Research and Education Advanced Network New Zealand - director

About REANNZ

Research and Education Advanced Network New Zealand Limited (REANNZ) operates and supports a specialist high-performance digital network. REANNZ is used by researchers to access, move and share data-intensive research around the country and across the world. REANNZ engineers also develop and support solutions to address complex technical issues in this specialist environment.

REANNZ is a company listed under Schedule 4A of the Public Finance Act 1989. It is subject to relevant provisions of the Public Finance Act, the Crown Entities Act 2004, the Companies Act 1993, and the REANNZ Constitution, which provide a framework for the company’s governance and accountability, including responsibilities of board directors, disclosure of interests, and the roles of Ministers.

Person specifications

The Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology is seeking candidates who wish to be considered for appointment as a member of the REANNZ Board, who can provide one or more of the following skills and experience:

• deep strategic financial capability, including experience chairing audit and risk committees
• proven governance experience
• commercial acumen
• an understanding of the science and innovation or telecommunications sectors
• an understanding of public accountability.

Directors should have an appreciation of the role of the Crown as an investor and the need to maximise the value to New Zealand from Crown-funded investments, as well as an understanding of the public sector and governance responsibilities of the Crown as a responsible investor under the Companies Act 1993 and the Crown Entities Act 2004.

Collective and individual duties

The collective duties of Board members are to ensure that the REANNZ Board acts consistently with its objectives, functions, current Statement of Intent and Statement of Performance Expectations, and that the REANNZ Board’s functions are performed efficiently, effectively and in a manner consistent with the spirit of service to the public, and in a financially responsible manner.

The individual duties of REANNZ Board members are to comply with the Companies Act 1993, the Crown Entities Act 2004 and the REANNZ Constitution; to act with honesty and integrity, in good faith and not at the expense of the entity’s interests, with reasonable care, diligence and skill; and not to disclose or make use of information that otherwise would not be available to them.

Members are also required to inform the Board Chair of any interests that they have, or are likely to have, in matters relating to the company, and notify the chair of any new interests which may arise during their term.

Time commitment and remuneration

The fee payable to directors is set in accordance with The Treasury’s Crown Company Fees Methodology. Currently directors’ fees for REANNZ Board are based on a rate of $36,646 per annum. Under the Treasury Methodology, sub-committee chairs are remunerated an additional 10% in addition to the Director fee, unless the sub-committee Chair is also the Chair or Deputy Chair of the board.

The Board may authorise the reimbursement, by the Company, of reasonable travelling, accommodation, and other expenses incurred by directors in attending meeting of the Board or Shareholders, or in relation to any other affairs of the Company.

The Board meets a minimum of eight times per year, primarily in Wellington. Board meetings are occasionally held in other locations to meet REANNZ staff and learn more about stakeholders. A director is also expected to be a member of at least one committee that meets a minimum of three times per annum and attend an annual strategy session. In addition, directors are expected to spend an estimated on day preparing for each meeting and on other board matters. Board materials are distributed to directors in sufficient advance of meetings to allow members to be thoroughly prepared. 

Additional information

For more information on the role, please see the position description here. 

For further enquiries about the position, email: boardappointments@mbie.govt.nz 

Applications close at 11.59pm on Sunday 27 July 2025.