Experience

Te Manatū Waka - Ministry of Transport (New Zealand)

• New Zealand
• Public Policy Offices
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Deputy Chief Executive, System Strategy and Investment

  • Oct 2017 - Present

  Transport’s lead policy advisor on many issues and its lead planner and purchaser. This includes investment of more than $10bn in 2022/23 and transport system planning out to decades from now. Areas of responsibility are managing transport investments and the investment system; the overall shape of the transport system (strategic policy); technology and innovation; freight, stewardship of the heavy rail system, and supply chains; placemaking in regions and urban development in cities; stewardship of a $4.5bn per annum revenue system; infrastructure funding and financing; and emissions reduction including negotiating international agreements. I am Chair of Sustainable Aviation Aotearoa which is a Public-Private Partnership to accelerate decarbonisation of New Zealand’s aviation sector, and Senior Responsible Officer (SRO) for transport system decarbonisation. I was SRO for the City Centre to Mangere Light Rail Project for more than a year. Show less

• Acting Chief Executive and Secretary for Transport

  • Mar 2022 - Dec 2022

  The Secretary for Transport provides leadership and stewardship, including regulatory stewardship, across the transport system. This includes a Vote of more than $10bn and many relationships across the transport sector, including oversight of four crown entities and two crown companies, and the wider system. As Acting CE, I was a member of three Inter-agency Executive Boards, chair of the Maritime Security Officials Committee, the NZ Search and Rescue Council, the Road to Zero Partnership, and co-chair of the Auckland Transport Alignment Project.While Chief Executive I led an organisational change programme across the Ministry of Transport, including to strengthen delivery of the transport system's emissions reduction programme, and led establishment of a new crown company, Auckland Light Rail Limited (ALRL) while supporting its functions. ARLL operated as part of the Ministry while this was carried out. Show less



Ministry of Social Development (MSD)

• New Zealand
• Government Administration
• 700 & Above Employee

• Deputy Chief Executive, Strategy, Governance and People

  • Feb 2013 - Sep 2017

  This role was established to lead a comprehensive, strategy and culture-led organisational transformation at the Ministry of Defence over 18 months to 2 years. The Ministry's 2014 Performance Improvement Framework (PIF) Review said the transformation was the most exemplary the reviewers had seen in the public service. Subsequently put in place plans to set the Ministry up for its next two decades of significant capital investment, including to rebuild its military capability acquisitions functions. Obtained funding for this programme, and led the Ministry's near doubling in size over two years, while evolving its culture and establishing the Ministry as a fit for purpose small-medum size enterprise with the right structures and systems. I sustained this programme even through the sudden relocation of the Ministry after an earthquake fatally damaged its offices in 2016. Show less



Ministry of Justice - New Zealand

• New Zealand
• Government Administration
• 700 & Above Employee

• Director, Office of the Deputy Secretary, Legal & Operational Services

  • Aug 2012 - Feb 2013

  A short term secondment to support the Deputy Secretary, Legal and Operational Services. This role was his deputy in managing the Ministry of Justice's delivery in respect of legal aid services, community law centres, collections and the Public Defence Service.

• Director, Chief Executive's Office

  • Mar 2012 - Jul 2012

  This role was a short term secondment to lead the establishment of a Chief Executive's office and to put in place improved support arrangements for the Ministry of Justice's Leadership Team.



Ministry of Social Development (MSD)

• New Zealand
• Government Administration
• 700 & Above Employee

• General Manager, Client Advocacy and Review

  • Oct 2009 - Mar 2012

  Led the nationwide delivery of natural justice and resolution services for more than a million New Zealanders receiving services from Work and Income, StudyLink, Services for Seniors, and Child, Youth and Family. This included responsibility for service delivery by a team of experienced field social workers who worked in the community with former wards of the State. I led work across social sector to improve the way government agencies worked with this group, which led to the establishment of the Confidential Listening and Assistance Service. These efforts were awarded the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence (Supreme Award) at the 2012 IPANZ Gen-i Public Sector Excellence Awards.While in the role, I co-designed and delivered a leadership programme, 'Chief For A Day', that received awards from IPANZ (for Improving Performance through Leadership Excellence) and the Human Resources Institute of New Zealand (for Public Service Excellence). Show less

• Associate Deputy Chief Executive, Corporate and Governance

  • Oct 2006 - Sep 2009

  Deputy to the Deputy Chief Executive, with delegated responsibilities across a 200 person team. I led the Ministry’s whole of organisation strategy, delivered a number of organisational change programmes and reviews, managed machinery of government advice and shifts of functions between agencies, and managed the Ministry's involvement in cross-agency policy and delivery projects. Achievements included establishing a function in the Ministry to deliver natural justice services, and establishing a new Medium Term Strategy Unit for the social sector.While in the role, I was awarded a public service leadership fellowship. Through this, I travelled to the United Kingdom where I was a guest of government and non-government agencies, and studied cross-agency and cross-sector leadership and collaboration. Show less

• Corporate Advisor

  • Jul 2005 - Sep 2006

  A temporary role to manage the concurrent delivery of the first ever departmental Four Year Value for Money Review, planning for a merger of MSD and Child, Youth and Family, and also lead the Ministry's delivery of the $15 million 'Working for Families' public awareness campaign. This was the largest single government advertising campaign ever at the time it was delivered, and was delivered during an election year.

• Merger of MSD with Child, Youth and Family

  • Mar 2006 - Jul 2006

  In 2006, Cabinet decided that the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services would merge with the Ministry of Social Development. I was asked to manage the merger, working directly to the CE of MSD, who was simultaneously appointed Acting CE, Child, Youth and Family. I was responsible for all aspects of the merger, from establishing how it would be given effect to and putting in place arrangements for delivery, to establishing a strategy for the merged organisation, and identifying and resolving employment issues across both organisations. Show less



Ministry of Social Development (MSD)

• New Zealand
• Government Administration
• 700 & Above Employee

• General Manager, Ministerial and Executive Services

  • Feb 2004 - Apr 2005

  Led a business transformation of the Ministry's team responsible for large volumes of Official Information Requests, Parliamentary Questions and other related material, and providing services to seven ministers.

• Chief Executive Advisor

  • Mar 2002 - Feb 2004

  Provided support to the Chief Executive of the newly-created Ministry. I led the Ministry's organisation strategy, its participation in Machinery of Government Reviews, organisational change projects, as well as issues management and looking after key external relationships.



Department of Internal Affairs (NZ)

• New Zealand
• Government Relations Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• Principal Advisor, Corporate Strategy and Priorities

  • Jan 2001 - Feb 2002

  Provided oversight for the Chief Executive of key priorities. This included major reviews of the Local Government Act and legislation covering gaming and community use of gaming proceeds. Provided oversight for the Chief Executive of key priorities. This included major reviews of the Local Government Act and legislation covering gaming and community use of gaming proceeds.



Health Funding Authority

• Wellington & Wairarapa, New Zealand

• Chief Executive Advisor

  • Jan 2000 - Dec 2000

  Provided support to the Chief Executive during a period where the organisation was being disestablished. A piece of trivia if you've really read this far - while in this role I developed the "Ministerial Update Report" which is used in many government agencies today. Provided support to the Chief Executive during a period where the organisation was being disestablished. A piece of trivia if you've really read this far - while in this role I developed the "Ministerial Update Report" which is used in many government agencies today.