A Waste of Time or No Time to Waste?
In-person panel discussion on Public Sector Performance Reporting

Join the XRB and Victoria University of Wellington for a panel discussion on the opportunities and challenges for public sector performance reporting in New Zealand.
The public wants value for money, and critics of New Zealand’s public finance system argue that it does not generate the information necessary to improve decision-making and accountability.
Is there an easy fix? Would an overhaul of performance reporting face insurmountable practical difficulties?
RSVP HERE
Hosted by:
Wendy Venter
Chief Executive
Wendy is an experienced executive with deep expertise in governance, risk management, and assurance. Prior to being appointed Chief Executive from January 2025, Wendy was an independent consultant and director, and a member of the New Zealand Auditing and Assurance Standards Board. Read more
Panel Members:
International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board Chair
Ian Carruthers became Chair of the International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB) in 2016, having been a Board Member since 2010. As a Board Member, he led IPSASB’s work on Long-Term Financial Sustainability and alignment between IPSASs and Government Finance Statistics. Ian is now in his third term as IPSASB Chair, which runs until the end of 2025.
After joining HM Treasury from PricewaterhouseCoopers in 1999, Ian played a key role in the UK Government’s transition from cash to accrual budgeting and reporting, in particular leading its Whole of Government Accounts program. He joined CIPFA in 2006. As part-time Chair, CIPFA Standards, Ian has been involved in all aspects of the Institute’s guidance development activities, including leading its work on the development of the International Framework for Good Governance in the Public Sector in partnership with IFAC.
Controller and Auditor-General
The twentieth Auditor-General of New Zealand, John Ryan, started his term as Auditor-General on 2 July 2018.
An accountant and member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, John has had a long and successful career in New Zealand’s public sector.
John has also contributed widely to his community, particularly in the arts sector. Before his appointment, he was a board member of the Royal New Zealand Ballet, the New Zealand Festival, and the Wellington Jazz Festival.
Treasury, Deputy Chief Executive & Deputy Secretary - Budget and Public Services
Struan is the Deputy Secretary for Budget and Public Services – he oversees the annual Budget process and is responsible for the Financial Statements of Government, as well as the Office of the Chief Government Accountant. He is also responsible for improving the health of the state sector generally (ably assisted by SSC and DPMC) and has stewardship of the Public Sector Management System.
Struan has what is politely termed “institutional knowledge,” having originally come to Treasury in 1987. More recently, he spent five years at IRD leading their policy and strategy functions, and he has a long history in the economics of growth and in macroeconomics.
Outside of work, Struan is passionate about tramping, fly fishing, cheese rolls, and single malt whisky.
Emeritus Professor, Victoria University
An emeritus professor of Management at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington’s Business School, and a technology and innovation strategy and policy expert. Sally has a background in the physical sciences and her research interests centre on that science heritage: the commercialisation and impact of scientific research, science-based entrepreneurship, and the growth of high-tech firms. Sally was a Commissioner at the New Zealand Productivity Commission for three terms from 2011 to 2020, during which time numerous inquiries were undertaken that covered the role of reporting and evaluation, amongst other issues. For the last 8 years, Sally has been Director of “Science for Technological Innovation” (www.sftichallenge.govt.nz), a $106m mission-led National Science Challenge. This experience provided ample opportunity to understand reporting and evaluation from a provider’s point of view. She was awarded a MNZM in 2017 for services to science.

Starts In
Date And Time
- Location:
- Old Government Building LT1 Victoria University of Wellington