Mr Gooey brings more than 20 years of agricultural and regional public sector experience across food safety, regulation and economic development.
He joins from Local Government Victoria, where he served as executive director for the past five years.
Agriculture Victoria's executive director of animal welfare and agriculture regulatory policy Trevor Pisciotta said Mr Gooey was well placed to lead the new authority.
"He will lead a smart, modern regulator to help keep food safe, protect communities and support strong local industries," Dr Pisciotta said.
Safe Food Victoria chairperson Luke Wilson said Mr Gooey’s regulatory expertise made him an ideal choice for the role, adding the organisation would build on the knowledge and legacy of previous regulators.
Created under the Safe Food Victoria Act 2026 and reporting to the minister for agriculture, the authority consolidates multiple Victorian food regulatory bodies into a single agency.
Agriculture Victoria said this would bring the state in line with Queensland, New South Wales and most comparable international jurisdictions.
A second stage of reforms is being planned, aimed to further modernise food safety laws and reduce regulatory burden.
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