Our leadership

Karl’s 5-year term as Chief Electoral Officer and Chief Executive began in April 2022. He is responsible for leading the organisation and ensuring the Commission facilitates participation by New Zealanders in parliamentary democracy, promotes understanding of the electoral system and maintains confidence in the electoral system.

Karl is also a member of the Electoral Commission’s Board, where he is responsible with other Board members for overseeing the implementation of the Commission’s objectives, functions and powers.

Anusha leads the Operations Group. The group incorporates the Electoral Commission's delivery functions and are accountable for initiatives to enable the information, education, enrolment, and vote processes. The Group covers:

• Communications & Education
• Enrolment & Community Engagement
• Voting Services

Lucy leads our Enterprise Services Group, who deliver the Commission's corporate functions and the core services that enable and support the delivery of electoral events. The Group covers:

• Administration
• Business Continuity
• Finance, Property & Procurement
• Information Technology
• People & Culture

Leigh leads the Strategy, Governance and Development Group, which covers:

• Planning, Risk & Assurance
• Governance
• International
• Data Insights

Leigh and her team work on ensuring coordinated development of outcomes and production of strategic documents, publications and reporting on behalf of the Commission including the provision of governance support to the Board, and incorporating the International team’s research on global policy, strategy and security in a New Zealand context. 

Mark leads a team that undertakes organisation-wide strategic reviews, long term planning, reviews of legislation, data-driven insights to support business information and business change, risk management and supporting and building relationships with the wider public sector.

Hone leads a team which helps embed a Māori worldview throughout the Commission to honour our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Hone's team are committed to prioritising engagement and partnership with Tangata Whenua to build trust that influences positive long-term participation in Aotearoa's democracy.

Emily works across the business to establish the 2023 General Election programme. This includes defining programme scope and the methodologies it will use, setting up governance arrangements, and developing a programme management plan. 

Kristina and her team provide in-house legal and policy advice on electoral legislation. They also provide advice and guidance to political parties, candidates, MPs, the public, the Minister of Justice, Ministry of Justice and the wider government.

Between 1987 and 2003 Marie was Secretary of the Cabinet and Clerk of the Executive Council, working with four Governors-General, and six Prime Ministers from both major parties. During that time she co-led a senior officials group which prepared central government for the introduction of the proportional electoral system in New Zealand. Marie also served as Privacy Commissioner from 2003 to 2014.

Marie is a member of the Media Council and on the boards of Consumer New Zealand, the Consumer Foundation and the Privacy Foundation New Zealand. She was made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2022 New Years Honours list.

Marie’s 5-year term as Chair of the Electoral Commission Board began in August 2019.

Jane is a commercial barrister at Clifton Chambers in Wellington. She undertakes public sector and commercial advisory work. She was previously Treasury’s chief legal adviser.

Jane is Chair and Chief Commissioner of the Transport Accident Investigation Commission, Chair of Financial Services Complaints Limited, a director of the Electricity Corporation of New Zealand, Chair of the Royal New Zealand Ballet Foundation of New Zealand and a member of Land Information New Zealand’s risk and assurance committee.

Jane’s 5-year term as Deputy Chair of the Electoral Commission Board began in August 2019.

Karl has held a number of public sector leadership roles, including Deputy Chief Executive at the Department of Internal Affairs and executive roles in the Ministry of Education. He has led policy, corporate, operational and delivery services across the Department of Justice, Department of  Corrections, Ministry of Education and Department of Internal Affairs.

Karl’s 5-year term as Chief Electoral Officer and Chief Executive began in April 2022.