Rebecca Kitteridge

{{Short description|New Zealand public servant}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2016}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Rebecca Kitteridge | honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|CVO|size=100%}} | image = File:Rebecca Kitteridge 2010 (cropped).jpg | alt = | caption = Kitteridge in 2010 (wearing the badge of the secretary and registrar of the Order of New Zealand) | birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|55|2020}} | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | office1 = 7th Director-General of Security | prime_minister1 = John Key (2014–16) Bill English (2016–17) Jacinda Ardern (2017–2023) Chris Hipkins (2023) | term_start1 = May 2014 | term_end1 = March 2023 | predecessor1 = Warren Tucker | successor1 = Phil McKee (acting) | office2 = 17th Secretary of the Cabinet | term_start2 = 26 March 2008 | term_end2 = November 2013 | predecessor2 = Diane Morcom | successor2 = Michael Webster | prime_minister2 = Helen Clark (2008) John Key (2008–14) }} '''Rebecca Lucy Kitteridge''' {{post-nominals|country=NZL|CVO}} (born {{circa|1965}}) is a New Zealand public servant currently serving as Deputy Public Service Commissioner.

She was Secretary of the Cabinet from 2008 to November 2013,<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> Director-General of the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service from 2014 to 2023,<ref name="l201">{{cite web |date=9 February 2018 |title=The trailblazing women who guard our security |url=https://www.adls.org.nz/for-the-profession/news-and-opinion/2015/5/8/the-trailblazing-women-who-guard-our-security/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180329081540/https://www.adls.org.nz/for-the-profession/news-and-opinion/2015/5/8/the-trailblazing-women-who-guard-our-security/ |archive-date=29 March 2018 |access-date=11 April 2025 |website=adls.org.nz}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=New Deputy Public Service Commissioner appointed |url=https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-deputy-public-service-commissioner-appointed-0 |access-date=2023-02-20 |website=The Beehive |language=en}}</ref> and acting chief executive of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet from 2023 to 2024.

== Career == Kitteridge attended Upper Hutt College, and is a graduate of Victoria University of Wellington.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11351368 |title=We're about security not spying: SIS chief|publisher=The New Zealand Herald |date=1 November 2014 |accessdate=1 November 2014}}</ref> Her early career was in private legal practice before holding positions at the Crown Law Office, Cabinet Office and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.<ref name=":2" />

She was Deputy Secretary of the Cabinet from 2003 to 2008 and Secretary of the Cabinet from March 2008 to November 2013.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=http://www.nzsis.govt.nz/about-us/directors-biography/ |title=Ms Rebecca Kitteridge, Director New Zealand Security Intelligence Service |publisher=NZSIS |accessdate=7 June 2014}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite web |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11155839 |title=Rebecca Kitteridge named new SIS director |publisher=New Zealand Herald |date=12 November 2013|accessdate=6 April 2014}}</ref> During the last six months of this time she was seconded to the GCSB as acting associate director-general to carry out a review of compliance systems and processes there, in response to concerns of illegal spying on Kim Dotcom.<ref>[http://www.gcsb.govt.nz/assets/GCSB-Compliance-Review/Review-of-Compliance.pdf "Review of Compliance at GCSB"], Rebecca Kitteridge, March 2013, GCSB.govt.nz</ref><ref>[http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/kitteridge-report-pretty-damning-key-ck-138624 "Kitteridge report 'pretty damning' – Key"], 14 April 2013, NBR</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Clean sweep at spy agency - New Zealand News |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/clean-sweep-at-spy-agency/IOHGNNCQHCQYREY57KMTP7WR3A/ |access-date=2023-02-20 |website=The New Zealand Herald |date=5 October 2012 |language=en-NZ}}</ref>

