Executive team members

Biography

It is a real privilege to be the council’s Chief Executive and to lead what is a wonderful organisation – one that is deeply motivated to:

• serve the changing and diverse needs of Aucklanders
• deal with climate, growth and infrastructure challenges
• protect our precious environment.

My personal commitments in this role are to:

• work effectively with elected members at local and regional levels to achieve their aspirations and policy priorities
• serve the community at all times and through every interaction
• practice prudent stewardship of finances
• foster a safe, rewarding and purposeful experience of work
• uphold Te Tiriti
• continuously improve the organisation – making life better for staff and customers
• better respond to diversity, building equity and social cohesion
• partner effectively with government, private sector and community organisations
• build climate resilience.

My career has mostly been in local government – with senior leadership roles in human resources, strategy, communications and governance.

My previous roles include:

• Human Resources General Manager
• Chief Advisor to Manukau City Council
• Chief of Staff to the Mayor of Auckland
• Director of Governance and CCO Partnerships.

I am also a past board member and president of Taituarā – the national professional body for local government leaders.

Biography

My most recent role was Deputy Chief Executive for Auckland Council.

Throughout my career, I have held a variety of senior leadership positions in the public service sector, including Head of Work and Income New Zealand prior to council, one of the largest government agencies in New Zealand.

I have held leadership roles in the Department of Labour and the Department of Education and Employment in London. I was the Chief Operating Officer for Auckland Council following the amalgamation.

I hold a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Victoria University, and completed the Advanced Management Programme for senior executives at INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France.

Biography

As Director of Group Services, I am accountable for:

• technology
• people and culture
• digital and customer experience
• communications and marketing
• corporate property and support services
• health, safety and wellbeing
• data
• Māori outcomes.

I have spent most of my working life in the financial services sector. My experience spans technology (strategy, delivery, operations, finance, performance, risk, governance, cyber-security and outsourced services), corporate functions (enterprise programme management, board engagement, business transformation, customer journeys and strategic change), and business functions (running large scale distribution and operations businesses across branch, private banking, wealth management, and business and agricultural business banking).

Although born and raised in Hawkes Bay, I have lived in Auckland since 1998.

I love the diversity of our city and the essential role that Auckland Council plays in helping shape its future for our community.

Biography

My role as Group CFO is to lead the division responsible for:

• financial and business performance
• financial strategy and planning
• procurement
• treasury and other financial-related functions, including billing and payments.

Against the backdrop of Auckland's rapid growth and economic situation, my current main focus is to prudently manage Auckland Council’s finances while enabling investment for needed transport, water and other infrastructure.

Another priority area for me is to enable quality decision-making by working alongside the Council Group to provide high-quality financial and commercial advice on our many activities.

With over 25 years of experience in accounting and finance, my work history includes audit and assurance, transaction advisory and strategic financial advice across a range of sectors.

I am a born and bred Aucklander and love living in this fantastic region.

Biography

I have the privilege of leading the wonderful team who deliver the strategies, planning and internal and external communications for Auckland.

Our team is responsible for:

• planning for place, which includes the unitary plan, area plans, structure plans and spatial priority areas
• strategies such as the Auckland Plan, Auckland City Centre Masterplan, sustainability
• expertise, planning, and monitoring for all aspects of our environment and infrastructure
• creation of social and community policy
• advocating for great urban form outcomes as Auckland developments happen
• providing economic expertise to challenge our thinking
• thinking through co-design capability and social entrepreneurship
• market research, media and communications.

Biography

As a proud Aucklander and Director of Council’s Customer and Community Services, I lead and support the kaimahi behind some of Auckland’s most well-known and popular services.

The scale of Customer and Community Services is significant, with services enjoyed by all Aucklanders and our visitors:

• libraries, community hubs, arts and culture centres
• local, regional and holiday parks, reserves, sportsgrounds and cemeteries
• swimming pools, recreation, fitness and leisure centres
• events, community grants, community development and liaison
• community and social innovation.

Our teams are united through a kaupapa to provide value, support, equity and opportunity for Aucklanders, and to create an Auckland we can all be proud of.

Prior to joining council, I led or supported transformational change in large private and public organisations across the globe, including as a Chief Executive Officer, manager for McKinsey & Company, and as an advisor to governments, hospitals and health systems, and private enterprises.

I commenced my career in medicine and have followed my passion for supporting people and thriving communities into public service. I received my MBA from Harvard Business School and medical degrees from the University of Auckland. I was previously a Director then Deputy Chair of Pharmac.

Biography

As director of Infrastructure and Environmental Services, I am responsible for:

• healthy waters
• environmental services
• the Development Programme Office
• waste solutions
• engineering and technical services.

Biography

I am very proud that the Regulatory Services Directorate has a direct positive impact on all aspects of Aucklanders' lives, through keeping people healthy and well, our homes and buildings safe and compliant, and ensuring that our environment is protected.

The five business units that make up Regulatory Services manage and process applications for resource and building consents. They also carry out a compliance and monitoring function, educate on and issue food and alcohol licenses, deliver animal management programs; including dog registration, oversee environmental health and regulate the Food Act.

I want us to be recognised as a leader in delivering regulatory excellence based on outstanding customer service across all our programmes.

I've had a varied career working in the private, not-for-profit and local government sectors. I was previously Chief Executive of South Waikato District Council, CEO of Paralympics New Zealand and CEO of the National Maritime Museum for a short time. I was privileged to coach the NZU21 Men’s team to the 2001 Hockey Junior World Cup.

I love the diversity of Auckland’s communities and environment and I'm privileged to be able to contribute to its ongoing growth and development as a world-class city.

Biography

Ko Pākinga te maunga

Ko Punakitere te awa

Ko Ngāpuhi te iwi

Ko Te Iringa te marae

Ko Ngāti Tautahi te hapū

Ko Lou-Ann Ballantyne ahau

I am honoured to have a leadership role within Ngā Mātārae to support the council in realising Māori aspirations for the benefit of all Aucklanders.

Our mission at Ngā Mātārae (Māori Outcomes) is to lead council towards a Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) where Māori thrive.

Our directorate works across the whole council to ensure outcomes for and with Māori.

We provide:

• specialist strategic direction
• support relationships
• quality advice
• oversight of how the council group performs for our Māori communities.

This is underpinned by a commitment to supporting effective Māori participation in all levels of decision-making at council.

Our performance is measured through the lens of wellbeing, using the Kia Ora Tāmaki Makaurau framework, which was developed alongside Māori.

On a personal note, ten years ago my husband and I made the move from Te Tai Tokerau to Tāmaki Makaurau with our four children.

My career in local government has spanned two decades, including time with the Far North District Council as District Plan Team Leader and several roles within the Auckland Council whānau.

I have long been dedicated to serving Māori outcomes through roles in the Independent Māori Statutory Board, as Māori Outcomes Lead for the Chief Planning Office, and as Head of Māori Strategic Outcomes.

Biography

I am proud to be part of the Governance and CCO Partnerships Division and of the kaimahi that makes a positive difference to communities and colleagues, and provides high quality advice to our elected members.

I have over 20 years' experience working in central and local government, including governance, finance, strategy, policy, economic development, statistics, and health.

My experience includes:

• strategic advice
• programme and project leadership
• developing strategic content of plans and policies
• governance and monitoring of council-controlled organisations
• reviewing major projects and business areas.

I am a born and bred Aucklander and love making the most of all the special parts of our wonderful city, including biking, hiking and spending time on the water.

I also run a women’s social summer cricket competition.