Media release from the State Services Commissioner
Wednesday 19 May 2004

APPOINTMENT OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF CHILD, YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

The State Services Commissioner, Michael Wintringham today announced the appointment of Paula Tyler as Chief Executive of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services and Maarten Wevers as Chief Executive of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Paula Tyler

Mr Wintringham said Canadian Ms Tyler has spent most of her public sector career in social services in a variety of policy and management positions. She has been in her current role as Deputy Minister (equivalent of a Chief Executive in the New Zealand Public Service) of Alberta's Children's Services Department since 1999.

"Ms Tyler joined the Alberta Public Service in 1989 and since that time has held progressively more senior roles. Ms Tyler has established a new Ministry, managing both the policy and operations split from the social development agency and has restructured service delivery to improve accountability and efficiency. She has developed a management model for her department that has been seen as so effective that other jurisdictions in Canada have taken it up."

Prior to working with government Ms Tyler was a special education teacher and from 1978 to 1989 had a number of community leadership responsibilities advocating for services for persons with disabilities. She has a Bachelor of Education from the University of Alberta.

Mr Wintringham says there are many parallels between Ms Tyler's role in Alberta and her new role. "Ms Tyler has responsibilities for 2,500 employees spread across a large geographical area. Many of the issues faced are similar to New Zealand.

"Her Canadian experience is very relevant to the New Zealand role, but she also recognises the management and cultural differences between the two jurisdictions. She is experienced in building and maintaining relationships with a wide range of community interests and has a thorough knowledge of social work practice. Her whole career has been about making a difference in the lives of children. New Zealand will now benefit from that commitment and her proven track record.

"Ms Tyler will start as Chief Executive on 2 August 2004. I would like to thank Dr Russ Ballard for agreeing to continue as Acting Chief Executive until this time. I would also like to thank the management and staff of CYF for their commitment to the department's change process. It is important that this momentum is maintained," Mr Wintringham said.

Maarten Wevers

Mr Wintringham said that Mr Wevers is a successful senior diplomat and experienced manager.

Until 2000 Mr Wevers was a career foreign service officer, specialising in economics and trade. He joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1977 and progressed to postings in Brussels, Port Moresby as High Commissioner and Tokyo as Ambassador. He was a private secretary to the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1985 to 1987. He also led the planning and staging of the successful APEC meeting in 1999.

Since 2000 Mr Wevers has been on leave from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, working in a number of senior managerial roles at New Zealand Post, and currently as General Manager, Government Business.

He has a Bachelor of Science (Mathematics) and Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Economics. He was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2000.

"Mr Wevers has wide experience in foreign affairs, trade and economics and has excellent networks in both government and business sectors. He has a high level of expertise in policy management, is experienced at building relationships and has strong leadership skills.

"He has a clear understanding of the role of the Chief Executive of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. He is an experienced professional who has the necessary skills to lead and manage a key relationship between the Government and the Public Service.

"Mr Wevers will start as Chief Executive on 14 June 2004. I have asked Mary Anne Thompson to continue as Acting Chief Executive until then," Mr Wintringham said.

Background

Alberta Children's Services,

Canada Alberta Children's Services is responsible for planning and overseeing the delivery of services to children and families and ensuring that provincial standards are met. These services and programs include child protection, resources for children with disabilities, child care, prevention of family violence, adoption services, early childhood development and protecting children from sexual exploitation.

The ministry has a total of 2,777 employees who deliver services at 227 sites throughout the 66-million hectare province. The Alberta Children's Services budget for 2004-05 is $742 million (Cdn). Alberta Children's Services works with 17 First Nation Agencies that have delegated responsibility for direct provision of child protection services on the reserves of 38 of the 47 First Nations in Alberta. Online at: www.child.gov.ab.ca

CYF

The Department of Child Youth and Family Services works to improve the wellbeing of vulnerable children and young people within families and whanau. It provides a range of services, including care and protection services for children and young people, development and funding of community services, and information and education to promote public awareness and prevent child abuse and neglect. Online at: www.cyf.govt.nz

DPMC

The Department of the Prime Minster and Cabinet has a central role in the coordination and integration of Public Service support for the strategies of the government of the day. The Department provides advice to the Prime Minister on constitutional matters and domestic and international issues, provides impartial secretariat services to the Cabinet and the Executive Council, and supports the Governor General. Online at: www.dpmc.govt.nz

ENDS

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