Agriculture leader naWmed in top 50

gAgriculture Victoria’s biosecurity strategy, preparedness and coordination director Dr Julie Simons has been recognised as one of Victoria’s top 50 public sector women.

Julie’s achievement acknowledges her significant contribution to policy, science, and operations within the Victorian Public Sector over the past three decades.

Most recently, Julie has been overseeing the Victorian Government’s emergency animal disease (EAD) preparedness program to rapidly boost the government’s readiness to respond to a major EAD event such as footand-mouth disease.

Agriculture Victoria executive director biosecurity Dr Katherine Clift congratulated Julie on her achievements.

“Julie is a compassionate, innovative, and impactful leader who dedicates herself to developing Victoria’s rural regions and our agriculture sector, with a focus on drought, natural disasters, and emergencies.

“Her most recent leadership in the Emergency Animal Disease space has delivered solid outcomes for Victoria’s agricultural sector – making sure we are better prepared in the face of emerging biosecurity threats.

“Julie’s passion is bringing people together across government, industry and community to tackle challenging issues and deliver positive solutions for Victoria’s agriculture sector,” Dr Clift said.

Since its inception in 2017, IPAA Victoria’s Top 50 Public Sector Women awards program has acknowledged and celebrated women leaders at all levels of government – Commonwealth, State and Local – who lead high-performing teams, ground breaking

policy and uphold values of integrity, diversity and inclusion, and transformation.

This year’s ceremony celebrated 50 women winners who comprise senior executives and leaders across many areas of the public sector.

The cohort of women leaders was selected through a rigorous judging and due diligence process.