Our people
Our Acting Chief Executive
Brad Ward, Acting Secretary for Transport and Chief Executive
Brad joined the Ministry as Acting Secretary for Transport and Chief Executive in January 2026. Before joining the Ministry of Transport Brad was the Acting Secretary and Chief Executive at the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.
Brad brings extensive experience in system leadership including his roles as Deputy Chief Executive, Organisational Performance and Deputy Chief Executive, Place-based Policy and Programmes at the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development. He has also held various leadership roles at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and has a strong background in working with large Crown Entities and a wide range of stakeholders.
Chief Executive’s expenses
We publish spreadsheets showing the Chief Executive's business expenses, gifts and hospitality over NZD $50.
Chief Executive’s expenses(external link)
Our Senior Leadership Team
Ruth Fairhall, Deputy Chief Executive, Policy Group
Ruth joined the Ministry of Transport in 2024 and was Acting Secretary for Transport and Chief Executive from February 2025 to January 2026. She was previously at the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet in the Policy Advisory Group and as the Head of Strategy and Policy at the COVID-19 All of Government Group. She is an experienced public sector leader having held senior management roles at the Ministry for Primary Industries and the Ministry of Justice.
Ruth leads the Policy Group, which is responsible for leading our advice on a range of transport policy issues, including maritime and freight, aviation, transport resilience and security, urban development and public transport, and policies to support improved environmental outcomes and climate change adaptation.
David Wood, Deputy Chief Executive, Investment and Monitoring Group
David is an experienced public sector leader and has been at the Ministry of Transport since June 2023.
Prior to joining the Ministry he held senior executive roles at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Treasury, and in the health sector. David has also held leadership roles at Auckland Council, United Kingdom local government, and the Ministry of Education.
David has a strong background in strategy, policy and commercial operations.
The Investment and Monitoring Group’s functions include Crown entity monitoring, investment, rail, programme monitoring and investment management, and transport financing.
Paul O’Connell, Deputy Chief Executive, Sector Strategy Group
Paul joined the Ministry in 2023. Paul’s career in the public service started out at the Treasury, and in New Zealand he has also held leadership roles at the Ministry of Justice, the Social Investment Agency, and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
The Sector Strategy Group is responsible for the Ministry’s advice on safety, regulatory reform, economics, data and analytics, strategic priorities, and transport modelling.
Outside of work, Paul lives in Karori with a poorly trained but very cute dog and runs a daily poetry mailing list that’s been going since 2003.
Carmen Mak, Deputy Chief Executive, Corporate Services
Carmen has been at the Ministry of Transport since February 2022 in Director roles, and was appointed to the Deputy Chief Executive role in June 2024.
Carmen is an experienced public sector practitioner, having worked in economic, trade and international policy roles in the Treasury, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), and at APEC. She has also had experience in leading the national standards body as an independent business unit within MBIE.
As the Deputy Chief Executive Corporate Services, Carmen leads the corporate functions that enable the Ministry to operate efficiently. These include finance, communications and engagement, human resources, business enablement and support, legal and procurement, and the New Zealand Search and Rescue Secretariat.
Chris Nees, Acting Chief of Staff
Chris joined the Ministry in early 2024, and plays a key role in shaping the strategic direction of the transport sector. With a strong background in public policy and strategic planning, Chris leads initiatives that align transport priorities with national goals, ensuring that infrastructure and services support economic growth, environmental sustainability, and social wellbeing. His work involves close collaboration with government agencies, industry stakeholders, and communities to develop evidence-based strategies that guide long-term investment and policy decisions.
Before joining the Ministry, Chris has had a long career at the Treasury, as well as roles at both the Department of Conservation and Ministry for the Environment. He has a Bachelor of Applied Economics (Hons) from Massey University and enjoys applying economic principles to policy making.
Our Ministers
Hon Chris Bishop – Minister of Transport(external link)
Hon James Meager – Associate Minister of Transport(external link)
You can find the ministers' contact details on our website.