Senior Management Group
Deputy Secretary of Defence (Policy and Planning)
Bede Corry
Bede Corry is Deputy Secretary of Defence (Policy and Planning). The Policy and Planning Division provides defence and security policy advice, maintains New Zealand's bilateral and multilateral defence relationships, and advises on the military and organisational capabilities needed to achieve the Government's requirements.
Read more about the Policy and Planning Division.
Deputy Secretary of Defence (Acquisition)
Des Ashton
Des Ashton is Deputy Secretary of Defence (Acquisition). The Acquisition Division acquires equipment for the New Zealand Defence Force including the RNZN, the NZ Army, and the RNZAF where project value exceeds NZ$7 million.
Prior to his appointment on 1 October 2008, Des had careers in the RNZAF and industry.
His RNZAF service (1969-1993), included four years in Washington DC, two with the Singapore Air Force, one with the RAF in UK and numerous postings and short tours in New Zealand and overseas.
He was General Manager of Safe Air Limited (1994-2000) and Vice President for Airframe Engineering for Ansett Australia and Air New Zealand (2000-2001)
2002 - 2008 he operated a small consultancy, Ashton Technologies, specialising in aviation, technology and defence. Customers included L-3 Communications, Kaman and Kellstrom of USA, Aquaflow Bionomic Corp, NMIT, TAIC, Trade NZ and National Aircraft Interiors. He spent two years as CEO of Port Marlborough Limited and was a board director of Marlborough Lines (electricity), Cuddon Engineering, Flightcell International and other companies.
Des had honorary roles in the Defence Industry Committee of New Zealand, the Aircraft Industry Association Engineering Division and the Royal Aeronautical Society.
Read more about the Acquisition Division.
Deputy Secretary of Defence (Evaluation)
Alicia Wright
Alicia Wright is Deputy Secretary of Defence (Evaluation). The Evaluation Division is responsible for conducting assessments and audits of the New Zealand Defence Force and of the Ministry's capability acquisition activities on behalf of the Minister of Defence.
Read more about the Evaluation Division.
Deputy Secretary of Defence (Corporate)
Zane Kidd
Zane Kidd is Deputy Secretary of Defence (Corporate) in the Ministry of Defence. The Corporate Division is responsible for providing support services and policy advice in the areas of human resources, information management and technology, and legal. The division is responsible for all aspects of Ministerial services, including the handling of Ministerial correspondence, and miscellaneous enquiries.
Appointed in July 2005, Zane came from the position of Human Resources Manager with the Ministry of Defence which he had held since November 2000. Prior to commencing work with the Ministry of Defence Zane held senior positions in other public sector organisations like the Treasury, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Research Science and Technology. He is a member of the New Zealand Association of Psychological Type and the Human Resources Institute of New Zealand.
Read more about the Corporate Division.
Chief Financial Officer/Deputy Secretary of Defence (Finance)
Bryan Westbury
Bryan Westbury is the Chief Financial Officer and Deputy Secretary of Defence (Finance).
Prior to his appointment on 3 November 2008, Bryan was General Manager Corporate Services and Sales for Standards New Zealand which he held for a period of ten years. Bryan has also held senior financial positions with Ajax Fasteners (NZ) Ltd, Unisys (NZ) Ltd and within a chartered accountancy firm.
Bryan, a chartered accountant, has extensive experience in strategic planning, management and financial accounting in the IT, services and manufacturing industries as well as the public sector. He takes an active role with providing strong strategic and financial guidance to assist the organisation to strive to achieve its objectives.
