Who we are

The Environment, Energy and Science (EES) Group vision is a thriving, sustainable and resilient NSW.

The EES Group is part of the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment.

We are catalysts for delivering improved environmental, economic and social outcomes and will do this by focusing on six key goals:

  1. Delivering a coordinated approach to energy, climate change and sustainability
  2. Supporting resilient ecosystems and biodiversity for improved conservation outcomes
  3. Delivering best practice regulation, incident management, and mine safety for protecting environmental and human health
  4. Partnering with our customers, communities and stakeholders
  5. Providing rigorous, transparent and evidence-based advice
  6. Ensuring our workplace is happy, safe and productive.

The Coordinator-General is Dr Paul Grimes.

For more information about the Department, visit Planning, Industry and Environment.

What do we do?

The EES Group brings together a range of functions including national park management, biodiversity and conservation, climate change, sustainability, resilience and adaptation, renewable energy and energy security, waste management and resource recovery, and environment protection and mine safety regulation. The work of the Group is supported by centres of excellence in: science; policy and strategy; and data analytics and insights.

Our structure

The EES Group includes the majority of the former Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH), the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA), the Energy team from the former Energy, Water and Portfolio Strategy Division in Department of Planning and Environment. The Heritage functions of OEH have moved to the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

We also provide oversight of the Biodiversity Conservation Trust, Taronga Conservation Society and the Lord Howe Island Board.

Directorates and agencies

The Group achieves results through its directorates and agencies:

  • Energy, Climate Change & Sustainability – Deputy Secretary, James Hay
  • National Parks & Wildlife Service – Deputy Secretary, Dr Atticus Fleming
  • Biodiversity & Conservation – Executive Director, Sharon Molloy
  • NSW Environment Protection Authority  - Chief Executive Officer, Richard Bean (interim)
  • Policy, Strategy & Science – acting Deputy Secretary, Dr Kate Wilson
  • Office of the Coordinator-General – Executive Director, Brendan Bruce

For more information about our structure, see the EES Group Senior Executive Structure chart (PDF 107KB).