Independent Advisor to Council
Member of Finance, Audit and Risk Committee
Appointed: 2019
Ms von Tunzelmann combines an extensive public sector background with in-depth experience and knowledge of governance roles, policy review in central and local government, business enterprise and community sector issues.
She holds a First-Class Honours degree in Economics from the University of Canterbury, a Master of Public Policy from Victoria University of Wellington and is a graduate of advanced management programmes in New Zealand and overseas (including executive management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management). She is a Distinguished Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Directors and at the Wānanga’s 2024 graduation was awarded Distinguished Fellow (Education), Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi.
Ms von Tunzelmann’s experience spans leadership, and management positions in the public sector including in The Treasury, as Head of Parliament’s Select Committee Office and Deputy Clerk of the NZ House of Representatives and Group Manager in the Department of Justice where she had responsibility for the Treaty of Waitangi Policy Unit. Governance roles have included member of the Ageing Well National Science Challenge, board member of Osteoporosis New Zealand and Age Concern New Zealand, director on the board of Pharmac, University of Waikato Foundation trustee, President of the Tauranga Chamber of Commerce; trustee of the Bay of Plenty Community Trust (Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee), President of the New Zealand Institute of Public Administration, Chair of the New Zealand Women's Refuge Foundation. She is the long-standing Patron of the Tauranga Community Housing Trust. She is also a current member of the Te Whatu Ora/Health New Zealand Te Manawa Taki Regional Consumer Council.
In 2016, Ms von Tunzelmann was awarded the QSO for services to governance and the community. She was a council member of Te Mana Whakahaere o Awanuiārangi from 2005 to 2019. In 2019, Ms von Tunzelmann became an Independent Advisor to the Council.
Independent Advisor to Council: Adrienne von Tunzelmann
Qualifications:
Master of Arts (First Class Hons, Economics), University of Canterbury; Master of Public Policy (with Distinction), Victoria University of Wellington.
Prime Minister’s Prize in Public Policy. Queen’s Service Order. Distinguished Fellow, NZ Institute of Directors. Distinguished Fellow (Education), Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi.