Brook Barrington Appointed Head of New Zealand Foreign Affairs and Trade

MIL OSI – Source: New Zealand State Services Commission – Press Release/Statement Headline: Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade Appointed: Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade Appointed [caption id="attachment_689" align="alignleft" width="296"] Dr Brook Barrington.[/caption]State Services Commissioner Iain Rennie has today announced the appointment of Brook Barrington as Chief Executive and Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). Mr Barrington is a senior public servant.  His career includes 20 years in MFAT working on foreign policy and international trade issues, including as Ambassador to Thailand.  More recently he has been Deputy Secretary at the Ministry of Defence, and for the last three years has been a Deputy Chief Executive at the Ministry of Justice. “I am very pleased to appoint Brook Barrington to this important role,” Mr Rennie said. “Brook has significant experience in diplomacy, international negotiations and trade as a former Ambassador and long serving diplomat, as well as experience in senior leadership roles in other sectors of the Public Service,” he said. “MFAT has an important and unique role in representing New Zealand and promoting our interests overseas as well as providing assistance to New Zealanders in other countries when they need it”. “Public agencies working together as a single ‘system’ focused on ongoing improvement to the services we provide New Zealanders is a major priority for the Public Service,” said Mr Rennie. “I am confident Brook will be able to draw on his networks and experience across the Public Service to work as a team with other chief executives and ensure MFAT’s work is well integrated and aligned”. Mr Barrington has been appointed for a five year term commencing on 23 March 2015. Craig Hawke will be Acting Chief Executive until Mr Barrington takes up the role. The Chief Executive and Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade is responsible for a network of 57 posts in 50 countries. MFAT has 103 accreditations to other countries and 74 Honorary Consuls. ENDS BIOGRAPHY OF BROOK BARRINGTON Mr Barrington joined MFAT in 1990 and held a variety of roles both within New Zealand and offshore.  He left MFAT in 2009 to take leadership positions in the wider public sector. The first part of Mr Barrington’s career in MFAT was spent advancing New Zealand’s trade policy interests.  He worked across government and the private sector, and had postings to Canberra and Brussels.  The later part of his time in MFAT was more focused on political and security issues, including as Foreign Policy Advisor in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) and as Ambassador to Thailand for three years. From 2009 until 2012 he was Deputy Secretary, Policy and Planning in the Ministry of Defence, where he led the development of the 2010 Defence White Paper. Mr Barrington has recently held two Deputy Chief Executive (DCE) roles at the Ministry of Justice. He was initially the DCE Sector (2012-2014) with a particular focus on improving alignment and governance across the justice sector (Ministry of Justice, NZ Police and Department of Corrections). During 2014 he moved to the DCE role responsible for the overall management of the day-to-day operations of the Ministry of Justice, ensuring the Ministry has the strategy, governance, engagement and capability to deliver its core services effectively and efficiently. Mr Barrington holds a PhD in history from the University of Auckland. –]]>