Rick Nugent APM is Victoria's Emergency Management Commissioner.
The Emergency Management Commissioner has responsibility for coordination before, during and after major emergencies, including the management of consequences of an emergency.
Rick commenced in the role of Emergency Management Commissioner in September 2023. He is a highly skilled emergency management leader with a distinguished 36-year career with Victoria Police, including serving as Deputy Commissioner, Regional Operations.
Rick has led police operations as State Police Commander for some of Victoria’s major emergencies, including the 2022 October floods, the COVID pandemic response and has played key leadership roles in the response to the 2019-20 Victorian bushfires and other significant emergencies.
Rick’s leadership is underpinned by his ability to connect with those across the sector to understand their challenges, focusing on agencies, volunteers and the critical role they play in keeping the community safe.
Rick is a mental health and wellbeing advocate, and a Police Legacy and Lifeblood ambassador. He is a Director on the Board of St John Ambulance Victoria.
The department acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the land and acknowledges and pays respect to their Elders, past and present.