Ministerial statement: CEO Tony Chappel departs NSW EPA

Ministerial

I wish to thank Tony Chappel for his service to the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) over the past four years.

Under his leadership, the EPA has prioritised community and industry engagement to protect the environment and the health of the people of NSW.

Tony’s leadership has seen the EPA work closely with the Government to deliver:

  • landmark, tougher regulatory laws to prevent environmental harm and hold those doing the wrong thing to account,

  • the best product stewardship laws in the country, with nation-leading battery stewardship to reduce deadly battery fires,

  • a regulatory framework for environmental licence holders to get to net zero emissions by 2050, including the guide for large emitters, and

  • progress towards a circular economy, including action to increase recycling, reduce plastic pollution, expand the Return and Earn scheme and divert valuable resources from landfill. 

Tony has looked for viable and practical solutions to some of our most challenging issues: chemicals like PFAS, asbestos and the pressure on landfill, while regulating industries without fear or favour.

He has rebuilt the specialist capability of the EPA, respected and worked closely with Aboriginal people and groups, and restructured the organisation to be fit for purpose for the challenges ahead.

I wish him well in his new role at the Clean Energy Regulator.

Nancy Chang, Executive Director Housing and Planning at The Cabinet Office will be appointed as Interim CEO. A formal Board recruitment process for the EPA’s next Chief Executive Officer will commence shortly.