Our structure
Sponsor and champions
Naomi Ferguson, GWN Sponsor, Commissioner and Chief Executive, Inland Revenue
Naomi Ferguson and Peter Mersi are Chief Executive co-leads 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
Ruth Shinoda, Chair, Education Review Office – Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga
Alison Lewes, Ministry of Justice – Tāhū o te Ture
Deb James, Office of the Auditor-General – Te Mana Arotake
Leisa Adsett, Te Kawa Mataaho – State Services Commission
Luisa Avia, Ministry of Health – Manatū Hauora
Kellie Coombes, Te Kawa Mataaho – Public Service Commission
Monique Esplin, Crown Law – Te Tari Ture o te Karauna
Meena Pratap, Department of Conservation – Te Papa Atawhai
Nicola Johns, New Zealand Police – Nga Pirihimana o Aotearoa
The GWN Steering Committee also includes the Chairs of the regional networks, Anita Edwards – Te Aka Wāhine o Tāmaki Auckland GWN and Jennie Farrar de Wagt – Te Aka Wāhine o Te Waipounamu Southern GWN.
GWN team
GWN's small team works to support women's networks in the wider public sector. The GWN Programme Office team provides secretariat support to the Steering Committee and delivers a programme of activities to support the vision.
The GWN team consists of three full-time staff located in Wellington, and part time coordinators for Auckland GWN and Southern GWN:
Carin Sundstedt, Programme Director
Kerri Du Pont, Senior Communications Advisor
Virginia Fordham, Auckland GWN Coordinator
Karen Mora, Southern GWN Coordinator
Arpita Das, GWN Team Administrator