Advanced Dynamics

Ross Tanner

Ross is an experienced organisational strategist and governance expert. He has advised the highest levels of government on public policy and public management issues, provided mentoring advice to CEOs in the public sector and has substantial board-level experience in a range of large and diverse organisations.

Prior to joining Advanced Dynamics, Ross spent a near 30 year career in the New Zealand public service, culminating in his appointment in 1993 as Deputy State Services Commissioner. Here, Ross was involved in the resolution of significant management issues, leadership of machinery of government reviews and organisational change, oversight of public service information management and technology developments, and the development of senior managers. His previous public sector experiences include time in Ministerial offices, coordinating Budgets for the Minister of Finance, diplomatic experience overseas (in Washington and London), senior management roles in government departments and substantive involvement in high level policy coordination at the centre of the New Zealand government in Wellington.

Ross has particular strengths in understanding the relationships between politicians and public sector organisations. He was engaged by the Deputy Prime Minister to assist the transition into office of the new National Government in New Zealand following the general election in November 2008, and then became an independent ‘purchase adviser’ for two Cabinet ministers from February to June 2009.

Ross has designed and facilitated strategic planning processes in a range of organizations in the public, private and voluntary sectors. He developed a new national strategy for the museums and art galleries of New Zealand in 2004 and 2005 following an extensive consultation process. This strategy is now being implemented: one important result is a museum sector project now underway to establish a Distributed National Collection of significant artefacts and objects currently held in New Zealand museums and art galleries.

Ross has also developed particular expertise in audit and risk management advice. He has completed terms of office as Chair of the Audit Committees for the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Education Review Office and the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology, and as a member of the Audit and Risk Committee for the Auditor-General. He currently chairs the Audit and Risk Committees of Learning State Ltd., the Legal Services Agency, and the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs.

Ross also has extensive involvements in the not-for-profit sector.

Ross graduated as Master of Public Administration at Harvard University, and Master of Arts with First Class Honours at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand. He has published widely on a range of issues affecting the public service, including culture, training and development, and public expenditure; and is an Honorary Fellow at the School of Government at Victoria University of Wellington.