‘Free thinkers’ target security risks

A “group of free thinkers” has been chosen to detect unseen threats to New Zealand’s national security, advising the Prime Minister of danger before it arrives.

The chief executive of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Andrew Kibblewhite, said members of the group had been selected for their areas of expertise.

“They’re a group of free thinkers who between them cover the big risk areas.”

The members of the group are:

  • Ian Fletcher – head of the Government Communications Security Bureau
  • Sir Peter Gluckman – PM’s chief science adviser
  • Therese Walsh – chief executive of the 2015 Cricket World Cup
  • Karen Poutasi – chief executive of NZQA
  • Keith Turner – chairman of Fisher and Paykel
  • Richard Forgan – consulting partner at PWC
  • Hugh Cowan – Earthquake Commission executive
  • Lt Gen Rhys Jones – former Chief of Defence Force
  • Helen Anderson – director of Dairy NZ, Niwa and Branz
  • Murray Sherwin – chairman of the Productivity Commission
  • Led by GCSB boss Ian Fletcher, the group of 10 have been drawn from public and private life to find weaknesses in New Zealand’s armour.

Papers released to the Herald through the Official Information Act show the advisory group was formed as part of a streamlining process and to help “in anticipating and mitigating strategic national security risks”.

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