SPEAKERS

Una Jagose has an extensive career as a public sector lawyer having worked in four major government agencies – in legal and policy development roles with the Ministry of Consumer Affairs which was part of the then Ministry of Commerce; Chief Legal Advisor at the Ministry of Fisheries; Crown Counsel and Deputy Solicitor-General at Crown Law and Acting Director of the Government Communications Security Bureau for a year in 2015 prior to her appointment as Solicitor-General (the Crown’s junior law officer) and Chief Executive of the Crown Law Office in February 2016. Appointed Queen’s Counsel in June 2016.

Una’s career as a public sector lawyer has given her a wealth of experience in providing focused and practical advice to assist Ministers and senior decision-makers achieve their strategic goals and also in advising Ministers and public sector organisations on a broad range of public law and constitutional matters. From 2011-2014 Una taught the public law module for Masters in Public Policy Course at Victoria University’s School of Government. She has represented the Crown in courts at all levels, and along with an extensive litigation history, she has a breadth of experience which gives a broad perspective on legal issues and leadership.

Sir Brian is the Public Service Commissioner and Head of Service. He most recently has been Chair of the Cyclone Recovery Taskforce from 2023 to 2024 and Chair of New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi from 2019 to 2022. Sir Brian was the Chief Executive of New Zealand Post from 2010 to 2017 and prior to this was a Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) from 1987 to 2009.