Erin Pereira

This current role encompasses responsibilities for strategic advice, governance design, business resilience, audits, compliance, and continuous improvement. It involves collaborating with internal and external stakeholders, with all interactions helping to enhance a systems thinking approach and build my political acumen and negotiation skills. I approach discussions and negotiations from an informed and credible position, shaping / reshaping others positions with a fair and considered approach, sound arguments and strategic propositions.

Generating and managing innovative, multifaceted operational and strategic projects with drive and focus, with project management that fosters shared vision, effectively delegates, maps progress, anticipates and addresses issues to effectively facilitate project outcomes. A major current project is reforming the SESG Governance Model post executive restructure and for a new operating model.

Provision of high-level advice and support to the General Manager and all areas of SESG Operations. Key to the role was, the establishment of a Communications Strategy to enable SESG members conducting Operations understand the strategic thinking of the Executive Leadership Team, as well as the political operating environment.

This included collaboratively created and managed the SESG Business Plan based on a goal of continuous improvement and an in-depth knowledge of system needs.

Projects for this role were undertaken for both the GM SESG and the Assistant Commissioner Security & Intelligence Division, and included - Drug Interdiction Enhancement Program, Conducted Energy Weapons (TASER) Discussion Paper, Dried Leaf Substance Removal Project and the Australian & New Zealand Critical Incidents Forum, Business Continuity Plan.

Post a systematic enquiry of the Electronic Monitoring Centre (EMC) - designed to identify ways to improve performance and results through a fit for purpose structure and associated processes - I was seconded to EMS to work through the recommendations and build a communications and action plan. This was an exciting strategic planning project designed to ensure that actions were enacts in a strategically focused manner.

Through working in partnership with the EMC Team and linking this to the Enquiry insights, I was able to provide advice and make effective decisions.

Significant contract work in relation to the Buddi Monitoring Contract ($3M), covering contractual obligations such as abatements. Involved considerable analysis of the Contract and Specifications to ensure contractor compliance and mitigate operational risks. This included attention to and consideration of the Corrections Victoria political, operational and strategic position, and involved high levels of negotiation which were mindful of the value of the relationship.

The successful elimination of drug trafficking into prisons requires an effective approach to the myriad of challenges involved in solving a complex organisational problem. I therefore understood that strong leadership was required to build a culture keen to collaborate on the problem. This involved gathering a group of subject matter experts to build a knowledge bank to guide approaches.

For my part, I employed persistence in the analysis of issues, synthesising and developing information and ideas to identify and evaluate emerging issues, drug activity patterns and trends, and interdiction opportunities.

Operational approaches were developed from this information with recommendations shared and workshopped across Prison Intelligence Units and the Executive prior to implementation. An important aspect of this work was challenging existing thinking to enable the establishment of innovative practices in line with the Corrections Victoria Alcohol and Drug Strategy.

The interdiction work was successful, with prisons adopting Drug Interdiction Strategies achieving a reduction in drug introductions, drug use and associated issues, as well as empowering and motivating staff. Due to Victoria being viewed as a leader in this work, Queensland Corrective Services and the Western Australian Department of Corrective Services sought interdiction advice. Victoria Police also requested the Interdiction Project Implementation Plan to utilise as a working document.

An important part of this role was the professional compilation of complex information in report, brief and correspondence format, to secure the provision of authoritative, statistical and strategic advice with contextual information.

Current organisation context utilised to review the content of reports to ensure the continued inclusion of meaningful information to a range of critical internal and external stakeholders. This included the Drugs in Victorian Prisons Report, SESG and SID Reports, and legal, Parliamentary and media requests.

This role required exceptional time management and priority setting in a high-paced environment of conflicting and competing demands. As well as providing confidential, effective and efficient support to the Deputy Commissioner. It also provided professional administrative support to the Prison General Manager group.

There was also responsibility for a range of tasks, such as drafting complex correspondence - including managing the Prisoner Correspondence Portfolio - responding to FOI requests, Ministerial requests, Ombudsman Victoria inquiries, as well as preparing and responding to briefing papers.

Broad consultation and liaison was required to gather accurate information and views to enable responsible responses.