Our leadership

Chief Executive Officer

EPA’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is Lee Miezis. Reporting to the Governing Board, Lee leads EPA and is responsible for its day-to-day management and operational performance. In association with the Board, Lee also sets the organisation’s strategic direction.

Lee was appointed to the role of CEO in May 2021 following three months as interim CEO. Before joining EPA, Lee was the inaugural CEO of Bushfire Recovery Victoria. Before that, he spent 15 years with the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, most recently as the Deputy Secretary of the Forest, Fire and Regions Group. Lee holds a Bachelor of Forest Science and a Master of Business Administration and is a Victorian Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia.

Strategy Division

Suzy Neilan is Executive Director of the Strategy Division and joined EPA in August 2021. Suzy was previously Executive Director, Service Delivery with the Victorian Building Authority where she oversaw Licensing & Registration, Customer Service and Quality. During her time at VBA she led the operationalisation of new legislation including the Plumbing Regulations 2018 and Professional Engineers Registration Act 2019 and worked with DELWP on various amendments to the Building Act 2018 such as Trades Registration (deferred until 2022) and the Building Amendment (Cladding Rectification) Act 2019. Before joining the Victorian Public Sector in 2018 Suzy worked largely in Business Process Outsourcing, most notably as General Manager of Infringement Management Enforcement Services at Tenix Solutions which managed the outsourced systems and services of Civic Compliance Victoria for Department Justice & Regulation.

The Strategy Division defines and drives the regulatory direction, strategic priorities, and capability of EPA, and leads the organisation through changes in the regulatory and policy landscape. It also provides advice and puts in place regulatory instruments and guidance material to support business, community and government to comply with environmental laws.

Operations Division

Carmel Flynn is the Acting Executive Director of our Operations Division. Joining EPA in October 2022, she brings diverse and senior experience having previously worked in corporate and emergency management executive positions in the Victorian Public Service for more than 10 years, in international humanitarian leadership roles, and in professional services. Carmel was a commissioned officer in the Royal Australian Air Force for 10 years and a veteran of active service. She holds professional qualifications of a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Commerce.

The Operations Division leads EPA’s frontline regulatory response to detect, prevent and investigate harm to the environment and human health from pollution and waste. The division does this by engagement and education; inspections and monitoring; surveillance and investigations; and enforcing duty holders to comply with the law.

Several branches manage the division’s work: Metropolitan Melbourne Area Branch; Regional Victoria Area Branch; Regulatory Programs Branch, Environmental Crime Branch and Regulatory Services Branch.

Core functions:

compliance and enforcement
education and engagement
investigations
high risk site clean-up
compliance programs
field specialists
waste transport
infringement management
financial assurance and levies
preventative programs
incident coordination.

Science Division

Professor Mark Patrick Taylor is Victoria's Chief Environmental Scientist, and leads our Science Division. Professor Taylor joined EPA in 2021. Before joining EPA, Mark was Professor of Environmental Science and Human Health, specialising in environmental contamination at Macquarie University. His achievements include his advocacy regarding the lowering of the National Health and Medical Research Council’s national blood lead intervention level and his support of thousands of Australians in understanding and addressing trace metal exposure risks in their homes and gardens via his citizen science programs.

The Science Division is a critical enabler of regulatory excellence at EPA, delivering innovative and targeted scientific advice to support strategy and policy development, and strategic and operational decision making about how EPA prevents and regulates environmental and human health harm. The division comprises both the Environmental Sciences Branch and the Environmental Public Health Branch.

Core functions:

scientific advice and recommendations
air and water quality monitoring
citizen science
science partnerships
contaminated land notifications.

Corporate Services Division

Abhijit Gupta is the Acting Executive Director for our Corporate Services Division. Abhijit has extensive experience in information technology, program management, and delivery of business transformation programs. Prior to joining EPA, Abhijit held senior technology leadership roles including Head of Technology, General Manager, and Technology Director within the Financial Services and Energy industries. Abhijit holds professional qualifications of a Master of Business Administration, Master of Computer Applications, and Bachelor of Arts (Hons). He is a Senior Member of the Australian Computer Society, Fellow of the Institute of Managers and Leaders, and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

The Corporate Services Division defines and drives the corporate, people, finance and information technology priorities for EPA, and importantly plays a key role in enabling high performance in the delivery of regulatory functions. The division partners across the organisation to understand and meet operational requirements, supporting and enabling EPA’s people to be at their best in preventing harm to Victorian communities and the environment from pollution and waste.

Several branches and units manage the division’s work: Business Strategy and Operations Branch; People and Culture Branch; Information Technology Branch; and the Board Secretariat Unit.

Core functions:

health, safety and wellbeing
recruitment and talent management
employee relations
payroll
culture, diversity and inclusion programs
finance and budget
procurement and contact management
enterprise strategy, planning and performance reporting
enterprise risk
facilities and fleet
IT strategy and support
Governing Board Secretariat.

Quality Branch

Matt D'Abbs is our Chief Quality Officer. Matt joined EPA in 2018 as Director Regulatory Approach and Capability. Before this, he worked at Transport Safety Victoria as Director Strategy, Policy and Corporate Services and General Counsel, Director Policy and Legal and previously as Senior Policy and Legal Adviser for the Department of Transport. Before entering the public service, he spent 15 years in offshore commercial fishing and maritime tourism.

The Quality Branch is responsible for driving and enabling the quality of regulatory and enterprise decision making and operations through an independent quality and assurance function that works across the EPA.

Core functions:

regulatory assurance
regulatory review
environmental audit program
internal and external audit
integrity.

Legal Branch

The Legal Branch is headed by General Counsel Greg Elms. Greg started in the role of General Counsel at EPA in 2019. Before joining EPA, Greg spent 16 years at Victoria Police in general duties, criminal investigations, as a prosecutor and discipline adviser. Following that, he worked for eight years at the Victorian Government Solicitor’s Office providing specialist advice and advocacy to a broad range of government regulatory clients both directly and as a team leader. He then returned to Victoria Police for two years in the role of Principal Legal Adviser.

The Legal Branch is EPA’s legal centre of expertise, responsible for defining and overseeing legal policies and processes, providing legal advice and support on regulation and enforcement matters, and for managing EPA’s legal obligations, including privacy and freedom of information.

Core functions:

legal support and advice
prosecutions
judicial review and VCAT applications
freedom of information and privacy.

Public Affairs Branch

Jo Missen is the Acting Director of the Public Affairs Branch. Jo joined the EPA in 2012, and has held many roles including heading up the Regulatory Enablement Branch to build capability in EPA’s regulatory decision makers, as well as industry to assess and manage risks. Jo has over 28 years experience, both as an environmental regulator and consultant, working with industry, community, and government to influence and support timely and risk-based decision-making.

The Public Affairs Branch is responsible for ensuring that effective communications, engagement with communities, government and industry are a critical component of EPA’s regulatory approach. The branch promotes understanding and compliance with the environment protection laws and increases awareness of the role of EPA as Victoria’s environmental regulator.

Core functions: