The former head of the nation’s top criminal research and intelligence agencies  has been recruited by the private sector as an adviser to Australian and regional governments on fraud, corruption, money laundering and terrorism financing.

Former Australian Criminal intelligence Commission (ACIC) CEO and Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) director Michael Phelan has joined risk and financial advisory firm Kroll as a strategic adviser to its Australian forensic investigations and intelligence practice, the company announced on Wednesday.

Kroll says Mr Phelan’s experience will boost its ability to support state and federal government clients in Australia, the Pacific and Southeast Asia.

Mr Phelan says there’s been a big shift in how internal investigations are handled at the highest level of government.

“As the need for independent expertise in complex investigations grows, our team will be well-positioned to create a safer Australia that is better connected, better informed and better equipped to deal with crime and criminal justice issues at home and abroad,” he said in a statement.

Mr Phelan will work alongside Kroll’s Australian leadership team, which has worked on cases including the Reserve Banks’s Securency investigation and monitoring of Crown Sydney for the NSW Independent Casino Commission.

Mr Phelan announced his retirement from ACIC and AIC last November after serving for five years.

During this time he worked on disrupting outlaw motorcycle gangs and oversaw initiatives including the National Criminal Intelligence System, the National Child Offender System and the Australian Firearms Information Network.

He previously spent more than three decades in law enforcement, including service as Chief Police Officer of ACT Policing and Deputy Commissioner for National Security at the Australian Federal Police.

Comment below to have your say on this story.

If you have a news story or tip-off, get in touch at editorial@governmentnews.com.au.  

Sign up to the Government News newsletter