Functional leads take leadership of organisational functions that are common across the public service. They are designated by the Public Service Commissioner and are intended to secure efficiencies and consistency across the public service in these areas. The leads provide guidance and support to agencies to help them improve capability, and to improve alignment of agency investments and work programmes.
We currently have four areas with functional leads, in addition to those that have been designated as system leads under the Public Service Act 2020:
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Rebecca Kitteridge |
Ray Smith |
Caralee McLiesh |
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Peter Mersi |
Gaye Searancke |
Government Protective Security lead
The Government Protective Security Lead provides protective security leadership, guidance and support at the chief executive, organisation, and system levels across New Zealand.
The aim of the Government Protective Security Lead is to help lift overall security resilience and embed protective security into New Zealand organisations. They support chief executives to meet their accountabilities for protecting their organisations and addressing security risks and threats that their organisation faces.
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Rebecca Kitteridge CVO, Te Tumu Whakarae mō Te Pā Whakamarumaru | Director-General of Security and Chief Executive
Te Pā Whakamarumaru | New Zealand Security Intelligence Service
Rebecca is Director-General of Security at Te Pā Whakamarumaru New Zealand Security Intelligence Service. Rebecca came to the NZSIS after roles as Secretary of the Cabinet and Clerk of the Executive Council within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC). She served under 4 prime ministers and 4 governors-general in her roles in DPMC.
Appointed
May 2014
Sectors
Leadership groups
Te Ohu Tumu Whakarae i te Ratonga Tūmatanui Public Service Leadership Team
Website
Health and Safety Lead
The Health and Safety Lead is tasked with providing practical support to chief executives, senior leaders and the health and safety teams of government agencies to enable their personal leadership of health and safety for the benefit of all New Zealanders.
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Ray Smith, Te Tumu Whakarae mō ngā Ahumahi Matua | Director-General of Primary Industries and Chief Executive
Manatū Ahu Matua | Ministry for Primary Industries
Ray is Director-General of Manatū Ahu Matua Ministry for Primary Industries. Prior to this role, Ray served as Chief Executive of the Department of Corrections and Deputy Chief Executive of the Ministry of Social Development’s Child, Youth and Family, now Oranga Tamariki.
Appointed
November 2018
Sectors
Leadership groups
Te Ohu Tumu Whakarae i te Ratonga Tūmatanui Public Service Leadership Team
Website
Diversity and Inclusion Leads
The Diversity and Inclusion Leads are responsible for leading diversity and inclusion progress in the Public Service, and supporting chief executives to meet their obligations and expectations in the Public Service Act 2020
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Gaye Searancke, Te Tumu Whakarae mō Toitū Te Whenua | Secretary for Land Information and Chief Executive
Toitū Te Whenua | Land Information New Zealand
Gaye is Secretary for Land Information and Chief Executive of Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand. Previously, Gaye was Deputy Commissioner at Inland Revenue and has held senior leadership roles at ACC, the Ministry of Economic Development and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
Appointed
August 2019
Sectors
Leadership groups
Te Ohu Tumu Whakarae i te Ratonga Tūmatanui Public Service Leadership Team
Te Pae Aramahi Whakahaere Operations Development Board Chair
Website
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Peter Mersi, Kaikōmihana o Te Tari Taake | Commissioner of Inland Revenue and Chief Executive
Te Tari Taake | Inland Revenue Department
Peter is the Commissioner and Chief Executive of Te Tari Taake Inland Revenue. He was previously COVID-19 system leader, on secondment from his substantive role as Secretary for Transport and Chief Executive of the Ministry of Transport, a position he held since 2016. He also previously served as Chief Executive, Land Information New Zealand, and Acting Secretary for Internal Affairs, Department of Internal Affairs. Before his chief executive roles, Peter was a Deputy Commissioner at Inland Revenue and a Deputy Secretary at the Treasury for 7 years.
Appointed
July 2022
Sectors
Leadership groups
Te Ohu Tumu Whakarae i te Ratonga Tūmatanui Public Service Leadership Team
Website
Regulatory Stewardship Lead
The Regulatory Stewardship functional leader provides targeted collaboration and support for chief executives managing key regulatory regimes. They work with other chief executives to identify points of vulnerability in these regimes and develop responses based on best practice
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Dr Caralee McLiesh PSM, Te Tumu Whakarae mō Te Tai Ōhanga | Secretary to the Treasury and Chief Executive
Te Tai Ōhanga | The Treasury
Caralee is Secretary to the Treasury and Chief Executive of Te Tai Ōhanga the Treasury. Previously she worked as Managing Director at Technical and Further Education, New South Wales (NSW) and held several deputy secretary roles at the NSW Treasury. Caralee has also worked at the World Bank in Washington DC, the International Red Cross and the Boston Consulting Group.
Appointed
September 2019
Sectors
Leadership groups
Te Ohu Tumu Whakarae i te Ratonga Tūmatanui Public Service Leadership Team
Website