Executive Leadership Team
DIA's executive leadership team
- Office of the Secretary
- Policy and Te Tiriti
- 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 |
|
Kelly Ritchie |
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 |
Grace Smit – Deputy Secretary Partnerships and Commissions
Grace Smit
Grace Smit (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa, Ngāti Matangirau, Ngāti Rakaipaaka) is Deputy Secretary Partnerships and Commissions, joining DIA in August 2026.
In this role, Grace oversees several key functions and entities, including Archives New Zealand, the National Library, and Ministerial Services. In addition, her responsibilities extend to Community Operations Hāpai Hapori.
Prior to joining DIA, Grace held several Deputy Secretary roles at Te Puni Kōkiri since joining the organisation in 2021. Her most recent position was Deputy Secretary Regions, where Grace was responsible for Crown-Māori/Iwi relationships and Whānau Ora.
From 2015-2021, Grace held multiple roles at the Ministry of Justice, including Director Waitangi Tribunal and Director Māori Land Court. Prior to that she spent a decade working in leadership positions at the Department of Corrections.
In 2022 Grace received Te Tohu Ratonga Tūmatanui o Aotearoa | The New Zealand Public Service Medal.
As Deputy Secretary Partnerships and Commissions, Grace has the following positions reporting to her:
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
|
Rachel Esson |
National Librarian |
|
Anahera Morehu |
Chief Archivist |
|
Briget Ridden |
General Manager Ministerial Services |
|
Aiolupotea Sina Aiono |
General Manager Community Operations |
|
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 |
General Manager 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 |
Hoani Lambert (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Porou, Ngai Tuhoe)
Hoani Lambert
Hoani Lambert (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Porou, Ngai Tuhoe) is Deputy Secretary Regulatory and Identity Services at the Department of Internal Affairs. He is responsible for services that are central to the lives of New Zealanders, including passports, citizenship, births, deaths and marriages registration, and RealMe. He also leads the Department's regulatory functions, including anti-money laundering and countering financing of terrorism, gambling regulation, charities regulation, and digital safety.
Prior to this role, Hoani was Deputy Secretary Partnerships and Commissions, where he led Community Operations, Ministerial Services, Archives New Zealand and the National Library of New Zealand. He also oversaw major strategic investment and transformation programmes, including the development of a new national archival facility in Wellington.
Before joining DIA, Hoani was Tamariki Advocate and Deputy Chief Executive Voices of Children at Oranga Tamariki. In this role he advocated for the interests of children and young people across government and oversaw the Ministry's implementation of legislative responsibilities relating to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
His career spans executive leadership roles across community investment, national cultural institutions, child advocacy, border operations, diplomacy and regulatory systems, providing a broad perspective on the stewardship of public services and institutions that support New Zealanders and strengthen trust in government. A communications, public relations and social marketing specialist by background, Hoani has worked in Parliament, directed biosecurity border operations, and served as a diplomat with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Hoani holds an Executive Master of Public Administration from the Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG) and has completed executive study through the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford.
As Deputy Secretary for Regulatory and Identity Services, Hoani has the following positions reporting to him:
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
|
Adrian Jarvis |
General Manager Services and Access |
|
Russell Burnard |
General Manager Identity Operations |
|
John Sneyd |
General Manager Regulatory Services |
|
Dion Chamberlain |
General Manager Engagement, Data and Innovation |
|
Jared Mullen |
General Manager Digital Safety and Investigations |
|
Hollie Pohatu |
Director Pou Ārahi |
|
Duncan Boennic |
Chief Advisor |
|
Julia Taylor |
Director Branch Performance |
