Webinar - Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management Standard – IChEMS “Background, Implementation and Your Obligations”

This event is now passed and available on-demand. Please register and you will receive a dedicated link to watch the webinar

Free for all ALGA members

This informative webinar offers a unique perspective on the Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management Standard (IChEMS). Rachel Burgess, Branch Head of the Chemicals and Atmosphere Branch in the federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment, and Water (DCCEEW), will provide background context and discuss the current status of jurisdictional implementation. Following Rachel's presentation, Matthew Thornton-Dibb from Norton Rose Fulbright will delve into how the Standard will impact companies involved in the importation, use, manufacturing, and disposal of industrial chemicals.

Industrial chemicals are part of everyday life in Australia. However, if they are not managed properly, these chemicals can cause pollution.

To reduce the risk of chemical pollution, all Australian governments are working together to implement IChEMS.

The IChEMS is a national approach to managing chemical import, use and disposal. It will deliver more consistent regulation and make it easier for industry to choose less harmful chemicals.

Our Speakers

Rachel Burgess,
Branch Head Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
 

Rachel leads the Chemicals and Atmosphere Branch in the federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. The Chemicals and Atmosphere Branch provides evidence-informed advice and drives national approaches to protect the Australian environment and people from the harmful effects of chemicals, hazardous substances and pollutants.

Her Branch supports and contributes to the Australian Government’s target to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 and its commitment to transition Australia towards a safe circular economy by 2030. Her Branch puts the ‘safe’ in safe circular economy.

Before beginning her current role in 2022, Rachel was the Senior Policy Advisor to the former Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management.

She has experience in land and industrial sector greenhouse gas accounting, emissions reduction method development, and Multi-lateral Environment Agreement negotiation on climate change, and chemicals and waste. Her experience also includes design, development and implementation of domestic chemicals and waste policy, legislation, and regulatory schemes.

During her 15 year public service career she established a Taskforce that mapped electronic product supply chains to identify policy levers to improve environmental, social, and economic outcomes for end-of life management of electronics. She was the driving force behind the Recycling and Waste Reduction Act 2020 that implements the waste export ban and reformed existing product stewardship legislation.

Rachel’s earlier teams tracked Australia’s progress against greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets and designed national, company and project level estimation methods to implement Emissions Reduction Fund projects. She also led the team that delivered the world’s first approach to generate soil carbon credits using remote sensing technologies and increased financial incentives for landholders to improve soil health.

Matthew Thornton-Dibb,
Special Counsel, Norton Rose Fulbright

Matthew is a special counsel in the environment and planning team at international law firm Norton Rose Fulbright, based in Sydney. Matthew is an environmental, climate change and ESG lawyer. He has practiced in both South Africa and Australia and has significant experience in all facets of environmental law, including incident response, contamination, waste, and ESG and climate change. Matthew has a particular interest in emerging contaminants, including PFAS, and has worked closely with prominent Australian businesses to develop and implement legal strategies to deal with PFAS risk.