Fiona McTavish
Bay of Plenty Regional Council
As Chief Executive of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Fiona McTavish provides strong, values-driven leadership across the organisation. She guides strategic direction, navigates an evolving local government landscape, and delivers outcomes focused on sustainable development, community engagement, and regional growth. Fiona has been with the Council since 2012 and was appointed to the Chief Executive role in mid-2018.
Prior to joining local government, Fiona spent 20 years in central government in Wellington, holding senior roles across the education and health sectors. This experience gave her a strong understanding of public policy development and implementation at a national level. She has also worked in the private sector as an international consultant and as General Manager of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants, contributing to the organisation’s strategic objectives and global presence.
Beyond her role as Chief Executive, Fiona brings extensive governance experience. She is a Director of the Quayside Group of companies, a Director, Regional Shared Services, and a Board Member of Priority One, supporting initiatives that drive business and economic growth across the Bay of Plenty.
A passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion, Fiona is a member of Global Women and has contributed to a range of national working groups, boards, and trustee roles. Her career is distinguished by a commitment to inclusive leadership, strategic thinking, and collaborative approaches that strengthen communities and organisations.
ECC Feature Panel - The changing landscape of environmental compliance
The resource management system has undergone significant change in the last several years, with a rolling front of reform, policy wind backs and shifting community expectations. This panel discussion draws together the perspectives of key Trans-Tasman regulatory leaders on navigating reform and changes to the policy context alongside the day-to-day complexities of administering regulatory functions. The panel will explore key issues facing environmental regulators including leading through policy change, upholding integrity and independence, navigating changing tools and technology and how to go about monitoring system outcomes.