Executive Leadership Team
DIA's executive leadership team
- Office of the Secretary
- Policy and Te Tiriti
- Partnerships and Commissions
- Enterprise Services
- Digital Services
- Regulatory and Identity
(Note: This page still 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 |
|---|---|
| Fergus Broom |
Principal Advisor |
| Sue Goile |
Executive Services Officer to the Secretary |
Michael Lovett - Deputy Secretary Policy and Te Tiriti
Michael Lovett
Michael is Deputy Secretary for Policy and Te Tiriti.
Michael has worked in a variety of senior management roles in operational and policy agencies across the New Zealand public sector including the Ministry of Social Development, Ministry for the Environment and Department of Corrections. He started his career as a forensic psychologist and holds a Bachelor of Science and an Executive Master of Public Administration.
As Deputy Secretary for Policy and Te Tiriti, Michael has the following positions reporting to him:
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Clare Allison |
General Manager Policy |
| Richard Ward |
General Manager Local Government Policy, Partnerships and Operations |
| Jeremy Cauchi |
Director Ministerial and Monitoring |
| Dylan Tahau |
Director Te Tiriti and Partnerships |
| Lori Hand |
Acting Executive Director, Water Services Reform |
| Mark Batt |
Director Branch Performance |
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 a number of important functions and entities, including the National Library, Archives New Zealand and Ministerial Services. He also is responsible for Commissions and Inquiries, as well as Hāpai Hapori Community Operations and the Te Ara Tahi Programme, which is delivering the new archival building in Wellington.
Prior to joining DIA, Hoani was Tamariki Advocate, Deputy Chief Executive Voices of Children at Oranga Tamariki – Ministry for Children, a role in which he was responsible for advocating for children and young people’s interests across the government system, ensuring their voices are at the centre of government policy, service design and delivery. He was also responsible for overseeing the Ministry’s implementation of new legislative duties in relation to the Treaty of Waitangi.
Although 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) through 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 |
| Gina Smith |
General Manager Commissions |
| Karl McDiarmid |
Acting General Manager Ministerial Services |
| Clare Toufexis |
General Manager Community Operations (Hāpai Hapori) |
| Duncan Boennic |
General Manager Te Ara Tahi |
| Morag Ingram |
Director Branch Performance |
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: Workplace Services Group - He Ringa Manaaki; Human Resources - Pūmanawa Tangata; Finance - Kōkiri Tāuru; Communications - Te Manu Karere and Branch Development & Support - Te Waka Aukaha.
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 |
| Andrea Speir |
Chief Legal Advisor |
| Sharyn Mitchell |
Chief Financial Officer |
| Theresa Roigard |
Programme Director, Māori Capability Uplift |
| Melanie Carpinter |
General Manager Communications |
| Simon George |
General Manager Human Resources |
| Debra Love |
Acting General Manager Workplace Services |
| Eleanor Sabiston |
Director Branch Performance |
Myles Ward - Deputy Secretary Digital Services / Deputy Chief Digital Officer
Myles Ward
Myles was appointed Deputy Secretary in 2025, bringing with him chief executive and board-level experience across both the public and private sectors. He is widely recognised as a leader in digital transformation and strategic IT governance, with a proven track record of delivering complex, high-value programmes.
Prior to working at DIA, he was working with PwC under a joint partner programme, served as Chief Executive of Cogent NZ, and led HealthAlliance as Chief Executive for seven years. At HealthAlliance, Myles designed and led a multi-billion-dollar digital transformation initiative and introduced robust information systems governance frameworks that reshaped digital delivery.
Earlier in his career, Myles served as Chief Technology Officer at Inland Revenue (IR), where he played a pivotal role in a $2 billion business transformation programme that modernised New Zealand’s tax system and redefined customer engagement. Myles also brings significant international leadership experience. As an ISO Co-Chair, he led and coordinated the efforts of 26 nations in the development and implementation of global ICT standards.
Myles is also the Government's Deputy Chief Digital Officer.
As Deputy Secretary Digital Services, Myles has the following positions reporting to him:
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Monica Greenan |
General Manager Agency Partnerships and Capability GCPO |
| Richard Ashworth |
General Manager AoG Services Delivery |
| Amy Allison |
Director Strategy |
| Robert Te Moana |
Director Māori Digital Crown Relationships/Te Pou Matihiko |
| Mike West |
Establishment Director Trust Framework |
| Murray Davey |
General Manager Digital Services and Solutions, Chief Information Officer (CIO) |
| Tessa Houghton |
Principal Advisor |
| Christine Casserly |
Director Branch Performance |
Rachel Leota - Deputy Secretary - Regulatory and Identity Services
Rachel Leota
Rachel brings extensive experience in the public sector, having worked for 18 years at the Department of Corrections, the last five years as National Commissioner with a team of over 9000, and more recently as Deputy Chief Executive, Tamariki and Whānau with Oranga Tamariki.
She has significant experience leading and innovating core service delivery, establishing new digital services and major technology replacement and has delivered performance improvements around a range of service delivery measures.
Rachel has worked in legislative and regulated environments across many areas of government with exposure to many of our regulatory systems, including gambling, digital child exploitation, digital violent extremism and anti-money laundering.
Rachel also brings significant experience working with other departments across sectors and in building strategic relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders, including Ministers, iwi, the private sector, communities, partners and providers and unions.
As Deputy Secretary for Regulatory and Identity Services, Rachel has the following positions reporting to her:
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| John Sneyd |
General Manager Regulatory Services |
| Adrian Jarvis |
General Manager Services and Access |
| Justin Rowlands |
General Manager Partners and Products |
| Russell Burnard |
General Manager Operations and Registrar-General of Births Deaths and Marriages |
| Hollie Pohatu |
Director Pou Ārahi |
| Tiffany Scott |
General Manager Planning, Design and Assurance |
| Greg Archer |
General Manager Te Ara Manaaki |
| Jared Mullen |
Director Digital Safety |
