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Wellington, April 23, 2020
Anusha Guler has been appointed to the role of Executive Director, Office of Ethnic Communities (OEC) at the Department of Internal Affairs (Te Tari Taiwhenua).
She will take up the role on June 1, 2020.
Ms Guler will be responsible for building relationships and partnerships, delivering advice and services to improve outcomes for New Zealand’s ethnic communities and strengthening their inclusion and participation in the wider community.
Principal Advisor
The OEC is government’s Principal Advisor on ethnic diversity in New Zealand.
Through the group’s important work, people across society feel their lives are enriched by diversity and see diversity as a valued part of New Zealand.
Internal Affairs Chief Executive Paul James described Ms Guler as a strategic and inclusive leader with proven experience leading multi-disciplinary and culturally diverse teams.
“I am confident that her ability to engage and build strong relationships with communities will stand her in good stead to further the important work of the Office of Ethnic Communities,” he said.
Ms Guler, a postgraduate in Public Administration from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, said that she is looking forward to furthering the ambitious and progressive work programme of the Office of Ethnic Communities, and working with a motivated team.
“New Zealand’s ethnic communities have valuable contributions to make to society, and as a team we will support them to do that and realise their aspirations,” she said.
Ms Guler migrated to New Zealand from South Africa in 2002 and has held senior management positions in government agencies in both countries.
She joins the Internal Affairs Department from Wellington City Council where she has worked since 2011, most recently as Chief of Staff providing strategic advice to the Mayor, Chief Executive and Executive Leadership Team.
