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, Advisor

Alana Fasavalu, Advisor