Announcing our new Interim Regulator

We’re pleased to welcome Adam Fennessy PSM as Interim Regulator of the newly established Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority (VECRA).

Adam has over 25 years of public sector experience at state and federal levels. His former roles have included:

• Secretary of the Victorian Department of Environment and Primary Industries
• Secretary of the Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning
• Secretary of the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

He also served as the Victorian Public Service Commissioner between 2020 and 2022.

In 2018, Adam was awarded a public sector medal in recognition of his outstanding public service to government departments in Victoria. In his new role as Interim Regulator at VECRA, Adam is looking forward to helping establish the new statutory authority to help keep children safe, and act when services aren’t compliant.

'Quality early childhood education gives children the very best start in life. As Interim Regulator of VECRA, my priority is to support a strong, responsive regulatory system that puts children’s safety, development and wellbeing at the centre of everything we do.’

'We want families to have the confidence that their child is safe and receiving the highest-quality education and care in services across Victoria. To achieve this, we won’t hesitate to take strong action against services that put children’s safety at risk.’ Adam said.

Working alongside VECRA Chief Executive Officer Helen Quiney, Adam will support the organisation’s initial launch phase while VECRA undertakes recruitment for its first inaugural Regulator in mid-2026.

Please join us in welcoming Adam to VECRA.