Maree Roberts  – Deputy Chief Executive, Social Sector System Leadership

Role and responsibilities

Maree is based within MSD but operates across the whole social sector. She works closely with chief executives, senior leaders, and Ministers across the social sector to:

• agree on the outcomes the sector wants to achieve together
• create the structures and processes that help agencies work together effectively
• identify and remove barriers that prevent agencies from delivering better results
• make sure the right agencies, people, and capabilities are working together to achieve those outcomes.

Maree’s role includes leading cross-agency collaboration to implement the recommendations of the Moore Inquiry into the Disappearance of the Phillips Children, the Dame Karen Poutasi Review of the children’s system, and Recommendation 88 of the Royal Commission of Inquiry that the government should take all practicable steps to ensure the ongoing safety of children, young people, and adults in care at Gloriavale.

Background

Maree is an experienced public sector leader with an extensive background in organisational change, transformation, and policy development. Before joining MSD in 2026, Maree was at the Ministry of Health where she led significant system reforms, established policy stewardship frameworks, and guided critical organisational transitions that have helped shape New Zealand’s health sector. She has extensive experience operating at the political interface, overseeing operational and legislative change, and leading large-scale programmes of work.