About the board

The board has overall responsibility for delivering transport in Auckland and monitoring the performance of AT. This includes managing and controlling public transport and local roads, as well as approving the Regional Land Transport Plan (RLTP) for Auckland.

The board currently has 8 members. This includes 2 members of Auckland Council and one non-voting member nominated by New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) – Reuben Levermore.

The primary legislation giving authority to the board is the Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009.

Auckland Council’s Performance and Appointments Committee is responsible for appointments to the board. This is done in accordance with:

• the council’s Appointment and Remuneration Policy for Board Members
• the Local Government Act.

Transport reform

The Local Government (Auckland Council) (Transport Governance) Amendment Act is currently moving through the parliamentary process to become law.

Once finalised, the bill will give effect to an interim board. They will have responsibility to ensure, through the 6-month transport reform transition period, that Auckland Transport performs its current functions under direction of Auckland Council.

It will support the transition of transport functions to Auckland Council, and the establishment and performance of the transport council-controlled organisation (CCO). This will make sure the transition from the old act to the new act is efficient and effective.

The interim board members will be Andrew Ritchie (Chair), Rob Clarke, Dale Dillicar, Miriam Dean and Adrienne Young-Cooper.

Members of the board

Andrew Ritchie – Chair

Andrew has had over 30 years’ experience as a leader across the transport and tourism industries. He still has ownership in various business across New Zealand, Australia and the USA. He has a notable focus on public transport as former Director of Operations and CEO for Ritchies Transport Holdings and President of the Bus and Coach Association of NZ. He was appointed as a director of Auckland Transport in 2024.

Rob Clarke

Rob is an experienced businessman with international experience as a Managing Director within manufacturing, mining and agricultural industries.

He founded and chaired Chevron Traffic Services and chaired Chengeta Trust. This has given him experience in a range of industries such as traffic management businesses and related, training and technologies.

Dale Dillicar

Dale is a senior finance executive with over 25 years’ experience across global industries. She specialises in financial management, governance and operational oversight. For the past decade, she has been with Fonterra, currently serving as General Manager Financial Planning & Analysis for Fonterra's operating office. Dale was appointed to the board of Auckland Transport in 2024.

Miriam Dean (CNZM, KC)

Miriam Dean has extensive legal and governance experience. She has led a number of public enquiries and reviews, including Auckland Council’s 2019 review of CCOs. She was a member of the Auckland Transition Agency and the transition from Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Agency to (now) Crown Infrastructure Delivery Ltd. Miriam is a board member for Chorus Limited and Real Estate Institute of New Zealand. She recently retired as chair of the Banking Ombudsman Scheme.

Adrienne Young-Cooper

Adrienne is a highly respected governor with over 30 years of public sector experience. She has an in-depth knowledge of Auckland’s challenges regarding transport and urban development and infrastructure. Her previous roles include Eke Panuku, Housing New Zealand, Hobsonville Land Company and NZTA. She served as chair of Auckland Transport from 2020 to 2022. Adrienne also chairs Haumaru Housing and the Cornwall Park Trust Board.

Councillor Shane Henderson

Shane is an experienced local government leader with over a decade of service across Auckland’s governance system.

He has served as a Councillor for the Waitākere Ward since 2019. He is now Deputy Chair of Auckland Council’s Transport and Infrastructure Delivery Committee. Before his election to Council, he chaired the Henderson-Massey Local Board and is a former community lawyer.

His work in public office has centred on affordable public transport, effective infrastructure delivery, smart urban planning and environmental protection.

Born and raised in West Auckland, Shane brings a strong suburban lens to governance and decision-making. Living in Te Atatū South with his young family, he is driven to ensure all Auckland communities can access transport that is fast, affordable, and sustainable.

Councillor Maurice Williamson

Maurice has been an Auckland Councillor for the Howick Ward since 2022.

Before joining Auckland Council, Maurice was New Zealand’s Consul General in Los Angeles from 2017 to 2021. He also had a distinguished career as the Member of Parliament for Pakūranga, where he served for 30 years.

During his parliamentary tenure, Maurice held various ministerial positions, including:

• Minister of Transport
• Communications
• Customs
• Research Science and Technology
• Information Technology
• Building and Construction
• Broadcasting
• Land Information
• Statistics
• Small Business
• Local Government.

Between 1974 and 1987, Maurice worked for Air New Zealand in the Corporate Planning Division, working mainly in the field of fleet planning.

He holds a masters degree in physics and mathematics from University of Auckland.