Our Vision: An environmentally sustainable ACT, region and Australia.
Our Mission: To act as an independent voice for the environment and sustainability in the ACT, and promote community engagement.
Our Values: Transparency, integrity, independence, research, rigour, inclusion.
The Commissioner is an independent statutory position established by the Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment Act 1993. The Commissioner undertakes the following functions and activities:
- Investigating complaints about the management of the environment by the Territory or a territory authority; and issues relating to ecologically sustainable development in the ACT;
- Conduct investigations as directed by the Minister;
- Conduct on the Commissioner’s own initiative, investigations into actions of an agency where those actions would have a substantial impact on the environment of the ACT; and
- Deliver state of the environment reports (SoER).
State of the environment reporting has been one of the main roles of the Commissioner. SoERs have been prepared every four years since 1993.
Read our strategic plan.
The Commissioner must take into account the objects of the Act. These are to:
- ensure regular and consistent reporting on matters relating to the condition and management of the environment in the Territory; and
- ensure regular reporting on progress towards ecologically sustainable development by the Territory and Territory authorities; and
- encourage decision making that facilitates ecologically sustainable development; and
- enhance knowledge and understanding of issues relating to ecologically sustainable development and the environment; and
- encourage sound environmental practices and procedures to be adopted by the Territory and Territory authorities as a basis for ecologically sustainable development.
Dr Ash Bunce
Dr Bunce was appointed as the ACT Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment on 1 May 2026.
Dr Ash Bunce is a regulatory expert focussed on building capability and professionalism across the regulatory community to support governments solve a range of contemporary, complex and challenging issues in order to deliver better citizen outcomes. He has over 20 years’ experience as a senior executive in Commonwealth, State and Territory governments championing the transformation of key industries and leading complex regulatory reform across the biosecurity, animal welfare, agriculture and environment sectors.
His career began in academia where he inspired the next generation of conservation scientists and led world class research developing innovative solutions for the conservation and management of marine biodiversity both locally and globally (with over 50 research publications). Ash continues to hold an adjunct appointment with the Australian National University.
Ash has a PhD in zoology from the University of Melbourne. He also holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) and Executive Masters of Public Administration. A Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, he currently holds board and committee roles with Vets Beyond Borders, The Pinnacle Foundation and BirdLife Australia.
Previous Commissioners
- Dr Maxine Cooper
- Dr Sophie Lewis
- Professor Kate Auty
- Ms Ann Lyons Wright
- Mr Robert Neil
- Dr Maxine Cooper
- Mr Darro Stinson
- Dr Rosemary Purdie
- Dr Joe Baker AO OBE
Our Staff
Alongside the Commissioner, there is a small team of professional and dedicated staff employed by the City and Environment Directorate.
Sean Grimes
Director (Environmental Assessments and Reporting)
Sean brings a wealth of experience in public environmental reporting and assessments. He has produced State of the Environment reports for the ACT, Victoria, NSW and south-east England. Sean was also responsible for producing Victoria’s 2008 State of the Forests report.
Sean has a background in aquatic ecology, with many years’ experience researching and monitoring the rivers and wetlands of the ACT and NSW. He has an Honours degree in Applied Science.
Miranda Gardner
Director (Complaints and Investigations)
Miranda is interested in anything and everything to do with the natural world. She has worked in the area of environmental sustainability in the ACT for the past eleven years, and before that in the UK. Her experience includes the government, private and not-for-profit sectors and has covered catchment and natural resource management, sustainable farming, water policy, volunteer and citizen scientist support, and most recently bushfire recovery.
Miranda believes that the whole community has a role to play in protecting the environment, having had her first experience of volunteering at a UK nature reserve at the age of sixteen. As well as many hours spent removing weeds, building trails and managing woodlands, for sixteen years she has also volunteered behind the scenes helping to run the organisations that support on-ground volunteers.
Emma White
Assistant Director (Investigations)
Emma has come to OCSE after many years in the Australian Public Service. She was drawn to environmental policy following the 2019-20 bushfires, and has worked and volunteered with the Australian Conservation Council for a number of years with a focus on environmental investigations and land clearing.
Emma loves learning about biodiversity, climate change, and conservation, which is a big change from her previous study in evolutionary biology and forensic archaeology. She is excited to be part of a team that aligns her skills with her personal passion for protecting the environment.
Dr Helena Clayton
Assistant Director
Helena grew up in and around Canberra, fostering a strong connection to the natural environment and community in the ACT. She holds a PhD in environmental economics and brings extensive experience evaluating the economic and social dimensions of environmental challenges, including in agriculture, landscape conservation, and river system health.
Her work has been deeply interdisciplinary, shaped by collaborations with ecologists, hydrologists, and social scientists in both Australian and international contexts. Helena’s research has focused on how economic factors, human values, and motivations influence decisions that matter for the natural environment, and how policy can support sustainable behaviour change.
Megan Reichstein
Office Manager
Megan Reichstein serves as the OCSE Office Manager. She provides an invaluable contribution to the office.
Megan has worked for the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate in a range of roles. She has also worked in the Commonwealth and has had extensive experience in the private sector.