Leadership

Chief Executive
Jeremy Lightfoot

Jeremy Lightfoot is the Chief Executive of the Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport. Before joining MCERT, he served as Secretary for Corrections and Chief Executive of the Department of Corrections from February 2020, following a series of senior leadership roles across operations, finance, technology and commercial functions.

At Corrections, Jeremy led a workforce of around 11,000 people supporting approximately 10,700 people in prison and 26,000 people serving sentences or orders in the community. He joined the department in 2010 as Public Private Partnership Director for the Wiri Prison Project, where he led the design, development and procurement of New Zealand’s first prison public-private partnership.

He later held leadership roles including General Manager, Finance, Technology and Commercial, National Commissioner, and Deputy Chief Executive, Corrections. Jeremy brings extensive public sector and commercial experience in both New Zealand and the United Kingdom, including earlier leadership roles in local government and infrastructure project management.

Executive Leader Policy
Ruth Fairhall

Ruth Fairhall is Executive Leader Policy at MCERT. She joined the Ministry of Transport in 2024 as Deputy Chief Executive Policy, leading advice on maritime and freight, aviation, transport resilience and security, urban development, public transport, and policies to support improved environmental outcomes and climate change adaptation.

She also acted as Chief Executive of the Ministry for most of 2025. Before that, Ruth worked at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet in the Policy Advisory Group and as Head of Strategy and Policy for the all-of-government response to COVID-19. She has also held senior management roles at the Ministry for Primary Industries and the Ministry of Justice.

Executive Leader Delivery
Stephanie Rowe

Stephanie Rowe is Executive Leader Delivery at MCERT. She has extensive executive leadership experience across the natural resources, primary industries, housing and urban development sectors. Her background includes leading organisational change, major strategies, digital and regulatory transformation programmes, and cross-sector initiatives involving government, iwi and communities.

She brings strong experience in investment prioritisation, delivery oversight and assurance, as well as commercial and financial management. Stephanie has held leadership roles focused on strengthening partnerships and delivering practical, outcome-focused change in complex environments.

Executive Leader System Performance
Sam Buckle

Sam Buckle is Executive Leader System Performance at MCERT. He leads work on investment and the use of evidence, data, science, modelling and foresight to support policy and delivery, identify risks and opportunities, and track system-level performance and outcomes.

Before the establishment of MCERT, Sam was Acting Chief Executive of the Ministry for the Environment and previously Deputy Secretary, Climate Change and Resource Efficiency. He was part of the ministry’s senior leadership team for seven years, with responsibilities across areas including climate and freshwater. Earlier in his career, he held senior roles across industry, government and consulting.

Executive Leader Planning System and Reform
Nadeine Dommisse

Nadeine Dommisse is Executive Leader Planning System and Reform at MCERT and Senior Responsible Owner for the Planning System Transformation Programme. She leads work to establish a simpler, faster and more consistent planning system for New Zealand that supports better outcomes for communities, the environment and the economy.

Her role spans the full reform programme, from policy and legislation through to implementation, data, digital, capability and national instruments design. Nadeine brings more than 25 years of experience across policy and delivery, including previous roles as Deputy Secretary at the Ministry for the Environment, Chief Operating Officer at Environment Canterbury, senior consultant, and planner with the Queensland Government.

Interim Executive Leader Enabling Services
Adrienne Meikle

Adrienne Meikle is Interim Executive Leader Enabling Services. She leads the Ministry’s corporate and enabling services, providing the systems, support and engine needed for the organisation to operate well and deliver its priorities.

Adrienne has previously served as Acting Chief Executive of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and was Chief Executive of the Commerce Commission from 2018 to 2025. In 2023, she was seconded to act as Chief Executive of Land Information New Zealand. Adrienne has held senior roles at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, including Deputy Chief Executive Corporate, Governance and Information, the Ministry of Economic Development, and the New Zealand Food Safety Authority. Adrienne is known for leading complex organisations and working across government to deliver better outcomes for New Zealanders.