Election 2020: Two Ticks - Virtual Happy Hour (CPD 1 hr)

Debra Angus

Debra Angus has over 20 years’ experience working at the heart of parliamentary democracies, specialising in public law and democratic governance. She is an expert adviser on public, constitutional, electoral and parliamentary law and procedure, public finance management and public sector oversight, governance and funding. She has a deep understanding of parliamentary and public sector processes and works as a trusted adviser to clients, officials and international organisations.

Debra has advised on the exercise of powers by public officials, the development of policy to legislation and the legislative process. She has conducted external reviews of agency process for developing legislation and the implementation of legislation under a statutory review requirement. She has drafted legislation, procedural rules and instruments, including Members’ bills, amendments to Government legislation and has prepared draft Bills for international projects.

A former Deputy Clerk of the House of Representatives, legal adviser to Parliament’s Privileges Committee, the Regulations Review Committee, Debra has also advised select committees on legislative scrutiny, inquiries and petitions.

Debra also works as an independent consultant with international organisations to build capability and strengthen developing democracies in effective governance, rule of law and public finance management projects

Jane Meares 

Jane is a leading legal adviser. She has an extensive range of advisory experience in both the public sector and the corporate world.  Jane complements her advisory practice with a number of significant public sector governance roles, bringing to these her experience gained from a highly successful career as a private and public sector legal adviser. She is:

•    Chair and Chief Commissioner of the Transport Accident Investigation Commission, a standing commission of inquiry and an independent Crown entity
•    Chair of Financial Services Complaints Limited, an approved financial disputes resolution provider under the Financial Service Providers (Registration and Dispute Resolution) Act 2008
•    Deputy Chair of the Electoral Commission, an independent Crown entity
•    a member of LINZ’s Risk and Assurance Committee
•    a director of ECNZ Limited, a small SOE in wind-down.

Prior to establishing her advisory practice as a founding member of Clifton Chambers, Jane was the chief legal adviser at the New Zealand Treasury – the Treasury Solicitor – and before that was a corporate and commercial partner at the leading New Zealand law firm, Bell Gully.

Paul Radich QC (Chair)

Paul is an experienced Queen’s Counsel who has represented government departments, public sector organisations and corporate entities in Royal commissions of inquiry and in government inquiries. His broad commercial and public law experience includes appearing in judicial review and constitutional law proceedings and providing advice for a range of bodies including Government Departments, Crown entities, statutory corporations and tribunals, local authorities, Pacific Island Governments, primary sector organisations, iwi organisations, health providers, telecommunications companies, oil and gas companies and agricultural research companies.

Paul is the President-Elect of the New Zealand Bar Association | Ngā Ahorangi Motuhake o te Ture, the Chairman of the Legal Aid Performance Review Committee and is a member of the governing board of the Institute of Judicial Studies.