New Director Strategic Engagement and Implementation, WorkSafe New Zealand

We’re pleased to announce that Paula Knaap has been appointed to the new role of Director of Strategic Engagement and Implementation at WorkSafe New Zealand.

Paula brings a wealth of expertise as an accomplished leader. She has established a successful career within the Public Service and is known for her ability to create exceptional teams delivering exceptional results.

She is a member of the State Services Commission Career Board and most recently enjoyed a Career Board secondment as Deputy Director of Education with the Ministry of Education where she gained valuable experience leading complex service change in the dynamic Auckland social sector context. This involved leading the development, delivery and monitoring of the services and support to almost 2,000 education providers across Auckland.

Paula also has extensive leadership experience working in several high-profile roles within Inland Revenue. These included Operations Manager, International Portfolios and Group Manager Collections responsible for 1,000 people and a range of business portfolios across tax and social policy.

A recent career highlight is being part of the executive leadership team responsible for creating transformational change that resulted in Inland Revenue winning the “Excellence in Improving Public Value through Business Transformation” category at the 2016 Institute of Public Administration NZ (IPANZ) Awards.

Paula is also experienced in managing international relationships and in leading organisational change. While managing Inland Revenue’s International Social Policy Operations she led the design and implementation of a new customer-centric operating model for IRD’s child support international business portfolio.

Paula has a law degree and has previously practiced as a solicitor and in both the private and public sector. She also has a Master of Business with Distinction from Henley Business School in the UK.

Paula is passionate about supporting an efficient and responsive public service, where people – customer and community – are firmly in the centre of service design and delivery.

When not at work, she lives on a lifestyle block in Waikato with her husband Ray, three children and what she describes as a menagerie of animals.

Congratulations and welcome to the crew Paula.