MEDIA RELEASE
Wednesday 17 May 2006
Appointment of Chief Executive and Secretary for Transport
The State Services Commissioner, Mark Prebble today announced that Alan Thompson has been appointed as Chief Executive
and Secretary for Transport, Ministry of Transport. Alan Thompson is presently the Chief Executive of the Auckland
Regional Transport Authority (ARTA).
Mark Prebble says Alan Thompson has over 30 years' experience working in a range of positions in Australia, 16 years of
which were in public sector agencies as chief executive. In November 2004 he was appointed as ARTA's inaugural Chief
Executive. In this role he has established an effective organisation, which has concentrated on expanding passenger
transport services and establishing strategic directions for transport in Auckland. He has now developed good working
relationships within the New Zealand transport sector and with local government in Auckland.
Before taking up this role in Auckland, Alan Thompson was the Chief Executive of the Australian Capital Territory
Department of Urban Services. Other leadership roles included Chief Executive of the Australian Capital Territory Chief
Minister's department, and Secretary, Victorian Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
He has a Master of Science from London University, a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) from Melbourne University and a
Diploma (Studies in Earth Sciences) from Imperial College, London.
Mark Prebble says Alan Thompson has a proven track record of leading policy reform and managing change in transport and
many other sectors in Australia.
"He has also established good working relationships within the New Zealand transport and local government sectors. He
has the skills and experience required to lead the Ministry of Transport. He will ensure the Ministry has the capability
required to provide strategic policy direction to achieve the objectives in the New Zealand Transport Strategy and to
contribute to other all of government initiatives such as sustainable cities and climate change.
"Alan Thompson will take up his appointment shortly," Mark Prebble said.
ENDS