Leading the transition

Heather has extensive experience in government and public policy in New Zealand and internationally. She has been Chief of Staff for the New Zealand Prime Minister and Special Advisor to the United Nations Development Programme.

She has led a range of government projects including New Zealand’s Health and Disability System Review and a new group to support the Ministry of Health in improving COVID-19 border security.

Heather is a Director of Antarctica New Zealand and Ferry Holdings, and a former Director of Transpower and the Environmental Protection Authority.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Economics.

Dr Lindsay Burton is a veterinarian with a strong background in animal welfare governance and science-based decision making. He is a past Chair of the Veterinary Council of New Zealand.

He was Fonterra’s General Manager Veterinary, Technical and Risk Management, the Livestock Improvement Corporation’s Principal Veterinarian, and the Johne’s Disease Research Consortium’s Principal Scientist.

Lindsay has been a Director of New Zealand’s National Animal Identification and Traceability scheme and the Chair of the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Farm to Processor Animal Welfare Forum.

He holds a Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc) and began his career working in mixed animal practice.

Murray has more than 30 years' experience in public policy, regulation and public accountability across the New Zealand public sector.

He was a member of the Ministerial Advisory Committee appointed by the Minister of Racing to analyse the plan to close the greyhound racing industry and support the development of legislation enabling that closure.

At the Department of Internal Affairs, he helped lead the racing policy team that delivered two racing bills, developed a $72.5 million COVID-19 support package for the industry and served as liaison to the Robertson Review of the greyhound industry.

Murray has held senior roles in public agencies across the public sector. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Otago.

John brings over 30 years of banking experience, complemented by strong leadership and governance within the greyhound racing industry.

He has a proven track record in strategic oversight, stakeholder engagement, and industry advocacy, with expertise spanning governance, financial management, organisational leadership, and relationship management.

John has been involved in greyhound breeding and racing for many years. As the President of the Auckland Greyhound Racing Club, he provided strategic leadership and governance underpinned by thorough research, careful planning, and sound judgement with a strong commitment to the responsible rehoming of retired greyhounds.

Christine Bennett is a senior public sector executive with a strong track record delivering complex, high-profile transitions and organisational change projects, in sensitive environments and at pace.

She has held executive and senior leadership roles at the Department of Internal Affairs, Education Payroll and KiwiBuild at Kāinga Ora.

Prior to her appointment as Chief Executive, she was the Establishment Lead for the Greyhound Transition Agency.

She worked with the Board to design the programme and then led the programme, including setting up the operating model and governance needed to deliver a fair, transparent and humane transition.

Gavin is a veterinarian with extensive experience caring for and rehoming greyhounds across Australia and New Zealand.

He has worked with the regulatory arm of Australia’s Greyhound Racing Victoria, as General Manager of Greyhound Welfare and Rehoming. During his eight-year tenure, the regulator’s Greyhound Adoption Program had over 10,000 greyhounds adopted as pets and was responsible for managing compliance in the adoption of another 10,000 greyhounds rehomed by others.

On his return to New Zealand, Gavin was the Greyhound Welfare Manager and Chief Veterinarian at Greyhound Racing New Zealand for 15 months before joining the Greyhound Transition Agency’s Establishment Team to develop its welfare and rehoming standards, processes and systems.

Gavin began his career in mixed veterinary practice and worked in New Zealand for around 15 years, taking a special interest in greyhound medicine and surgery. He also has over a decade’s experience in business management. He holds a Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc).

Duane is an experienced public sector executive with a strong track record in organisational performance, people leadership and enabling services.

He has held senior leadership roles across the public sector, including at the Public Service Commission and in the establishment of new government entities. His experience spans strategy, operating models, workforce capability, organisational development and enterprise services, enabling organisations and their people to perform through change and transition.

Duane contributed to the Greyhound Transition Agency's establishment work, with a focus on the people and organisational capability needed to support a fair, transparent and humane transition.

His role brings together support for people in the industry to move forward with the business enablement functions that help the Transition Agency deliver across its outcomes, including communications and marketing, finance and contracts, governance, people, and process, digital and data capability.

He holds an Executive Master of Public Administration from Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington and the Australia and New Zealand School of Government.

Jeremy is a chartered accountant with expertise working with a wide range of businesses in transition and closure. As a Director at PwC, he specialised in forensic accounting, restructuring, insolvency administration and tertiary education.

He has acted as an Independent Board Monitor to TAB NZ and other Crown and private entities.

Jeremy has been an independent consultant to a range of government agencies and providers, especially within tertiary education and the racing industry, and currently holds Chair and Board roles in these sectors.

He has also held senior leadership roles at Wellington Free Ambulance, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and Te Papa Tongarewa: The Museum of New Zealand; and has acted as a Chief Financial Officer or Chief Operating Officer to a number of other organisations.