South Waikato District Council (SWDC) announce Susan Law as the new chief executive starting in early June. Law has extensive experience leading large public sector organisations in both New Zealand and abroad.
She joins SWDC from Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council in Australia. Law has made the decision to come home to New Zealand after more than 20 years abroad in Australia, the UK and South Africa.
Born in the Lower Hutt, Wellington, Law trained as a lawyer. While she enjoyed the degree, she didn’t particularly enjoy practicing law so only stayed in the profession a few years. She moved into the government sector working for Housing New Zealand first and then HealthCare Otago.
Her role as HealthCare Otago general manager saw her implementing reforms in the primary, secondary and tertiary health sectors which eliminated operating deficits and in local government this has been achieved without loss or reduction in services.
Heading next to Australia where Law made the shift to the local government sector. She led City of Charles Sturt and Adelaide City Council before moving on to a secondment in Cape Town, South Africa as World Bank advisor to the city’s Mayor. She next headed to the UK, staying in the public service sector, firstly leading Doncaster METRO Borough Council and then Wokingham Borough Council.
Law then headed back to Australia where she started a consultancy assisting councils undergoing amalgamations with developing strategy, outcomes and planning.
Law’s passion for local government led her back into the sector directly, working first for Armidale Regional Council and then on to her current role with Northern Peninsula.
Her strong leadership skills are demonstrated by a track record in inspiring and motivating staff, and gaining the confidence of governing bodies (Boards of Directors, Ministers of the Crown and Municipal Councils). Law’s career features the implementation of significant shifts in public sector policy.
She has successfully achieved major and pervasive turnarounds in each of the organisations she has led in difficult political and financial circumstances.
“I believe that people get to do great things in the local government sector,” Law says. “I am very much looking forward to getting back to New Zealand and helping position the South Waikato District in the best place for the future and to navigate through all the reform processes facing the sector.
“I am looking forward to getting to know the community, council staff and elected members.”
Mayor Jenny Shattock is very pleased with the appointment, saying “Susan’s passion for managing change and connecting with people are ideal strengthens for the challenges and opportunities facing our council and the South Waikato community.
“Several of Susan’s referees used the words ‘motivational’ and ‘inspirational’ when we got to that stage of the process,” Mayor Jenny says.
Financial and productivity driven organisational transformations have been a feature of Law’s leadership – delivering better services and greater value to tax payers.
Law is married to New Plymouth born, now-retired auditor, Stuart Jamieson and they share one daughter, who lives in Canberra, Australia, where she works as a lawyer.
The couple had started looking at opportunities to return home to New Zealand. When Law saw this role advertised, she leapt at the chance to come home, lead a local authority through a changing landscape and help build a community’s future.
