Our people
Our Chief Executive
Audrey Sonerson, Secretary for Transport and Chief Executive
Audrey joined the Ministry of Transport Te Manatū Waka as Chief Executive and Secretary for Transport in December 2022. She is an experienced public service leader, having held senior roles at New Zealand Police, The Treasury and Ministry of Justice.
Prior to joining the Ministry, Audrey was Deputy Chief Executive, People and Operations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Audrey has a strong background in strategy, policy, regulation and monitoring and has led major projects and investment across several sectors. She has vast experience in policy leadership, sector leadership and organisational leadership.
Audrey has a Master’s degree in Economics from Victoria University of Wellington.
Chief Executive’s expenses
We publish spreadsheets showing the Chief Executive's business expenses, gifts and hospitality over NZD $50.
Chief Executive’s expenses (external link)
Our Senior Leadership Team
David Wood, Deputy Chief Executive, Investment and Monitoring Group
David is an experienced public sector leader and has been at the Ministry of Transport since June 2023.
Prior to joining the Ministry he held senior executive roles at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Treasury, and in the health sector. David has also held leadership roles at Auckland Council, United Kingdom local government, and the Ministry of Education.
David has a strong background in strategy, policy and commercial operations.
The Investment and Monitoring Group’s functions include Crown entity monitoring, investment, rail, programme monitoring and investment management, and transport financing.
Paul O’Connell, Deputy Chief Executive, Sector Strategy Group
Paul joined the Ministry in 2023. Paul’s career in the public service started out at the Treasury, and in New Zealand he has also held leadership roles at the Ministry of Justice, the Social Investment Agency, and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
The Sector Strategy Group is responsible for the Ministry’s advice on safety, regulatory reform, economics, data and analytics, strategic priorities, and transport modelling.
Outside of work, Paul lives in Karori with a poorly trained but very cute dog and runs a daily poetry mailing list that’s been going since 2003.
Ruth Fairhall, Deputy Chief Executive, Policy Group
Ruth joined the Ministry of Transport in 2024. She was previously at the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet in the Policy Advisory Group and as the Head of Strategy and Policy at the COVID-19 All of Government Group. She is an experienced public sector leader having held senior management roles at the Ministry for Primary Industries and the Ministry of Justice.
Ruth leads the Policy Group, which is responsible for leading our advice on a range of transport policy issues, including maritime and freight, aviation, transport resilience and security, urban development and public transport, and policies to support improved environmental outcomes and climate change adaptation.
Carmen Mak, Deputy Chief Executive (Acting), Corporate Services
Carmen has been at the Ministry of Transport since February 2022 in Director roles, and was appointed to the Deputy Chief Executive role in June 2024.
Carmen is an experienced public sector practitioner, having worked in economic, trade and international policy roles in the Treasury, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), and at APEC. She has also had experience in leading the national standards body as an independent business unit within MBIE.
As the Deputy Chief Executive Corporate Services, Carmen leads the corporate functions that enable the Ministry to operate efficiently. These include finance, communications and engagement, human resources, business enablement and support, legal and procurement, and the New Zealand Search and Rescue Secretariat.
Brent Johnston, Chief of Staff, Office of the Chief Executive
Brent was appointed Chief of Staff in June 2023 and works closely with our Chief Executive and Senior Leadership Team to guide the strategic priorities of the Ministry.
Brent brings considerable experience in leadership, strategic planning and regulatory policy through his 15-year tenure at the Ministry. Brent has held a range leadership roles in land transport safety and public transport policy.
As part of his role, Brent is responsible for supporting Ministers’ offices, overseeing internal governance and reporting, and leading the transport revenue work programme.
Our Ministers
Hon Simeon Brown – Minister of Transport (external link)
Hon Matt Doocey – Associate Minister of Transport (external link)
You can find the ministers contact details on our website.