New Zealand’s Key Policy Challenges

This is a public webinar. You can register here.

We launch the Foundation’s Honorary Fellows Programme with a conversation between Helen Clark and our Honorary Senior Fellows: Jonathan Boston ONZM, Lucy Cassels and Stephen Jacobi. These three respected policy thinkers will share their insights on some of the key policy challenges facing New Zealand and where we might look for solutions.

You can read more about our Honorary Fellows program here.

Meet our inaugural Honorary Fellows:

Professor Jonathan Boston ONZM

Jonathan is an Emeritus Professor of Public Policy in the School of Government at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington. His research interests include: climate change policy (both mitigation and adaptation); child poverty; governance (especially anticipatory governance); public management; tertiary education funding (especially research funding); and welfare state design. Jonathan has has served at various times as the Director of the Institute of Policy Studies and the Director of the Institute for Governance and Policy Studies at Victoria University of Wellington. He has also served in an expert advisory capacity to various public sector organisations. Jonathan has published widely on a range of matters including public management, social policy, climate change policy, tertiary education policy, and comparative government. He has served on the boards of a number of organisations including Oxfam NZ.

Jonathan’s work for the Foundation will explore public policy, governance and the future of democracy.

Lucy Cassels

Lucy is an experienced global health policy specialist, researcher and former career diplomat. She has held a diverse range of roles at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Ministry of Health, focused on multilateral negotiations and global health diplomacy, as well as aid and development in the Pacific and Southeast Asia. She was most recently Deputy Secretary for Policy & Strategy at the Ministry for Pacific Peoples, concentrating on critical issues affecting Pacific communities in Aotearoa New Zealand. In her research and consultancy work, Lucy is particularly interested in the intersection of environmental and health challenges, especially as they pertain to climate change in our region.

She will be writing on climate resilient development and innovation, as well as broader global health issues.

Stephen Jacobi

Stephen Jacobi currently serves as New Zealand Director for the Australia-New Zealand Leadership Forum which brings together business and government to create greater prosperity, security and sustainability for both countries.

A former diplomat and trade official, Stephen has served in various capacities including stints leading both NZ US and NZ China Councils as well as the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). Stephen serves as Managing Director of Jacobi Consulting Ltd and has recently stepped down as Executive Director of the New Zealand International Business Forum. He is a frequent media and public commentator on industry, trade and international issues.

Stephen will write about international trade issues and foreign affairs.