Meet the Inspector-General

All hazards

Risks spanning across multiple hazard types and across the emergency management system.

Biosecurity

Exotic animal and plant disease outbreaks and pest incursions can have significant economic, community and environmental impacts.

Bushfire and other fires

Bushfire and other fires have potential consequences including loss of life and property, and damage to infrastructure and environment.

Climate change

Risks include more days of extreme heat, harsher fire weather, less rainfall and rising sea levels.

Communications disruption

Communications services are crucial in keeping communities safe, connected and informed before, during and after emergencies.

Cyber security and ICT systems failure

Risks relating to the confidentiality, availability, integrity of information and data and disruption of services.

Energy supply disruption

Reliable energy supplies are critical to many social and economic activities.

Flood

Major flood events have occurred in Victoria every 10 to 20 years, with much of the increasing risk created by human settlement.

Hazardous material incident

Potential risks relate to many places where Victoria’s hazardous materials are manufactured, stored, transported, used and disposed.

Heatwave

Heatwaves are considered to be the ‘silent killer’ of extreme weather events and are the leading cause of weather-related deaths in Australia.

Public health emergency

Risks may relate to the delivery of public health services, with impacts on community health and wellbeing and potential for loss of life.

Supply chain disruption

Geopolitical, environmental, economic, societal and infrastructure-related shocks can expose supply chains to wide ranging consequences.

Terrorism and extremism

Attacks carried out by individuals or non-state groups with ideological, political or religious goals can result in loss of life, severe injury and/or material damage.

Water supply disruption

Risks include collection, storage, treatment, delivery, availability and allocation of water for consumption and environmental, recreation and cultural uses.

Workforce and resourcing

Risks may relate to human resource supply and skills to support emergency management operations.

Dr Emily Phillips is Victoria’s Inspector-General for Emergency Management

As Inspector-General, Emily provides assurance to government and the community regarding the emergency management arrangements in Victoria and works to support their continuous improvement.

Emily has extensive senior executive leadership and emergency management experience across government portfolios including water, agriculture, telecommunications and local government.

Her leadership roles include Deputy Secretary and Chief Executive, Agriculture Victoria and Deputy Secretary, Water and Catchments. Most recently Emily was Deputy Secretary, Local Government, Telecommunications and Emergencies, and Deputy Secretary Customer and Regulatory services with the Department of Government Services.

Emily is an advocate for reform and ongoing improvement in Victoria’s emergency management arrangements.

She was named one of the Inaugural Top 50 Public Sector Women in 2018 by the Institute of Public Administration Australia (Victoria) and chaired the selection panel for the award from 2019 to 2022.

Emily holds a Doctor of Philosophy, a Bachelor of Arts, and is a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration.

Dr Phillips was appointed on 16 April 2024 and commenced her 5-year term on 3 June 2024.

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Assurance in Emergency Management

Dr Emily Phillips is Victoria’s Inspector-General for Emergency Management

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