Our structure

Sponsor and champions

Naomi Ferguson, GWN Sponsor, Commissioner and Chief Executive, Inland Revenue

Naomi Ferguson and Gabs Makhlouf are Chief Executive co-leads for Papa Pounamu, a steering group of twelve public sector CEs who are driving a collaborative programme of diversity and inclusion across the 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, The Treasury, Wellington 

Anne Marie Taggart, Deputy Chair, New Zealand Customs Service, Wellington (transitional until 30/6/20)

Alison Lewes, Ministry of Primary Industries - Manatū Ahu Matua, Wellington (transitional until 30/6/20)

Leisa Adsett, Department of Corrections, Wellington 

Luisa Avia, Ministry of Health, Wellington

Kellie Coombes, State Services Commission, Wellington 

Kesta Dennison, New Zealand Customs Service, Auckland

Monique Esplin, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Wellington 

Erin Hartley, Department of Conservation, Christchurch

Meena Pratap, Oranga Tamariki, Wellington 

Stacey Richardson, Ministry of Justice, Wellington

GWN team

GWN's small team works to support women's networks in the wider public sector. The GWN team consists of three full-time staff located in Wellington: a Programme Director, an Engagement and Secretariat Advisor and a Senior Communications Advisor, and part-time coordinators for AGWN and SGWN.

The GWN team provides secretariat support to the Governance Group and delivers a programme of activities to support the vision.