The world-renowned building professional who led the review of high-rise regulation following the Grenfell Tower tragedy in London will be part of an expert panel that leads a comprehensive review of Victoria’s building system.

Decorated British engineer Dame Judith Hackitt will be part of the six-person panel that will provide recommendations to Government on a more efficient, responsive and contemporary Building Act.

Dame Judith headed an independent British Government review into the regulatory system for high rise buildings in the wake of the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire in which 72 people lost their lives.

The panel will be chaired by Victoria’s Better Regulation and Red Tape Commissioner Anna Cronin who has more than 25 years’ experience in policy development.

The panel will convene next year and includes:

• Anna Cronin — Chair and Commissioner for Better Regulation and Red Tape Commissioner
• Dame Judith Hackitt – Chair of the UK Independent Review of Building regulations and Fire Safety and former Chair of the UK Health and Safety Executive
• Lauren Solomon – CEO of the Consumer Policy Research Centre
• Melanie Fasham – Past President of the Master Builders Association of Victoria and member of the Building Regulations Advisory Committee
• Dr Gerry Ayers – Health and Safety Manager of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (Construction and General Division – Victorian/Tasmanian Branch)
• Professor Ian Bailey AM SC – Founding Chair of the Society of Construction Law Australia and professorial fellow at the Melbourne Law School

The Panel’s first task will be to establish overarching principles to guide the building system review and identify key themes to be investigated and addressed throughout the reform process.

The review will also address the recommendations of the Victorian Cladding Taskforce’s July 2019 Report and the Building Confident report by Professor Peter Shergold AC and Ms Bronwyn Weir.