Ministerial Advisory Panel

The Ministerial Advisory Panel (the Panel) will provide the Minister of Defence with advice, separate from Defence officials, on any matter related to the Defence Policy Review and its policy products.

It is expected that the Panel will provide perspectives from a range of different backgrounds, with the intention of challenging, critiquing, and reviewing the Defence Policy Review products. This will ensure that the policy products are sound, viable, and well-considered.

The Panel has been appointed for the duration of the Defence Policy Review process.

A copy of the Terms of Refence for the Ministerial Advisory Panel can be found here(external link).

Ministerial Advisory Panel members

Sir Brian Roche KNZM Chair

Sir Brian has extensive experience across a number of sectors including Government, business, and public service. He has chaired and served on a range of senior boards and advisory groups, including the Government’s COVID-19 Independent Continuous Review, Improvement and Advice Group, the Three Waters National Transition Unit Board and the Ministerial Group for the Defence White Paper process in 2016. Sir Brian led independent reviews of Defence’s procurement policies and practices for major capability projects from 2018 to 2021.

Sir Don McKinnon, former Deputy Prime Minister New Zealand

Sir Don is the former Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand, having served in this role from 1990 to 1996. He served as a Member of Parliament from 1978 to 2000. He also served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade until 1999. He retired from Parliament and was appointed to the role of Secretary-General of the Commonwealth from 2000 to 2008.

Pania Tyson-Nathan (Rongomaiwahine, Ngāti Kahungunu), Chief Executive of NZ Māori Tourism

Pania has been the Chief Executive of NZ Māori Tourism since 2011, and has held senior leadership positions within the public and private sectors for over three decades. She has also held governance positions across a range of organisations both in New Zealand and abroad as well as being a long-standing supporter of the 28^th Maori Battalion Association. She currently represents New Zealand on the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council and is serving on the World Economic Forum for tourism, trade and investment advisory.

David Gawn, Chief Executive of the National Emergency Management Agency

David has held a variety of senior leadership positions within the public service including his current role as the Chief Executive of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). Prior to his role at NEMA, David was appointed as Chief Executive of the Pike River Recovery Agency. In previous years he also fulfilled the role of Head of Mission and Chief of Staff to the United Nations Truce Supervisory Organisation in Israel. During his time with the New Zealand Defence Force, David’s roles included Chief of Army from 2013 to 2015 and Commander Joint Forces New Zealand from 2011 to 2013.

Christine Stevenson, Chief Executive of New Zealand Customs Service

Christine Stevenson was appointed the Chief Executive and Comptroller of the New Zealand Customs Service on 1 January 2019 for five years. In February 2019, she was reassigned as Acting Chief Executive of the Department of Corrections and returned to Customs in February 2020. In December 2020, Christine was appointed chair of the Chief Executive level of the Border Executive Board.

The members of this interdepartmental executive board are jointly responsible to the COVID-19 Response Minister, Hon Chris Hipkins, for the operation of the Board and the effective governance and oversight of the end-to-end border system. Prior to joining Customs, Christine was Deputy Chief Executive of the Department of Corrections, where she supported the Chief Executive, represented the Department, and provided leadership across the justice sector. She is also a former Deputy Chief Executive at the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Social Development.

Professor David Capie, Victoria University of Wellington, Te Herenga Waka

David is the Director for the Centre of Strategic Studies and Professor of International Relations at Victoria University of Wellington, Te Herenga Waka. He is also the regional co-chair of the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific. His research interests focus on conflict and security issues, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, and New Zealand’s foreign and defence policy.