer