More than 120 regulatory and policy leaders from across Victoria came together in August 2026 at the Department of Treasury and Finance’s (DTF) second Victorian Regulatory Reform Conference.
The conference theme was ‘Strengthening the System’ and regulators and policy leaders connected, shared practical experiences and considered how Victoria’s regulatory system can respond to emerging challenges.
Summary of the day
Effective regulation increasingly requires organisations to work across traditional boundaries. Throughout the day, participants explored how regulators can better understand where their roles intersect and collaborate across the system. Sessions examined emerging harms, the opportunities and challenges presented by AI, information sharing, and the role of organisational culture and capability in supporting regulatory effectiveness.
Discussions highlighted the value of bringing Victoria’s regulatory community together. While regulators work across different sectors and statutory frameworks, many face similar challenges and benefit from sharing experiences, approaches and lessons learned.
Highlight: Panel discussion on Strengthening the System
At this session, speakers highlighted the importance of understanding a regulator’s own regulatory remit and how it intersects with the broader system. Speakers highlighted the strong relationships between policy teams and regulators that exist in Victoria, with trust helping teams work together for the benefit of the Victorian community. The session also identified the importance of Victoria anticipating and being prepared for emerging harms, especially those that span multiple regulators, and how we can ensure regulatory systems are flexible enough to respond. This future-focussed session set the tone for the conference and supported valuable discussion on how leaders can continue to deliver a strong regulatory system for Victorian businesses and community.
2026 Regulatory Reform Conference - Panel Discussion
Panellists: Chris Archer, Executive Director Regulation (DTF), Nicole Rich Executive Director Regulatory Services and Director of Consumer Affairs Victoria and Rebecca Billings Chair of the National Regulators Community of Practice (NRCoP).
The conference forms part of DTF’s broader work to support regulatory reform and strengthen connections and capability across Victoria’s regulatory system.
Staff can learn more about Victoria’s regulatory reform work and access practical resources through the Regulatory Reform Newsletter - subscribe today!
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