New Professionals Breakfast with Carolyn Van Leuven

Carolyn van Leuven is the Deputy Chief Executive - Office of the Chief Executive at the Department of Corrections, Ara Poutama Aotearoa, supporting Corrections’ goals of ensuring public safety and reducing re-offending. Through three separate functions, her office collectively improves departmental responsiveness to the most acute and ongoing challenges.

• Te Tari Tirohia, the Office of the Inspectorate provides independent oversight and assurance to ensure prisoners are treated fairly, safely, securely and humanely.
• Rautaki Māori (Māori Strategy & Partnerships) develops and oversees key strategic relationships with Māori and is responsible for the Department’s Māori-focused strategy.
• The principal advisors provide high-level strategic, organisational and operational advice, and help manage key external relationships across the state sector.

Carolyn’s had an unusual career trajectory – with experiences ranging from professional musician to litigator to energy industry specialist to major commercial law firm partner to public servant; and with some education, sports and cultural governance and leadership thrown in for good measure! Since moving to the public service nine years ago, she has been fortunate to work with some fantastic leaders and colleagues in MBIE (and its predecessor, MED), DPMC and Corrections to make a difference for New Zealanders and New Zealand, across the economic, social, border and justice sectors.