Christine Nixon
AO, APM and Former Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police
In 2001, Christine became the first female Police Commissioner in Australia and was Victoria’s 19th Chief Commissioner. She was responsible for 14,000 staff, operated across over 500 locations and oversaw an annual budget of $1.7 billion. Her legacy as the Chief Commissioner was a decrease in Victoria’s crime rate and a proactive response against corruption among senior police officials.
With over 30 years of service in the Police Force and before becoming the Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police, Christine had an extensive career in the New South Wales Police Force. From 1972, she served with the NSW Police Force and attained the rank of Assistant Commissioner in 1994.
From February 2009 to September 2010, she served as Chair of the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority. During this time, Christine oversaw and coordinated the most extensive recovery and rebuilding program that Victoria has ever seen. Under her leadership, the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority worked with communities, businesses, charities, and other government departments to help people and communities recover and rebuild.
Christine then took on a voluntary role as the Victorian Government’s Advisor on Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery from September 2010 to July 2011. To this day, she continues to support affected communities and remains a member of the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund panel.
Christine has received numerous awards for her many contributions to the community, including an Australian Police Medal in 1997, runner up of the 1997 Telstra Business Woman of The Year and an Australian Government Centenary Medal 2001. She was also the 2010 Victorian Australian of The Year Finalist.
In 2021, Christine was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for her services.
Having conducted numerous interviews on radio and television and spoken extensively on major social and justice issues, Christine is well-qualified to talk about a wide variety of topics. A highly skilled and experienced communicator, she has presented to numerous groups, including Leadership Victoria, the Hong Kong Government, European Union, New Zealand and Pacific Island nations, major banking institutions, retailers, not for profit organisations, and major consulting organisations.
From a career spanning over 30 years, she has extensive experience in policing, organisational reform, risk management and human resource management. Christine is a renowned speaker and advocate for women, disadvantaged youth, and multicultural communities. Her keynote themes include leadership, teamwork, resilience, women in business, and succeeding in a man’s world.
Nowadays, Christine is a Fellow of the Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG), the Australian Institute of Police Management, the Australian Institute of Management and the Institute of Public Administration Australia. She continues to contribute to the community, sharing her experiences and lessons learnt from a decades-long career. Christine is also Deputy Chancellor of Monash University, Chair of Good Shepherd Microfinance and Monash College.