Mike Gooey appointed inaugural Safe Food Victoria CEO

26 June 2026

The Safe Food Victoria board has appointed Mike Gooey as its inaugural Chief Executive Officer following a competitive recruitment process.

Mr. Gooey brings over 20 years of agricultural and regional public sector experience to the position, including across food safety, regulation and economic development.

Previously working as the Executive Director - Local Government Victoria for the last five years, Mr Gooey is set to commence in the role starting on 1 July, the day that Safe Food Victoria commences operations.

Agriculture Victoria Executive Director of Animal Welfare and Agriculture Regulatory Policy Dr. Trevor Pisciotta said the appointment of Mr. Gooey will enable the new regulator to start strongly.

'Safe Food Victoria’s board has appointed Mike Gooey as its inaugural CEO and I am confident he’s the right person to get the new consolidated food safety regulator up and running,’ Dr. Pisciotta said. 'He will lead a smart, modern regulator to help keep food safe, protect communities and support strong local industries.'

Bringing Victoria’s food regulatory bodies together into one authority, Save Food Victoria was formally created with the passage of the Safe Food Victoria Act 2026.

Safe Food Victoria will report to the Minister for Agriculture and will begin operation on 1 July 2026. Food safety in Victoria is set to benefit from the consolidation of multiple regulators and simplified arrangements for food businesses.

Safe Food Victoria Chairperson Luke Wilson said Mr. Gooey’s expertise within regulatory systems make him a superb choice as inaugural CEO.

'’I look forward to working with Mike Gooey through this important establishment phase for the organisation,’ Mr. Wilson said. ‘Safe Food Victoria will build on the legacy, regulatory expertise and deep-seated knowledge from previous regulators to deliver a new, more fit for purpose regulatory system for Victoria.'

The establishment of Safe Food Victoria will protect public health and create a simpler and more streamlined regulatory system. This reform will align Victoria with most internationally comparable countries as well as with Queensland and New South Wales, in having a consolidated food safety regulator.

A second stage of reforms will be undertaken to further modernise and streamline food safety laws, improve the tools and responsibilities to manage food safety and provide a stronger and more flexible food safety system that mitigates food safety risks, while also reducing regulatory burden and supporting innovation and investment in Victoria’s agriculture and food sectors.

The consolidation of regulators is part of Victoria’s Economic Growth Statement. Effective agricultural regulation protects communities, food safety, local jobs and makes it simpler to do business in Victoria.

For more information, visit our Safe Food Victoria page.

Media contact: media@deeca.vic.gov.au