In February 2026, the inaugural Policy Leaders Summit brought together senior policy leaders for an event to discuss the theme of free and frank advice.
The Summit generated rich discussions on this year’s theme: free and frank advice – what doing it well looks like and why it matters. Ministers, public sector chief executives, and former chiefs of staff talked about their insights on creating and delivering free and frank advice. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon also emphasised the importance of free and frank advice, encouraging bold, ambitious options supported by clear execution strategies.
Below you can find:
- the opening speech from Ben King, Head of the Policy Profession and Chief Executive of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
- key messages from speakers at the Summit
- the list of speakers and panellists.
Opening speech
See Policy Leaders Summit 2026 opening speech to read Ben King's opening comments.
Key messages
Speakers at the Policy Leaders Summit discussed the following key messages:
- Free and frank advice underpins policy performance and is a critical skill for policy leaders.
High-performing governments depend on honest, evidence-based advice to enable informed decisions, manage risk, and deliver on priorities.
- Policy leaders play a key role in setting expectations about what good advice looks like and communicating this within their agencies.
High standards from policy leaders about what constitutes free and frank advice can influence how advice is developed across their agency.
- Building and maintaining trust is the foundation of effective advice.
Trust is built through confidentiality, responsiveness, and an ongoing understanding of ministerial context.
Summit speakers
Rt Hon Christopher Luxon
Rt Hon Christopher Luxon is the 42nd Prime Minister of New Zealand. He entered Parliament at the 2020 election as the MP for Botany and was elected Leader of the National Party in November 2021.
Hon Christopher Bishop
Hon Chris Bishop is MP for Hutt Sought and was first elected to Parliament in 2014. Prior to entering Parliament, he worked as a researcher for the National Party and later served as an advisor to Ministers in the Fifth National Government.
Wayne Eagleson
Wayne Eagleson served as Chief of Staff to Prime Ministers John Key and Bill English during the Fifth National Government (2008–2017). He now sits as Director of the Wellington National Airport Ltd, and Thompson Lewis, a specialist consultancy for government relations.
Heather Simpson
Heather Simpson served as Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Helen Clark during the Fifth Labour Government (1999-2008). Heather has continued to work on complex public policy challenges both internationally and in New Zealand.
Ben King
Ben King is the Chief Executive and Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. He was previously the Deputy Chief Executive of Policy at MFAT, New Zealand Foreign Ambassador, and a Foreign Policy Advisor in the Policy Advisory Group at DPMC.
Janine Smith
Janine Smith is Deputy Chief Executive of Policy and Delivery at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. She plays a central role in stewarding policy across government, serving on the Policy Profession Board.
Audrey Sonerson
Audrey Sonerson is the Director-General of Health. Audrey is a seasoned senior public servant, with prior leadership roles including Chief Executive at the Ministry of Transport, and Deputy Chief Executive at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Ministry of Justice.
Peter Mersi
Peter Mersi is the Commissioner and Chief Executive of the Inland Revenue Department. He joined the role in July 2022, bringing public service leadership experience from Chief Executive positions in Ministry of Transport, Land Information New Zealand and Department of Internal Affairs.
Ray Smith
Ray Smith is Director-General and Chief Executive of the Ministry for Primary Industries. Appointed in 2018, he brings public service leadership experience, serving as Chief Executive of the Department of Corrections and as a Deputy Chief Executive in the Ministry of Social Development.
Future Summits
The Summit has demonstrated the value of holding an event for the policy profession. With such a high demand for attendance, the Policy Leaders Summit has potential to become a regular feature. Watch this space for more details, and please write to [email protected] if you have any further questions.