Our structure

Sponsor and champions

Peter Mersi, GWN Sponsor, Commissioner and Chief Executive - Inland Revenue Department

Peter Mersi is also Chief Executive co-lead with Gaye Searancke for Papa Pounamu which sets the diversity and inclusion work programme for the wider public service.

GWN also receives valuable support from CEs and senior leaders as a leadership group and individually through their agencies.

Steering Committee

Coyla Cameron, Chair, Te Tāhū o te Ture | Ministry of Justice

Lyn Meredith, Co-Chair, Te Tari Taake | Inland Revenue 

Jessie Johnson-Smith, Co-Secretariat, Te Puni Kōkiri

Wai Helu, Co-Secretariat, Ngā Pirihimana o Aotearoa | New Zealand Police

Dr Anna Milne-Tavendale, Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga | Ministry of Housing and Urban Development 

Naomi Peacock, Te Manatū Whakahiato Ora | Ministry of Social Development

Nicola Johns, Ngā Pirihimana o Aotearoa New Zealand Police

Nic Hill, Te Tari Mātāwaka | Ministry for Ethnic Communities

Nina Russell, Te Tauaarangi o Aotearoa New Zealand Defence Force 

Isabella Sanchez-Bolivar, Manatū Wāhine – Ministry for Women 

Jess Lucas, Te Papa Atawhai | Department of Conservation 

Keryn Weir, Te Papa Atawhai | Department of Conservation

Rachael Bayliss, Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand

Sio Kihe La’a Talakai-Alatini, Te Manatū mō iwi ō te Moana-nui-ā-Kiwa – Ministry of Pacific Peoples 

Susan Price, Te Tari Taake | Inland Revenue

The GWN Steering Committee also includes the Chairs of the regional networks, Cupy Dee – Te Aka Wāhine o Tāmaki Auckland GWN and Megan van den Hondel – Te Aka Wāhine o Te Waipounamu Southern GWN.

The DEI Team 

The DEI Team work to support employee-led networks to thrive by sharing their network experience and amplifying diverse perspectives across the Public Service. The team work with GWN, supporting them to build on progress around their six priorities. Focusing on these priorities will strengthen GWN and women’s networks in the Public Service and ensure positive outcomes for individual women.