Who we are
Michael Phelan APM
GCG Consortium · Member record
Australia
Tab 01 · Profile
Profile
Michael Phelan APM is the former Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and a former Deputy Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police, after more than 40 years in law enforcement. An Adjunct Professor at the University of Canberra, he holds an MBA and specialises in national security and organised crime.
Michael's Australian Federal Police career ran from Constable in 1985 to Deputy Commissioner, spanning three Deputy Commissioner portfolios — Close Operations Support, Operations and National Security — with budget responsibility to c$202m and commands of up to 2,000 staff, alongside service as Chief Police Officer of the ACT reporting directly to the ACT Attorney-General. As Deputy Commissioner National Security he was a member of the ANZCTC and co-chair of its Capability Steering Group, working with the States and Territories.
As Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission from 2017 to 2022 he led a Commonwealth statutory agency of 1,000 staff with an annual budget of approximately $300m, including the national criminal history checking service generating $130m in revenue a year. He has since served as Interim Commissioner (CEO) of the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission and advises Kroll Australia's forensic investigations and intelligence practice. An Adjunct Professor at the University of Canberra's Faculty of Business, Government and Law, he holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from Deakin University and an MBA from Melbourne Business School, has edited three Australian Institute of Criminology Crime & Justice Research volumes, and received the Australian Police Medal in 2008 and the National Medal with first clasp.
Tab 02 · Areas of expertise
Areas of expertise
- Intelligence Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (2017 – 2022), pivoting the organisation's strategic direction as an intelligence agency providing direct support and operational insights to prosecution agencies and strategic advice to government.
- National security Deputy Commissioner National Security at the Australian Federal Police (2014 – 2017), responsible for Counter Terrorism Operations and Protection Operations with more than 2,000 staff; member of the Australia–New Zealand Counter-Terrorism Committee (ANZCTC).
- Organised crime AFP Deputy Commissioner Operations, responsible for Serious and Organised Crime including the AFP's overseas network, Crime Operations and Operation Sovereign Borders.
- Agency leadership & governance Twice a Commonwealth statutory agency head — ACIC CEO and Interim Commissioner (CEO) of the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission — with budgets to c$300m, staff of 1,000-plus and board service spanning the Australian Crime Commission, CrimTrac and ANZPAA.
- Financial crime & anti-corruption Strategic Advisor to Kroll Australia's forensic investigations and intelligence practice on complex investigations, fraud, corruption, anti-money laundering and risk management; former member of the Asian Racing Federation's Council on Anti-Illegal Betting & Related Financial Crime.
Tab 03 · Service record
Service record
- 2025 – present Adjunct Professor, University of Canberra Faculty of Business, Government and Law.
- 2023 – present Strategic Advisor, Kroll Australia Advises the firm's Forensic Investigations and Intelligence practice in Australia, particularly on complex investigations, challenges related to fraud, corruption and anti-money laundering, and risk management.
- 2024 Interim Commissioner (CEO), NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission Commonwealth statutory agency head appointed for a six-month term, responsible for an annual budget of approximately $180m and 1,000 staff; introduced a restructure aligning the Commission's regulatory activities towards a proactive intelligence-led posture and a commission-wide prioritisation model for the complaint and reportable-incident caseload.
- 2017 – 2022 Chief Executive Officer, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission Commonwealth statutory agency head responsible for an annual budget of approximately $300m and 1,000 staff including secondees from State police agencies, and for the commercial operations of the national criminal history checking service ($130m revenue per annum); pivoted the organisation's strategic direction as an intelligence agency supporting prosecution agencies and government.
- 2014 – 2017 Deputy Commissioner National Security, Australian Federal Police Responsible for the Counter Terrorism Operations and Protection Operations divisions, including AFP operations at Australian airports, with more than 2,000 staff; member of the ANZCTC and co-chair of its Capability Steering Group.
- 2013 – 2014 Deputy Commissioner Operations, Australian Federal Police Responsible for Serious and Organised Crime including the AFP's overseas network, Crime Operations and Operation Sovereign Borders, with an annual budget of $175m, approximately 1,000 staff and leadership of the AFP's seven State and Territory regional offices.
- 2010 – 2013 Deputy Commissioner Close Operations Support, Australian Federal Police Responsible for the Operations Support, Intelligence, High Tech Crime Operations and Forensic Services divisions, with an annual budget of $202m and approximately 1,300 staff; as Chair of the Strategic Investment Committee, oversaw the AFP's $200m annual capital budget.
- 2007 – 2009 Chief Police Officer of the ACT Responsible for all policing services delivered to the Australian Capital Territory, reporting directly to the ACT Attorney-General, with an annual budget of $136m and more than 950 staff; board member of the Australian Crime Commission, CrimTrac and ANZPAA and member of the ANZCTC.
- 1985 – 2007 Constable to Assistant Commissioner, Australian Federal Police Appointed Constable in 1985; Superintendent in 2000; Senior Liaison Officer in Manila in 2001; Commander roles including Director of the Australian High-Tech Crime Centre from 2002; Assistant Commissioner from 2004 as National Manager Border and International Network and National Manager Human Resources. National Secretary/CEO of the Australian Federal Police Association 1998 – 2000.
Tab 04 · Consortium delivery