As the senior executive responsible for driving the work of the GBV Regulator, Michele brings deep expertise and a long-standing commitment to gender equality and community safety.
Michele is a highly experienced public sector executive with substantial leadership roles across gender equality, emergency management and national security. This breadth of experience positions her strongly to guide the GBV Regulator through its foundational years and deliver meaningful change.
Her career spans the Victorian and Commonwealth public sectors and the UK Civil Service, giving her a deep understanding of policy development, program delivery and public administration, experience that strongly positions her for this role.
"Stepping into this leadership role felt like a natural next step. I've always been driven by a commitment to strengthening communities, advancing gender equality and improving people's safety and wellbeing," said Michele.
"Over my career, that has taken me from preventing and responding to violent extremism, to emergency management and leading statewide reforms to prevent gender- based violence."
The Gender-based Violence Regulator was established in January 2026 in response to failures in universities to adequately prevent and respond to sexual violence towards students and staff.
As the body enforcing the National Higher Education Code, the GBV Regulator holds higher education providers accountable for the safety of students and staff and drives cultural change across the sector. The Code also strengthens the work of the National Student Ombudsman, who supports students and providers to resolve complaints.
"Addressing gender-based violence matters deeply to me because, at its core, it's about people's right to feel safe, respected and able to fully participate in their communities," Michele said.
"For me, this work is about making sure that everyone, whether they're studying, working, or going about their everyday lives, can do so without fear. I truly believe everyone deserves to live free from violence."
Watch Michele Clark's video to hear more.
