A watchful eye John Ryan on challenges in public sector governance
What makes public sector governance effective? John Ryan shares insights from leading the Audit Office - successes, pitfalls and priorities.
Overview
Recording date - 05 September 2025
This webinar marked the launch of the IoD’s Public Sector Governance Shared Interest Group and explored the art and science of governing for the public good. Designed for directors and senior governors across Crown entities, councils and council controlled organisations, the webinar offered practical insights to strengthen boardroom discipline, resilience and accountability. John Ryan, New Zealand’s Auditor General for seven years, shared candid reflections on the unique governance challenges facing the public sector. Drawing on his experience across central and local government, John examined the scale and complexity of public sector organisations, the tension between commercial performance and public value, and the impact of political cycles on long term stewardship. He highlighted the heightened expectations of public accountability, including scrutiny from Ministers, councils, monitoring agencies, the Auditor General, the Ombudsman, the media and the wider community. The discussion, facilitated by Judene Edgar, focused on practical strategies boards can use to govern effectively in this environment. Key talking points included the importance of clarity of strategic direction, shared understanding of what acceptable performance looks like, and robust accountability processes that work in practice rather than on paper.
Speakers
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- John Ryan
- Judene Edgar MNZM, MInstD | IoD Facilitator
CPD
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