The Victorian Government has appointed Michelle McLean Chief Commissioner at the Victorian Building Authority.

Ms McLean is the first woman Chief Commissioner to lead the Authority and is an experienced Board Director and an expert in finance, governance and people management.

She is Deputy Chair of the Country Fire Authority and Chair of its Finance, Audit and Risk Committee, and currently serves as a non-executive Director on the boards of East Gippsland Water and FrontierSI.

From 1995 to 2018, Ms McLean was an executive and managing partner of Cornwall Stodart Lawyers, where she held several roles, including Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer.

Ms McLean is a life member of the Australian Legal Practice Management Association, where she served as national president from 2002 to 2005.

She also served on the executive council of the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and as a Board member of the Mercy Health Foundation.

Planning Minister Richard Wynne thanked interim Chief Commissioner Justin Madden AM for his leadership of the VBA following the retirement of former Chief Commissioner Dr Owen Donald in January.

The VBA regulates the building and construction industry to keep Victorians safe. Its functions include registering and licensing building practitioners and plumbers, monitoring and enforcing building and plumbing standards, and performing inspections and audits of building and plumbing work across Victoria.