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
Nicola Johns, Chair, Nga Pirihimana o Aotearoa – New Zealand Police
Nina Russell, Co Chair, Te Tauaarangi o Aotearoa – New Zealand Defence Force
Jessie Johnson-Smith, Co-Secretariat, Taumata Arowai
Wai Helu, Co-Secretariat, Ngā Pirihimana o Aotearoa - New Zealand Police
Karyn Thompson, Te Tauaarangi o Aotearoa – New Zealand Defence Force
Tofilau Iris Webster, Te Kawa Mataaho – Public Service Commission
Briar Wyatt, Manatū Mō Te Taiao – Ministry for the Environment
Sio Kihe La’a Talakai-Alatini, Te Manatū mō iwi ō te Moana-nui-ā-Kiwa – Ministry of Pacific Peoples
Heather Guthrie, Manatū Ahu Matua – Ministry of Primary Industries
Dr Anna Milne-Tavendale, Manatū Wāhine – Ministry for Women
Laura Olsen, Nga Pirihimana o Aotearoa – New Zealand Police
Coyla Cameron, Te Tāhū o te Ture Ministry of Justice
Marie Schmidt, Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga – Ministry of Housing and Urban Development
Lyn Meredith, Te Tari Taake – Inland Revenue
Zoe Ogilvie Burns, Taumata Arowai
Isabella Sanchez-Bolivar, Manatū Wāhine – Ministry for Women
Rachael Bayliss, Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand
Emma Saunders, Ministry of Health – Manatū Hauora
Della Averina, Te Tai Ōhanga – The Treasury
The GWN Steering Committee also includes the Chairs of the regional networks, Joanna Maskell – Te Aka Wāhine o Tāmaki Auckland GWN and Kirsty Paterson – 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.