Appointment Of Chief Executives For The Ministry Of Transport And The Ministry Of Women's Affairs

The State Services Commissioner, Michael Wintringham, announced today the appointment of Robin Dunlop as Chief Executive of the Ministry of Transport and Secretary for Transport and Shenagh Gleisner as Chief Executive, Ministry of Women's Affairs.

Dr Robin Dunlop Dr Dunlop is currently Chief Executive of Transit NZ, a position he has held since 1989. Earlier Dr Dunlop had held senior management positions at the Ministry of Works and Development, and engineering roles at New Zealand Railways.

Dr Dunlop is an engineer with a wealth of knowledge and understanding of the transport sector. He has advised extensively on transport strategy as a member of the Road Advisory Group (established to provide advice on land transport) and the Ministerial Taskforce on Road Reform. He has been a consultant on transport issues to the World Bank and International Road Federation.

Dr Dunlop has held a number of leadership positions in the sector and has led significant change. For example, at the Ministry of Works between 1986 and 1987 he led the separation of the policy and regulatory functions from the commercial operations of the Ministry, and led Transit NZ through the separation and establishment of Transfund in the mid-1990s.

"Dr Dunlop is well placed to take a leading role in the Government's recently announced review of transport sector agencies. He understands the environment, the need for a well integrated transport system for New Zealand and will be able to build strong relationships with all transport stakeholders.

"Dr Dunlop will start as Chief Executive in February 2004," Mr Wintringham said. "He will replace Alastair Bisley who is retiring after a long and distinguished career in the Public Service."

The Ministry of Transport works with the transport Crown entities to give effect to the Government's vision of an affordable, integrated, safe, responsive and sustainable transport system. This vision is outlined in the New Zealand Transport Strategy (NZTS) released in December 2002. The Ministry has just under 70 staff in its head office in Wellington and around seven staff work from regional offices in Auckland and Christchurch.

Ms Shenagh Gleisner Ms Gleisner has held a senior advisory position in the State Services Commission since September 2000. In this role, and as Acting Deputy Commissioner, she has been involved in providing advice to Ministers and supporting better performance of government departments. She was on the Secretariat for the 'Review of the Centre' and made an important contribution to its work.

Ms Gleisner was a Director at KPMG between 1996 and 2000. She has held a number of senior management positions in the health sector between 1986 and 1995, including General Manager, Client Relations and Research, Northern Regional Health Authority, and Service Purchase Manager and Manager Cervical Screening Programme at the Auckland Area Health Board.

Earlier Ms Gleisner worked as a social worker and family therapist, and in management positions in hospitals and community service organisations in the UK. She has a Bachelor of Arts (Hons), a Master of Science and a Master of Public Policy.

Mr Wintringham said Ms Gleisner has a good combination of service delivery, private sector and central government experience to bring to the Chief Executive role.

"She has considerable experience in management, including change management, and has maintained effective working relationships with a range of people, from senior public servants to those working at the front line of service delivery," he said.

Reflecting on her career to date, Mr Wintringham said that the recently announced Public Service Senior Leadership Development strategy encourages such career transitions and a wide range of roles for those who aspire to leadership positions in the Public Service.

"Ms Gleisner will carry on the work initiated by the current Acting Chief Executive, Anne Carter, following the recent review of the Ministry.

"Ms Gleisner will take up the role in February 2004. I wish to thank Ms Carter for her strong and capable leadership of the department during this interim period," Mr Wintringham said.

The Ministry of Women's Affairs is a small policy advice agency that works to ensure government policies take account of the needs of women, and make a positive difference in their lives. It has about 25 staff, based in Wellington.

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