Board of directors Board of directors
Auckland Transport has been established as a council controlled organisation (CCO) with eight board members. A CCO is a company or organisation in which a local authority controls 50% or more of the votes, or has the right to appoint 50% or more of the directors or trustees.
Board of directors
- Dr Lester Levy, Chair
- Wayne Donnelly, Deputy Chair
- Kylie Clegg
- Sir Michael Cullen
- Mary-Jane Daly
- Mark Gilbert
- Dame Paula Rebstock
- Dr Jim Mather
Role and appointment process
Auckland Transport’s activities are directed and guided at a strategic level by the board of directors:
- Between 6 and 8 voting directors are appointed by Auckland Council and will generally serve a term of 1 to 3 years and then may be re-appointed by Auckland Council for a further 3 years.
- Two of those directors may be members of Auckland Council.
- In addition, 1 non-voting member is nominated by the New Zealand Transport Agency.
The board has overall responsibility for delivering transport in Auckland; this includes managing and controlling public transport and local roads, as well as preparing the Auckland Regional Land Transport Programme.
All decisions relating to the operation of Auckland Transport are made by, or under, the authority of the board in accordance with the Local Government (Tamaki Makaurau Reorganisation) Amendment Act 2009, the Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009, and the Local Government (Auckland Transitional Provisions) Act 2010.
Auckland Transport board members
Dr Lester Levy - Chairperson
Lester Levy has over two decades’ experience in a range of roles as a chairman, chief executive and entrepreneur. Lester’s governance experience includes chairing private healthcare, film and television production, research, biotechnology and engineering enterprises.
His previous roles include Chief Executive of South Auckland Health, the New Zealand Blood Service and MercyAscot Private Hospital Group (where he was a founder).
Current roles and general disclosure of interests:
- Chairman, Health Research Council.
- Member, Ministerial Advisory Group on Health.
- Independent Chairman, Eye Institute.
- Independent Chairman, New Zealand Radiology Group.
- Independent Director, Skin Institute.
- Independent Chairman, Tonkin + Taylor.
- Adjunct Professor of Leadership, University of Auckland Business School.
- Lead Reviewer, State Services Commission Performance Improvement Framework.
- Strategic Advisor, Ngāti Whātua.
Wayne Donnelly - Deputy Chair
Wayne Donnelly is a former Chief Executive of Land Transport New Zealand (now the NZ Transport Agency) and Rodney District Council, where he was responsible for managing the council’s operations. He has held senior management positions in the construction sector and at the former Auckland City Council, and worked in the transport and oil industries in Britain and Hong Kong.
Current roles and general disclosure of interests:
- Managing Director, Donnelly Consulting Ltd.
Kylie Clegg
Kylie Clegg has a corporate legal background, having specialised in mergers and acquisitions and providing corporate governance advice across a range of industries for private and publicly listed companies and government organisations. Kylie was a previous Auckland Transport Board Observer.
Current roles and general disclosure of interests:
- Deputy Chair, Waitematā District Health Board.
- Director, Counties Manukau District Health Board.
- Director, Sport New Zealand.
- Director, High Performance Sport New Zealand.
- Trustee (ex officio), Well Foundation.
Sir Michael Cullen
Michael Cullen was an Otago University lecturer until he entered Parliament in 1981. Michael was Finance Minister from 1999 to 2008, and Deputy Prime Minister from 2002 to 2008. His achievements include the establishment of the New Zealand Superannuation Fund and the creation of KiwiSaver.
Current roles and general disclosure of interests:
- Chair, Government Tax Review Working Group.
- Director, Lifetime Asset Management Limited.
- Director, Lifetime Income Limited.
- Director, Retirement Income Group Limited.
- Lead Treaty Claims Negotiator, Te Kotahitanga o Ngāti Tūwharetoa.
Mary-Jane Daly
Mary-Jane Daly is a former Executive General Manager and Chief Financial Officer at IAG New Zealand. Before joining IAG, she spent four years with Fonterra as Group Treasurer and Risk Manager. She has also held positions at the Bank of New Zealand, National Australia Bank and Toronto-Dominion Bank in London.
Current roles and general disclosure of interests:
- Director, Cigna Life Insurance New Zealand Limited.
- Director, Kiwi Property Group Limited.
- Deputy Chair, Airways Corporation of New Zealand Limited.
Mark Gilbert
Mark Gilbert has three decades’ experience in a range of senior management and directorships in the automotive industry. He was previously Managing Director of BMW Group, both in New Zealand and the Philippines, and has been an Executive Member of the NZ Business Council for Sustainable Development (now the Sustainable Business Council) and President, Motor Industry Association of New Zealand Inc.
Current roles and general disclosure of interests:
- Chair, Motorcycle Safety Advisory Council.
- Chair, Drive Electric Inc.
- Chair, New Zealand Winegrowers Research Centre.
- Owner/Director, Insight Perspective Limited.
- Independent Director, Partmaster Limited.
- Deputy Chair, Appliance Connexion Limited, Appliance Connexion Group Services Limited and Score Limited.
- Director, DEKRA New Zealand Limited.
- Chair and shareholder, Chargemaster Limited.
- Member, Ministry of Transport Electric Vehicle Programme Leadership Group.
- Member, Institute of Directors NZ Inc.
- Deputy Chair, Earthquake Commission.
Dame Paula Rebstock, DNZM
Paula Rebstock was Chair of the Commerce Commission 2003-2009, and a Director of the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology 1999-2004. Before that she was General Manager, Labour Market Policy Group, Department of Labour and worked in The Treasury and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Paula has also chaired significant government reviews and panels.
Current roles and general disclosure of interests:
- Chair, ACC.
- Chair, New Zealand Police Women’s Advisory Network.
- Member, University of Auckland Business School Advisory Board.
- Member, Synergia Limited Advisory Board.
- Chair, New Zealand Defence Force Advisory Board.
- Chair, Vulnerable Children’s Board.
- Chair, Finance, Risk and Assurance Committee, Auckland District Health Board.
- Chair, Audit and Risk Committee Tonkin + Taylor.
- Senior consultant, Strategis; Director/shareholder, On Being Bold.
- Consultant, Vodafone.
Dr Jim Mather
Dr Jim Mather is of Ngāti Awa, Tūhoe and English descent. He has 25 years of leadership experience and is currently Chair of Radio New Zealand, Director of Ngāti Awa Group Holdings Limited and a member of the MBIE Risk and Advisory Committee.
Previously he has led Māori Television and Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and was Chief Executive of the Pacific Business Trust from 2002 to 2005. He is also a qualified accountant and a member of the Chartered Accountants of Australia & New Zealand and the New Zealand Institute of Directors.
A former New Zealand Army officer, Dr Mather was awarded the Sword of Honour in recognition of his distinguished achievements in Officer training.
Current roles and general disclosure of interests:
- Chair, Radio New Zealand.
- Director, Ngāti Awa Group Holdings Limited.
- Member, MBIE Risk and Advisory Committee.
- Member, Chartered Accountants of Australia & New Zealand.
- Member, New Zealand Institute of Directors.
You may also be interested in:
Board meeting calendar and board reports