Mr Phelan has over 40 years of law enforcement and regulatory experience. He is currently an advisor to Government and the private sector in governance and risk management specialising in fraud, compliance and due diligence.

Mr Phelan was appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) and Director of the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) in November 2017 and completed his terms of appointment in November 2022.

As ACIC CEO, Mr Phelan was responsible for management and administration of Australia’s national criminal intelligence agency overseeing intelligence operations and specialist capabilities. As Director of the AIC, Mr Phelan was responsible for leading Australia’s national research and knowledge centre on crime and justice.

Mr Phelan was a Deputy Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police (AFP) having been appointed to that role in 2010. He performed multiple roles at that level and, at various stages, had oversight of the AFP’s High-Tech Crime, Forensics, Intelligence, Serious and Organised Crime, Counter-Terrorism and Protection Operations portfolios.

Also during his time at the AFP, Mr Phelan held the positions of: Chief Police Officer for the Australian Capital Territory; Assistant Commissioner responsible for border operations and the AFP's International Network; Director of the Australian High Tech Crime Centre; and, as the AFP’s Senior Liaison Officer in Manila, Philippines.

In March 2024, at the request of the Government, Mr Phelan was appointed as the Interim Commissioner of the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission (NDIS Commission).

Mr Phelan has previously held positions on the Boards of the Australian Crime Commission, Crimtrac and the Australian and New Zealand Police Advisory Agency. Mr Phelan also served as a member of the ACT Law Reform Advisory Council and the Australian National Advisory Council on Alcohol and Drugs (ANACAD) and the Asian Racing Federation’s Council on Anti-Illegal Betting & Related Financial Crime

In 2008, Mr Phelan was awarded the Australian Police Medal.

He is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Canberra and holds a Degree in Commerce, an Honours Degree in Law and Masters in Business Administration.