Our leadership

Gráinne Moss, Chief Executive and Secretary for Regulation

Gráinne was appointed to the role of Chief Executive and Secretary for Regulation on 18 September 2024, for a five-year term. 

Prior to her role as Chief Executive and Secretary for Regulation (Establishment) with the Ministry, she was Chief Executive and System Lead Pay Equity at Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission.

She served as the first Secretary of Children and Chief Executive Oranga Tamariki — Ministry for Children. She was previously Managing Director of Bupa Care Services NZ.

Gráinne holds a BSc (Hons) from the University of Liverpool and worked in the UK National Health Service prior to emigrating to New Zealand in 1998. Gráinne was awarded an MBA (Hons) in 2003 from IMD Switzerland and was presented with the Gillian Welshe Award for outstanding female graduate.

Andrew Royle, Deputy Chief Executive, Policy

Andrew was appointed as Deputy Chief Executive, Policy on 30 September 2024. He had been part of the original Ministry for Regulation establishment team, joining the Ministry on secondment on 1 March 2024 as the Ministry's Legal Lead.  

Andrew has previous experience in leading successful start-up entities such as establishing the first Government Chief Privacy Office and the Canterbury Earthquake Appeal Trust.

He has an extensive background in both legal and policy roles across multiple government agencies.

Throughout his career, Andrew has worked closely with policy professionals on a variety of key projects, including legislative stewardship, regulatory design, and implementing large-scale reforms. His leadership of initiatives such as the Government’s legal services strategy, and the 2013 State Sector Act reforms and his significant involvement in resource management reform highlights his deep engagement with policy development and implementation.

Andrew has held senior roles at the Ministry for the Environment, Crown Law, the (then) State Services Commission and Department of Internal Affairs.

Prior to joining the public service, he spent 15 years in private practice as a lawyer in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Andrew holds a BA/LLB from the University of Auckland. 

Paula Knaap, Deputy Chief Executive, Organisational Enablement

Paula was appointed as Deputy Chief Executive, Organisational Enablement, starting with the Ministry on 20 November 2024.

Paula will lead our Organisational Enablement group, providing corporate support services to the Ministry for Regulation.

Paula has worked across a range of regulatory environments and is joining the Ministry from the Environmental Protection Authority where she was General Manager, Strategy & Engagement. She has previously led large regulatory and social policy functions at WorkSafe NZ, Ministry of Education, and Inland Revenue, where she was a key member of the Leadership Team acknowledged for transforming performance, service and culture and won an IPANZ Award for this in 2016.

Paula is a qualified lawyer with a master's degree in business from Henley Business School in the UK and is a Global Women Breakthrough Leaders Alumni. She also has extensive international experience, negotiating intergovernmental agreements and representing New Zealand overseas.

Paul Delahunty, Deputy Chief Executive, Reviews and System Capability

Paul was appointed as Deputy Chief Executive, Reviews and System Capability, starting with the Ministry on 11 November 2024.

Paul brings extensive experience across both the public and private sectors, having held senior leadership roles in various government agencies such as the Social Investment Agency, ACC, Tertiary Education Commission, and Department of Conservation.

With a proven record in system reform, organisational capability building, and delivering strategic advice to Chief Executives and Ministers, Paul has been instrumental in leading large-scale transformation, particularly in regulatory and legislative environments.

Paul’s most recent work includes supporting Ministry for the Environment with advisory services around the implementation of the Fast-track Approvals Bill, further showcasing his dedication to strengthening New Zealand’s regulatory frameworks.

He holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration and a Bachelor of Arts from Victoria University of Wellington.