Ellen MacGregor-Reid is Secretary for Education.

She joined the Ministry in March 2015 and has held Deputy Secretary roles across a range of functions, including curriculum. Before joining the Ministry, she worked at the Treasury and held leadership positions at the Ministry of Social Development, and the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet as social policy and health advisor to the Prime Minister.

Andy Jackson started at Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga | The Ministry of Education in 2017. He leads Te Pou Kaupapahere | Policy and is responsible for strategic, funding, and regulatory policy advice and analysis across the education system, covering Early Childhood, Schooling and Tertiary Education, including Māori-medium and Pacific education.

He has over 20 years of experience in public policy and operations, and has led teams at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, and the Tertiary Education Commission. He has also worked at the Treasury on a range of economic policy issues including serving as advisor to the Treasury Secretary.

Andy holds a BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Oxford, and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Public Policy from Victoria University.

Anna Welanyk leads Te Pou Ohumahi Mātauranga | Education Workforce and is responsible for education sector workforce supply and leadership, sector payroll, collective bargaining and pay equity.

She comes with years of experience leading and transforming organisations and working with communities and stakeholders. She has held senior leadership roles in the private and public sectors both in New Zealand and overseas. These include Property NSW, NSW Valuation Services, Corporate Services for Service NSW, Director of the NSW Port Authority and CEO of the Waste Asset Management Corporation.

Mere-Hēni Simcock-Rēweti leads Te Pou Tuarongo and is responsible for supporting the development of relationships between Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga | Ministry of Education and Māori.

She brings skills and experience in social, education, and cultural development from her work at Te Puni Kōkiri (Māori Development), Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori (Māori Language Commission), Ministry of Social Development, The Office for Māori Crown Relations – Te Arawhiti, and most recently, Manatū Taonga – Ministry for Culture and Heritage.

Geoff leads our Te Mahau | Education Services group and is responsible for the delivery of education services that aim to support learners at each stage of their individual learning journey.

A former secondary school teacher who has worked in both English and Māori-medium settings, Geoff has also held senior roles in multiple government agencies, contributing to national strategies in education, Māori development, child wellbeing and mental health. These include roles at Ministry of Education, Te Puni Kōkiri, Ministry of Health and most recently Ministry for Children – Oranga Tamariki.

Bridget leads our Learning Support group and is responsible for the provision of learning support services that support learners with additional needs.

Bridget has extensive experience in senior public service roles working across agencies and sectors to improve strategy and governance, and sector and system performance. Bridget started her working life as a psychologist in the criminal justice system. She has served as Deputy Commissioner at the Public Service Commission, Deputy Chief Executive for the COVID-19 Health Response, and most recently as Deputy Director-General at the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB).

Rich leads the Ministry’s Digital and Data group and is responsible for strengthening the Ministry’s digital and data capabilities and how New Zealanders interact with our education services.

Rich has over 20 years of leadership experience in New Zealand and overseas, spanning technology, operations, strategy, product, sales, and professional services. Most recently, he was Chief Executive of CCL, a Spark NZ subsidiary delivering cloud and IT solutions. His recent work has focused on leveraging AI and digital tools to improve customer outcomes and support public and private sector organisations.

Pauline was a teacher and school leader before joining the Ministry in a literacy development role. More recently, Pauline has worked as the General Manager of Curriculum Integration Services in Te Poutāhū | Curriculum Centre.

Pauline is currently in the role of Hautū (Taupua) | Acting Deputy Secretary for Te Poutāhū. She works with Ministry teams in partnership with the sector, so we have a knowledge-rich and consistent national curriculum grounded in the science of learning. This way, every learner experiences an excellent and equitable education.

Doug is currently acting Deputy Secretary for Te Pou Rangatōpū | Corporate.

Doug has held a number of public sector senior leadership roles, including Deputy Commissioner, State Services Commission and Deputy Chief Executive, Ministry of Social Development. He has experience in leading major redesigns of performance systems, reviewing business units, delivering large, complex programmes and leading organisation-wide responses to critical incidents.