She was appointed Director-General of the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service in 2014. She was the first woman to head the organisation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Trailblazers: Rebecca Kitteridge |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/trailblazers/news/trailblazers-rebecca-kitteridge/S5DFVCX2RFIAL3BS2UKLMAL45Q/ |access-date=2023-02-20 |website=The New Zealand Herald |date=16 September 2018 |language=en-NZ}}</ref> In late 2022, it was announced she would join the Public Service Commission as Deputy Public Service Commissioner from March 2023.<ref name=":2" /> Instead, however, she was seconded to act as chief executive of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) in March 2023.<ref name="Traylen 2023 o154">{{cite web |last=Traylen |first=Jem |date=27 March 2023 |title=Rebecca Kitteridge fills in as head of PM's department |url=https://businessdesk.co.nz/article/politics/rebecca-kitteridge-fills-in-as-head-of-pms-department |access-date=29 March 2024 |website=BusinessDesk}}</ref><ref name="Young 2023 u148">{{cite web |last=Young |first=Audrey |date=30 April 2023 |title=and who's in line for the top job |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/rating-our-best-public-service-leaders-who-might-be-the-next-public-service-commissioner/CRXRQBAZC5EPBJY2XO4JYCSG2M/ |access-date=29 March 2024 |website=The New Zealand Herald }}</ref> That appointment was extended in January 2024.<ref>{{Cite report |url=https://www.publicservice.govt.nz/assets/DirectoryFile/Extending-Deputy-Public-Service-Commissioner-Arrangements.pdf |title=Appointment: Deputy Public Service Commissioner |last=Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission |date=23 January 2024 |access-date=29 March 2024}}</ref> Kitteridge finally joined the Public Service Commission in April 2024 when a permanent secretary for DPMC was appointed.<ref name="i595">{{cite web |date=26 March 2024 |title=Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet appointed |url=https://www.publicservice.govt.nz/news/secretary-of-the-department-of-the-prime-minister-and-cabinet-appointed |access-date=11 April 2025 |website=Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission}}</ref>

Kitteridge will join the University of Oxford's Blavatnik School of Government as a professor of practice in public policy for a three-year term from November 2025.<ref name="w165">{{cite web |date=6 August 2025 |title=Former SIS boss Rebecca Kitteridge gets new role at University of Oxford |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/569150/former-sis-boss-rebecca-kitteridge-gets-new-role-at-university-of-oxford |access-date=8 August 2025 |website=RNZ}}</ref><ref name="s866">{{cite web |date=5 August 2025 |title=Blavatnik School of Government announces Rebecca Kitteridge's appointment as Professor of Practice in Public Policy |url=https://www.bsg.ox.ac.uk/news/blavatnik-school-government-announces-rebecca-kitteridges-appointment-professor-practice |access-date=8 August 2025 |website=Blavatnik School of Government}}</ref><ref name="n158">{{cite web |date=6 August 2025 |title=Public Service Commissioner congratulates Rebecca Kitteridge CVO on distinguished appointment |url=https://www.publicservice.govt.nz/news/public-service-commissioner-congratulates-rebecca-kitteridge-on-distinguished-appointment |access-date=8 August 2025 |website=Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission}}</ref>

== Family == Kitteridge has a husband and a daughter.<ref name=":3" />

== Honours == On 25 March 2014, Kitteridge was appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order upon relinquishing her roles as Secretary of the Cabinet and Clerk of the Executive Council, and was invested by the Queen in a private ceremony at Buckingham Palace.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.royal.uk/court-circular?text=kitteridge&mrf=2&date%5Bmin%5D%5Bdate%5D=25%2F03%2F2014&date%5Bmax%5D%5Bdate%5D=25%2F03%2F2014&id= |title=Buckingham Palace |work=Court Circular |date=25 March 2014 |accessdate=8 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://gazette.govt.nz/notice/id/2014-vr2175 |title=Royal Victorian Order |date=3 April 2014 |work=New Zealand Gazette |page=1092 |issue=38}}</ref> In 2017, Kitteridge won the Public Policy Award at the New Zealand Women of Influence Awards.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/96518092/my-food-bag-founder-cecilia-robinson-supreme-winner-at-women-of-influence-awards|title=My Food Bag founder Cecilia Robinson supreme winner at Women of Influence awards|website=Stuff |language=en|access-date=2 June 2018}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{s-start}} {{s-gov}} {{s-bef|before=Warren Tucker }} {{s-ttl|title=Director-General of Security |years=2014–present}} {{s-inc}} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kitteridge, Rebecca}} Category:1960s births Category:Living people Category:New Zealand public servants Category:New Zealand women public servants Category:People educated at Upper Hutt College Category:Victoria University of Wellington alumni Category:New Zealand Commanders of the Royal Victorian Order Category:New Zealand Women of Influence Award recipients Category:Year of birth missing (living people)