Advisory panel

The OBRM Advisory Panel brings together executive representatives from Victorian Government departments and agencies and independent experts to support the work of OBRM.

OBRM is supported by an expert Advisory Panel that comprises executive representatives from Victorian government departments and agencies with fuel and land management responsibilities as well as four independent knowledge experts with technical expertise in bushfire risk modelling and management, fire ecology, community behaviour change and land use planning.

The panel provides advice to the DEECA Secretary on agreed priority focus areas to assist us in leading and coordinating the implementation of evidence-based bushfire risk management across all public and private land in Victoria, including fuel management, alongside a wider suite of measures to reduce bushfire risk to communities and the things they care about most.

The panel is appointed by the Minister for Environment, with OBRM providing secretariat support. The panel meets quarterly or as required. New members were appointed to the panel in July 2023, following inaugural appointments in 2021.

Panel Members

RoleMember
ChairpersonGary Morgan AM AFSM
Chief Fire Officer - DEECAChris Hardman
Deputy Chief Fire Officer - CFAAlen Slijepcevic
Acting Deputy Commissioner – FRVTony O'Day
Lead Director, Emergency Coordination Resilience and Local Government Emergencies– DGSDan Harper
Executive Director, Network Change – DTPJimmy O'Connell
Bushfire risk modelling and management expertDr Trent Penman
Fire ecology expertAssociate Professor Lauren Bennett
Community behaviour change expertDr Katharine Haynes
Land use planning expertMargaret Baird
Emergency Management Commissioner – EMV (ex officio member) Rick Nugent
Secretary – DEECA (standing observer)John Bradley
Director, OBRM (standing observer)Courtney Bertram

*The Emergency Management Commissioner is a standing member of the Advisory Panel, representing Emergency Management Victoria and ensuring links to Victoria’s integrated emergency management arrangements and associated preparedness and assurance activities.

OBRM is working with the Traditional Owner Corporation Caucus to seek nominations for up to two Traditional Owner representatives to the panel, in line with the panel’s Terms of Reference.

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