Karen Sewell, QSO, Wellington
For services to the State. Ms Karen Sewell was Chief Executive and Secretary for Education at the Ministry of Education. She was Chief Executive and Chief Review Officer for the Education Review Office before this. Her career in education has spanned 45 years, including being Principal of Green Bay High School in Auckland. She also served as President of the Auckland Secondary Schools Principals’ Association and as Chair of the Principals’ Council of the New Zealand Post Primary Teachers’ Association. She has provided strong leadership to the education sector in her roles with the Ministry of Education. She has led the implementation of National Standards and a new New Zealand Curriculum, and the Youth Guarantee. She was Chair of the Education Workforce Advisory Group. Ms Sewell has shown a strong commitment to improving educational outcomes for Māori and Pacific people.