Cabinet Secretary seconded to GCSB
The DPMC and SSC have announced:
Andrew Kibblewhite, Chief Executive of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and Ian Fletcher, Director of the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB), announced today that Rebecca Kitteridge, the Secretary of the Cabinet, is to be seconded immediately to the GCSB for an initial period of up to three months in the new role of Associate Director of the Bureau.
Ms Kitteridge will be responsible to the Director of the GCSB for the implementation of an immediate capability, governance and performance review. This work will provide assurance to the GCSB Director that the Bureau’s activities are undertaken within its powers, and that adequate assurance and safeguards are in place.
As Associate Director, Ms Kitteridge will also act as Deputy Chief Executive.
Ms Kitteridge was appointed as Secretary of the Cabinet and Clerk of the Executive Council in April 2008. She is a senior public servant who is responsible for the security and integrity of the Cabinet decision-making system and the New Zealand Royal Honours systems. She provides advice on ethics and conduct in relation to Ministers of the Crown, and is a key constitutional advisor to the Governor-General and the Prime Minister of the day.
Ms Kitteridge is a lawyer by training and a focus in private practice was on legal compliance for corporate entities. Since joining the public service she has specialised in constitutional matters at both the Cabinet Office and in the Legal Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. While in Cabinet Office she has advised four Prime Ministers and four Governors-General.
This is a very smart and welcome move.
Cabinet Secretaries such as Rebecca, and before her Marie Shroff, are officials of the utmost integrity and neutrality. They play a key role in accountable democratic government.
Kitteridge is seconded to GCSB to specifically review their systems, improve their compliance framework and to specifically establish new approval processes for requests from law enforcement agencies.
The Cabinet Office is the king of rigorous process. I think they even have a process for if you ask them the time of day :-). As I said, I think this is a very smart move.