Te hunga ārahi Executive leadership team

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Leading the way

Our executive leadership team (ELT) have overall responsibility for implementing council decisions and ensuring the effective and efficient performance of the council. Each ELT member is responsible for a directorate and its associated programmes of work.

Meet the team
Photo of Chris McLay 2020

Chief Executive (CE): Chris McLay

As Chief Executive of Waikato Regional Council, Chris has overall responsibility for leading and managing the organisation, implementing council decisions, and ensuring the effective and efficient performance of council. Chris has been Chief Executive since 2020. Prior to this he was Resource Use Director for many years.

Email: Chris McLay

Executive Manager - CE's Office: Karen Bennett

Karen has been Executive Manager of the Chief Executive’s office since 2014 with responsibility for corporate sustainability and supporting the Chief Executive with stakeholder relationships and strategy.

Email: Karen Bennett

Customer and Corporate Services Director: Janine Becker

Janine has been a member of the Executive Leadership Team since January 2019, having worked in senior finance roles for Waikato Regional Council for many years prior. Janine’s responsibilities cover all finance functions, corporate strategy and planning, customer services, information technology, facilities and fleet management, legal, procurement, funding and portfolio management, as well as communications and marketing.

Email: Janine Becker

Integrated Catchment Management Director: Greg Ryan

Greg started off his career as an Environmental Engineer and has been with the Waikato Regional Council for 22 years. During this time he has held a range of roles across disciplines such as river engineering, hydraulic modelling, hazard policy and planning and emergency management (incl CDEM). Since 2021 he has been responsible for leading and managing the Integrated Catchment Management directorate. This directorate works closely with communities to deliver services that enhance catchment health, underpin the viability of their economies and improve resilience to natural hazards. Services include flood control and river management, biodiversity enhancement, biosecurity and pest management, sustainable land management and community resilience.

Email: Greg Ryan
Phil King: Regional Transport Connections Director

Regional Transport Connections Director: Phil King

Phil is responsible for leading the work of staff in the Regional Transport Connections Directorate. The directorate helps to ensure connected communities through improved transport connections, bringing together relevant stakeholders and funding partners, and providing the region's public transport services.

Email: Phil King

Resource Use Director: Brent Sinclair

Brent has been Director of Resource Use since 2021, with responsibility for leading the council’s regulatory responsibilities for the implementation of the Resource Management Act, the Building Act and the Maritime Transport Act. Prior to this, Brent was the Manager of Regional Consents for many years.

Email: Brent Sinclair

Science, Policy and Information Director: Tracey May

Tracey became Director of the Science, Policy and Information directorate in 2014, two years after joining Waikato Regional Council. She brings together science and strategy to effectively deliver the policy cycle of policy preparation, monitoring and review. Science, Policy and Information leads the organisational priorities of land and water, coastal and marine, and regional development.

Email: Tracey May

Executive Manager - People and Capability: Stuart Brown

Stuart joined Waikato Regional Council in 2022 as the executive manager responsible for leading and developing our people strategy and health and safety systems. Previously, he held senior roles in human resource management including five years as general manager for HR and corporate services at Hill Laboratories.

Email: Stuart Brown
Image of a female

Pou Tuhono – Tai-ranga-whenua and Democracy: Mali Ahipene

Mali is responsible for leading the council’s democratic processes, iwi relations and Treaty settlements, and has been an Executive Leadership Team member since August 2025.

Email: Mali Ahipene