Dame Margaret Bazley, one of New Zealand's leading civil servants responsible for far-reaching social and economic changes, will speak at a Rotorua Chamber of Commerce luncheon tomorrow as part of a week celebrating leadership.
Rotorua Chamber of Commercechief executive Roger Gordon said the luncheon was part of the Sir Peter Blake Leadership Week, which started last Friday and runs until June 29. The luncheon is at noon tomorrow at The Ballroom, Distinction Hotel.
Dame Margaret is a 2011 recipient of a Blake Medal, which is the premium award for outstanding leadership achievement in New Zealand. Mr Gordon said they specifically asked for Dame Margaret when they heard she had been awarded a Blake Medal.
"We thought it would be nice to have someone who has been recognised for their considerable leadership. We're interested in the story they've got to tell.''
Dame Margaret held senior leadership roles in the health sector, the State Services Commission, the Ministry of Transport, the Fire Service and the Department of Social Welfare. Dame Margaret's time in the public service,
during the 1980s and 1990s, placed her at the centre of reform and she was often brought in to initiate and lead profound change in an organisation.