Governance and leadership

The people who provide the governance, leadership and sector expertise to guide SafetyNet.

Governance
Ministers

The Oversight Ministers accountable for SafetyNet are the Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery and the Minister of Finance.

Board

The SafetyNet Board is accountable to the Shareholding Ministers for the delivery of investment objectives. The Board is responsible for the delivery of the Public Safety Network and SafetyNet's strategy, risk management and performance.

Expert advisory panel

The Board draws on the skills and knowledge of an expert advisory panel which includes the Commissioner of Police and the Chief Executives of Fire and Emergency New Zealand, Hato Hone St John, the National Emergency Management Agency and Wellington Free Ambulance.

CEO and leadership team

SafetyNet is led by the Chief Executive and he and the Leadership team are responsible for the day-to-day leadership and management of the organsiation and its important network of relationships. The team delivers on the Board's strategic direction, oversees operational performance and leads the people, partnerships and capabilities that enable SafetyNet to deliver communication services and solutions supporting better everyday public safety, and large-scale emergency response and recovery.

SafetyNet Board

  • Rob Fyfe

    Chair

  • Deborah Battell

    Board Member

  • TJ Kennedy

    Board Member

  • Greg Lowe

    Board Member

  • Glen Sowry

    Board Member

Rob Fyfe

Chair

Rob is an experienced Director and Investor, former CEO of Air New Zealand and former Chairman of the Chief Executive Board of Star Alliance. Rob is currently Chairman of Michael Hill International, Fitout Solutions, Auckland Labour Hire and Recorp. He serves as a Director of Air Canada and an advisor to Craggy Range Wines and Emma Lewisham skincare.  Rob is also an honorary advisor to the Asia New Zealand Foundation.

In 2021, Rob was appointed as a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) for services to business and tourism.

Deborah Battell

Board Member

Deborah is an independent commercial specialist and an expert in consumer regulatory strategy. With a distinguished career across New Zealand's public and private sectors, she has spent decades resolving complex commercial disputes, shaping industry competition and safeguarding consumer rights. She was the Independent Consumer Representative on the Telecommunications Dispute Resolution Scheme and formerly served as the New Zealand Banking Ombudsman and held prominent senior leadership roles at the Commerce Commission. As well as her role on the SafetyNet Board, she chairs the Risk & Assurance Committee.

TJ Kennedy

Board Member

TJ is an international independent director and a global expert in public safety technology. With nearly 30 years of experience, he has bridged the gap between front-line operations and executive leadership, starting his career as a firefighter, flight paramedic and Utah state trooper. As the former President of the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) in the United States, he successfully spearheaded the implementation of a large, financially self-sustaining public-private partnership that delivered a multi-billion-dollar nationwide broadband network for millions of first responders. For SafetyNet, he provides strategic oversight to help guide the modernisation of New Zealand's emergency communications infrastructure.

Greg Lowe

Board Member

Greg brings significant commercial and organisational leadership experience to SafetyNet. He was previously the global CEO of multi-national infrastructure consultancy Beca, and prior to that Managing Director of Beca Australia, overseeing the delivery of complex and innovative infrastructure solutions in many countries.

Greg is a Director of Powerco, Ferry Holdings, the National Infrastructure Funding and Financing company, Chair of the Business NZ Energy Council, co-Chair of the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum. He is an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors and a Fellow of Engineering New Zealand.

Glen Sowry

Board Member

Glen is an experienced CEO, Board Chair and Independent Director. He has previously served as CEO of Queenstown Airport, Metlifecare, and Housing New Zealand (now Kainga Ora). Prior to that he spent a decade in a range of senior leadership roles at Air New Zealand, including three years as General Manager of Operations, leading a large team across New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands.

He is the current chair of the NZ Olympic Committee and is an Independent Director of NZS Group. He has also had an extensive career in governance across a range of industry groups and not for profit organisations.
SafetyNet Leadership Team

  • Steve Ferguson

    Chief Executive Officer

  • Annouschka Martinsen

    Head of Strategy, Governance and Reporting

  • Mark Flintoff

    Commercial and Finance Director

  • Nicola Wright

    Head of Programme Delivery

  • Steve Lawrence

    Head of Product, Design and Innovation

  • Being recruited now

    Head of Enabling Services

  • Being recruited now

    Head of Customer Engagement and Service Management

Steve Ferguson

Chief Executive Officer

Steve Ferguson leads SafetyNet, New Zealand’s new public safety communications organisation. Before his appointment, he served as Lead Entity Director for Next Generation Critical Communications (NGCC) for six years and oversaw the organisation's transition to SafetyNet. With more than 25 years’ experience across finance, energy, logistics and central and local government, Steve has led major business transformation programmes and strategic change initiatives. As Chief Executive Officer, he has secured long-term government investment, helped to shape New Zealand’s critical communications strategy and overseen delivery of nationally significant infrastructure projects, including the nationwide Land Mobile Radio network and Public Safety Network Cellular Services.

Annouschka Martinsen

Head of Strategy, Governance and Reporting

Annouschka brings extensive experience supporting senior executives, public sector leaders and ministers across complex government environments. Throughout her career, she has played a key role in navigating stakeholder relationships, governance processes and strategic initiatives that require collaboration across multiple agencies. Annouschka was instrumental in securing government support for the $1.7 billion Public Safety Network and the establishment of SafetyNet. Her focus is on delivering organisational outcomes, strengthening governance and managing strategic and reputational risks to ensure that SafetyNet is able to modernise the communications capability of new Zealand’s public safety and emergency management sectors.

Mark Flintoff

Commercial and Finance Director

Mark is responsible for financial stewardship, funding arrangements and commercial strategy across the organisation. He also oversees the financial and commercial foundations that support delivery of New Zealand’s modern public safety communications network to ensure its long-term sustainability. With more than 25 years’ executive experience, Mark has led major financial and transformation programmes spanning the engineering public health, logistics, infrastructure and central government sectors. Prior to joining NGCC in 2023, he served as Chief Financial Officer for the Ministry of Education. Mark also serves as SafetyNet’s Health and Safety Officer.

Nicola Wright

Head of Programme Delivery

Nicola leads the deployment of the Public Safety Network for SafetyNet. She brings extensive experience in emergency services communications, infrastructure delivery and leading large-scale transformation programmes. Before joining SafetyNet, Nicola held senior project management roles at Fire and Emergency New Zealand, where she helped develop the new operating model and deliver critical operational capabilities on the formation of the new Fire and Emergency NZ organisation. Her background provides a deep understanding of the needs of frontline responders and the systems that support them. At SafetyNet, Nicola is responsible for ensuring the successful delivery of key programme milestones and benefits for emergency service agencies nationwide.

Steve Lawrence

Head of Product, Design and Innovation

Steve is a senior technology executive with more than 20 years’ leadership experience across New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. Prior to joining SafetyNet, he held senior leadership roles at Spark New Zealand and Inland Revenue, where he led major technology, cybersecurity and operational transformation programmes. His responsibilities at Spark included New Zealand’s 111 Initial Call Answering Point service and its modernisation programme alongside the delivery of key Public Safety Network intiatives. Steve also served on the Board of Hourua the Joint Venture between Spark and One NZ for over two years.  At SafetyNet, Steve provides strategic technical leadership with a focus on technology delivery, operations and security, helping ensure New Zealand’s emergency services have access to resilient, secure and future-ready communications capabilities.

Being recruited now

Head of Enabling Services

Being recruited now.

Being recruited now

Head of Customer Engagement and Service Management

Being recruited now