Executive Leadership Team
DIA's executive leadership team
- Office of the Secretary
- Policy and Te Tiriti
- Local Government
- Partnerships and Commissions
- Enterprise Services
- Regulatory and Identity
(Note: This page in progress)
Karen Hope-Cross - Director, Office of the Secretary
Karen Hope-Cross
Karen Hope-Cross is Director, Office of the Secretary. She supports the Secretary to lead the Department and undertake his leadership responsibilities across the public sector. This includes supporting the performance of the Department as a member of the Executive Leadership Team and facilitating effective relationships with other stakeholders and agencies. The Director also provides strategic advice to the Secretary, may lead special projects, and acts as the Secretary’s delegate when required.
Karen joined the Department in 2008 and has previously held roles in several branches. Prior to her time with Te Tari Taiwhenua, Karen worked at TelstraClear. Karen holds a Bachelor of Business (Management).
The following people work alongside Karen in the Office of the Secretary:
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
|
Barnaby Melville |
Principal Advisor |
|
Sue Goile |
Executive Services Officer to the Secretary |
Amanda Moran - Deputy Secretary Policy and Te Tiriti
Amanda Moran
Amanda Moran is Deputy Secretary Policy and Te Tiriti at the Department of Internal Affairs. The span of this role includes policy advice (including identity, online safety, gambling, racing, fire and charities), crown monitoring and board appointments, Māori-Crown relationships and treaty settlements, legal services and privacy, Commissions and inquires and ministerial services for the Department.
Amanda joined the Department in May 2026. Most recently, she was Head of Strategy and Policy at Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) where she provided strategic leadership for legislative and regulatory reform programmes.
Her prior experience includes serving as Deputy Secretary Organisational Performance/ Chief Operating Officer at the Ministry for the Environment. In this role Amanda played a pivotal part in spearheading organisational transformation initiatives and overseeing Budget processes.
Earlier, as Deputy Secretary Natural and Built Environment at the Ministry for the Environment Amanda managed major reform programmes, including of the Resource Management Act. She also held regulatory responsibility for a broad spectrum of natural environment related matters, as well as urban and infrastructure. Amanda’s experience also extends to local government policy roles, both within New Zealand and in the United Kingdom.
Amanda has a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Anthropology and Geography and a Masters in Regional and Resource Planning (Distinction) from the University of Otago.
As Deputy Secretary for Policy and Te Tiriti, Amanda has the following positions reporting to her:
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
|
Fergus Broom |
Acting General Manager Policy |
|
Tania Gerrard |
Director Te Tiriti and Partnerships |
|
Mark Batt |
Director Branch Performance |
|
Gina Smith |
General Manager Commissions |
|
Nicolette Butler |
Acting Chief Legal Advisor |
Katrina Casey - Acting Deputy Secretary Local Government/ Executive Director City and Regional Deals
Katrina Casey
Katrina Casey joined the Department of Internal Affairs as the Executive Director City and Regional Deals and is also the Acting Deputy Secretary Local Government.
Katrina has spent 25+ years in senior roles in the public service. Most recently she was the functional Chief Executive Cyclone Recovery leading and coordinating the central government recovery programme arising out of the 2023 severe weather events.
Katrina has held second tier corporate and then operational roles (leading the then Probation Service and Psychological services) in the Department of Corrections. Katrina led the operational arm of the Ministry of Education for 9 years and then moved to DPMC to establish the Implementation Unit.
Most of her career has been spent leading workforces of around 2000 staff across the country and implementing significant change and new initiatives. Katrina has a Bachelor of Science from Canterbury University and a Masters in Regional and Resource Planning with Distinction from Otago University.
As Acting Deputy Secretary Local Government, Katrina has the following positions reporting to her:
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
|
Richard Ward |
General Manager Local Government Policy, Partnerships and Operations |
|
Lori Hand |
Executive Director, Water Services Reform |
|
Hemi Smiler |
Executive Director, Simplifying Local Government |
Hoani Lambert - Deputy Secretary Partnerships and Commissions
Hoani Lambert
Hoani Lambert (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Porou) is Hautū - Deputy Secretary for Partnerships and Commissions. In this role, Hoani oversees several key functions and entities, including Archives New Zealand, the National Library, and Ministerial Services. In addition, his responsibilities extend to Community Operations Hāpai Hapori and the Te Ara Tahi Programme.
