Message from the Acting CEO

Let’s Stop it and Swap it! Light weight plastic bags are now banned in NSW and more bans of single use, problematic plastics like knives, forks, plates and bowls, as well as polystyrene cups and food containers, will start on 1 November this year. Read more about the ban below or click on our banner for details.

We have been talking to you recently about our commitment to continually improve our customer service and connection with stakeholders. This includes listening more and providing you with more opportunities for feedback. I hope you have joined us for one of our Roadshows this year or last year, a webinar, or sent us your thoughts on one of our formal consultations.

To fulfil that commitment to better engaging and connecting with stakeholders this year, our Roadshows have taken us to nine locations around the state where we met with close to 500 council and licensed industry staff.

We’ve had really important face to face conversations about our role as the environmental regulator and listened to how business, industry and councils are managing, and where they need guidance or clarity.

The Roadshows have been very well received with more than 80 per cent of attendees saying they’d recommend the forum to others. At our roundtables we had great discussions which included conversations about transitioning to a circular economy, incident management, planning, radiation and pesticides.  

We heard that councils and licensees are looking for more capability building, training and support from the EPA, and this is something we’ll continue to explore.  

We’ve also asked for your feedback through consultations on key regulation reviews and policies, such as the Protection of the Environment General Regulation, the Clean Air Regulation, Contaminated Lands Regulation and the Dangerous Goods Regulation. In addition we consulted on our Resource Recovery Framework. All the feedback we receive is carefully reviewed and your submissions help us to ensure your views have been carefully considered. Reporting back to you on the outcomes of these reviews and consultations is also important, and we endeavour to let you know once a review is complete. You can find out more and have your say to inform regulations, policies and guidelines via our Have Your Say portal.

I’m Carmen Dwyer and I’ve stepped out of my usual role as Executive Director Regulatory Operations Regional to be the Acting CEO in June and July.

I am pleased to let you know about the appointment of our new CEO, Tony Chappel, who will commence in the role on 1 August. Tony brings experience in both the public and private sectors in energy, industry and the environment, and we are looking forward to him joining us and leading the team. He has already met with our Executive as he starts to prepare to join the EPA. You can read more about Tony’s background below. 

A big thank you to Jacqueleine Moore for her excellent leadership as EPA Acting CEO for the first six months of this year as she returns to her leadership role as Executive Director Legal and Corporate after a nice break. 

Carmen Dwyer
Acting Chief Executive Officer

New EPA CEO to start in August

Tony Chappel has been appointed as the EPA’s new Chief Executive Officer.

The Minister for Environment announced in May that Tony would be joining the EPA. Commencing in the role on 1 August Tony brings experience from both the public and private sectors.

He joins the EPA after three years as Executive General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Legal Risk and Governance and Chief External Affairs Officer at the Australian Energy Market Operator. His role there includes responsibility for regulatory strategy and policy as well as strategic policy development across state and federal governments and market bodies. 

Tony has a significant interest in the environment and holds a master’s degree in Environmental Change and Management from the University of Oxford and a degree in Environmental Technology from Imperial College, London. 

Tony will work closely with the Minister, Board and EPA Executive to deliver the EPA’s ambitious agenda and uphold its position as a strong and respected regulator. 

The Minister for Environment announced in May that Tony would be joining the EPA. Commencing in the role on 1 August Tony brings experience from both the public and private sectors.

The EPA CEO has a significant role in building the trust and respect of all stakeholders, across government, industry and in the community and Tony’s experience will help us continue the good work we have already achieved in this area.