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:
Rebecca Kitteridge |
Ray Smith |
Caralee McLiesh |
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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Andrew Hampton, Te Tumu Whakarae mō Te Pā Whakamarumaru | Director-General of Security and Chief Executive
Te Pā Whakamarumaru | New Zealand Security Intelligence Service
Andrew is the Director-General of Security and Chief Executive of Te Pā Whakamarumaru New Zealand Security Intelligence Service. Prior to this, Andrew was Director-General and Chief Executive of the Government Communications Security Bureau from April 2016, and Government Chief Information Security Officer. Andrew has held senior public service positions including in the State Services Commission (now Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission), and as Deputy Secretary for Education and Director of the Office of the Secretary at the Ministry for Education, Deputy Chief Executive at the Crown Law Office, and as Deputy Secretary Courts and Director of the Office of Treaty Settlements, both at the Ministry of Justice.
Commenced
April 2023
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.
Commenced
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 Pou Turuki mō Te Kawa Mataaho | Deputy Public Service Commissioner
Public Service Commission | Te Kawa Mataaho
Gaye is Deputy Public Service Commissioner at Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission. Gaye has been appointed until January 2024 from her substantive role as Secretary for Land Information and Chief Executive, Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand, a role she has held from 2019. Prior to her role at Toitū Te Whenua, Gaye was a Deputy Commissioner at IRD and held senior roles at agencies including ACC, MBIE and the Ministry of Economic Development (as it was then called).
Commenced
March 2023
Sectors
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.
Commenced
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.
Commenced
September 2019
Sectors
Leadership groups
Te Ohu Tumu Whakarae i te Ratonga Tūmatanui Public Service Leadership Team
Website