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The Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s Executive Team has a diverse range of national and international experience in local and central government, environment organisations and the private sector. You can find more information about the team below.
Born and raised in Hawke’s Bay, James has been Chief Executive since June 2017, having previously served as the Council’s Group Manager Strategic Development. Prior to working at the Council, James was Deputy Secretary Sector Strategy at the Ministry for the Environment and Director Strategy at both the Ministry for Primary Industries and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry before that. Between 2005 and 2008 James served as Chief of Staff to the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Biosecurity, and was an advisor in the Labour-led government between 1999 and 2003.
The Integrated Catchment Management Group is the largest Group in the Regional Council and includes environmental science, environmental information, catchment management, biodiversity and biosecurity. Integrated Catchment Management is a process, which recognises that everything that happens within a catchment is linked. The aim is to integrate the Regional Council’s activities and those of others working within the catchment to achieve overall outcomes. Iain joined the Regional Council in 2011. Iain has been working in the management of freshwater resources for over 25 years. He has worked with Nelson’s Cawthron Institute as a Senior Freshwater Ecologist, a Regional Manager with Fish and Game New Zealand and the Department of Conservation.
The Asset Management Group is responsible for looking after a diverse portfolio of river, drainage and coastal engineering, capital project delivery, flood scheme operations and maintenance, water security and a regional park network. Chris has more than 20 years’ experience in strategic and operational engineering management roles in New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom.
Katrina grew up in Auckland and after graduating with a Masters and First Class Honours degree in Resources and Environmental Planning and Geography from the University of Waikato, started her career as a policy analyst at Taranaki Regional Council. She has spent over 20 years in central and local government working in policy roles with the Ministry of Transport and New Plymouth District Council, Environmental Consents Manager at the Hastings District Council and Customer and Regulatory Solutions Manager at the New Plymouth District Council. Katrina is a full member of the New Zealand Planning Institute and the Resource Management Law Association.
This senior executive role provides organisation-wide leadership, guidance and representation and will help staff and councillors engage more effectively with Tāngata Whenua. Mr Munro was National Advisor Māori for WorkSafe New Zealand, where he supported the establishment and recruitment of Māori Safety Champions and was involved in the development of a marae-based forestry health and safety intervention pilot scheme. He has held senior advisory roles in the Ministry of Fisheries, New Zealand Petroleum & Minerals through MBIE (Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment and the NZ Police College. He had an extensive 35-year career with the New Zealand Police rising to the rank of Wellington District Commander. In 2004, Mr Munro was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for his contribution to cultural development of New Zealand Police. He is the current Chair of Medic Alert New Zealand Incorporated and Deputy Chair of Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa (PSGE).
Corporate Services play a vital role in the organisation by providing services such as finance, information technology, customer experience, communications, and services such as fleet management, and risk and assurance. I grew up on a sheep and beef farm in Kotemaori. I started my career based in Napier at Coopers and Lybrand. However I have spent the last 20 years in Wellington based in financial services. My career has spanned a large number of roles over this time primarily in finance, securitisation and funding, risk management and Internal audit, crisis management, and operational risk and compliance. I am a chartered accountant and outside of work play an active role in mentoring and facilitation for Chartered Accountants Australia and NZ for the last 10 years.
Diane has been with the Regional Council since 2001 and is Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive and Chairman. Before joining Council Diane worked for three years in Australia as Registrar and Headmaster’s Secretary at Toowoomba Prep School and prior to that has worked as a Personal Assistant in Legal practices in Hawke’s Bay.
+64 6 835 9200
159 Dalton Street. Napier 4110
Private Bag 6006, Napier 4142
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