Prior to joining DIA, Hoani served as Tamariki Advocate, Deputy Chief Executive Voices of Children at Oranga Tamariki – Ministry for Children. In this capacity, Hoani championed the interests of children and young people across the government system, ensuring their voices remained central to policy, service design, and delivery. He also oversaw the Ministry’s implementation of new legislative duties in relation to the Treaty of Waitangi.
Though a specialist in communications, public relations and social marketing, Hoani has had a diverse range of professional roles. He has worked in parliament, directed biosecurity border operations, and worked as a diplomat with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Hoani holds an Executive Master's in Public Administration (EMPA) from the Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG).
As Deputy Secretary for Partnerships and Commissions, Hoani has the following positions reporting to him:
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
|
Rachel Esson |
National Librarian |
|
Anahera Morehu |
Chief Archivist |
|
Briget Ridden |
General Manager Ministerial Services |
|
Aiolupotea Sina Aiono |
General Manager Community Operations (Hāpai Hapori) |
|
Duncan Boennic |
General Manager Te Ara Tahi |
|
Penny Langley |
Director Branch Performance |
|
Margot Dow |
Chief Advisor to the Lottery Grants Board |
Darrin Sykes - Deputy Secretary Enterprise Services
Darrin Sykes
Darrin Sykes MNZM JP CMInstD is Deputy Secretary Enterprise Services. This role spans strategy, implementation and performance for the branch, organisational capability and culture development, organisational infrastructure and system investment, and smart delivery of core organisational services. Core organisational services are delivered by the following teams: Strategy Governance and Risk, Human Resources - Pūmanawa Tangata, Finance - Kōkiri Tāuru, Communications - Te Manu Karere and Branch Development & Support - Te Waka Aukaha, Information Security and Enterprise Digital Services.
Darrin is Ngāti Rangitihi/Ngāti Awa and brings a strong set of public service skills and experiences to Te Tari Taiwhenua. Darrin joined Te Tari from the Office of Māori Crown Relations – Te Arawhiti where he was the Deputy Chief Executive, Organisational Services. Darrin has worked in the Māori-Crown Relations space for over 20 years including his role as Acting Deputy Chief Executive People, Culture and Enabling Services, Oranga Tamariki, Chief Executive CFRT, Acting Deputy Secretary Support Services Te Puni Kōkiri and as the Director Waitangi Tribunal. Darrin is a current Public Service Commission Corporate Development Board Member appointed back in 2020.
Darrin also has held several directorships on governing boards, Capital & Coast District Coast Board Government appointee from 2010-2019, where he was Deputy Chair and then Chair of the Finance, Risk and Audit Committee, and Sport New Zealand Board Member Government appointee from 2013-2020. Darrin was an external reviewer for the 2019 Performance Improvement Framework self-review of the Health Quality and Safety Commission (HQSC) and is again a reviewer assisting the Commission in 2023. Darrin has been a member of the Institute of Directors of NZ since 2003 and has been a Chartered Member (CMInstD) of the Institute since 2014.
Darrin also comes from a strong sports and recreation background including being director and Chair for a Touch Rugby NZ for 23 years. Darrin’s service and contribution to the sport of Touch Rugby in New Zealand was recognised in 2013 when he was awarded a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM). Darrin was also a Board Member of Sport Wellington/Nuku Ora from 2011 to 2019.
Darrin is the Touch NZ National Director of Referees and is also a member of the Federation of International Touch Rugby Referee Commission where he has served continuously since 1999. Darrin was awarded Life Membership of the Federation of International Touch in January 2022.
As Deputy Secretary for Enterprise Services, Darrin has the following positions reporting to him:
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
|
Fa’aolofaiva Setefano Siu-Magele |
Director Strategy Governance and Risk |
|
Brett Warwick |
Acting Chief Financial Officer |
|
Melanie Carpinter |
General Manager Communications |
|
Simon George |
General Manager Human Resources |
|
Eleanor Sabiston |
Director Branch Performance |
|
Murray Davey |
General Manager Enterprise Digital Services, Chief Information Officer (CIO) |
|
Katrina Banks |
Chief Information Security Officer |
John Sneyd - Acting Deputy Secretary - Regulatory and Identity Services
(Photo and biography to come)
As Deputy Secretary for Regulatory and Identity Services, John has the following positions reporting to him:
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
|
Adrian Jarvis |
General Manager Services and Access |
|
Russell Burnard |
General Manager Identity Operations |
|
Hollie Pohatu |
Director Pou Ārahi |
|
Greg Archer |
General Manager Engagement, Data and Innovation |
|
Jared Mullen |
General Manager Digital Safety and Investigations |
|
Julia Taylor |
Director Branch Performance |
