The Victorian Government has appointed senior public servant Dr Emily Phillips as the new Inspector-General for Emergency Management (IGEM).

The IGEM is a statutory role that identifies what is working well and what improvements can be made in the way the state manages emergencies including natural events, cyber attacks, water supply contamination or war.

Dr Phillips has previously served as Deputy Secretary and Chief Executive Officer across key emergency management responsibilities including water, agriculture, telecommunications and local government. 

Her work has included leading Agriculture Victoria as the control agency for biosecurity emergencies. 

Dr Phillips has a background in agriculture, water and natural resource management and has experience engaging with rural and regional Victorian communities. she also served as Chairperson of the Top 50 Public Sector Women Victoria and is a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration.

Dr Phillips succeeds Tony Pearce who was appointed as the inaugural IGEM in 2014, overseeing incidents including the 2019-20 Victorian bushfires and the remediation of Fiskville training college. 

She begins her five-year term as the IGEM on June 3, taking over from interim Inspector General Sam Redlich, who returns to Dr Phillips’ team. 

Emergency Services minister Jaclyn Symes congratulated Dr Phillips on her appointment. 

“I congratulate Dr Phillips on her appointment as the new IGEM. “Her experience in government, emergency management and agriculture will be a valuable asset to this important role,” she said in a statement.