NZQA chief executive announced

The New Zealand Qualifications Authority has announced its new chief executive.

Dr Karen Poutasi, the current Director-General of Health, will take up the role at the beginning of May.

Qualifications Authority acting board chair Catherine Gibson said the board was delighted Dr Poutasi had accepted the job.

"She brings a wealth of experience in cultural and organisational change."

Dr Poutasi said she was excited about the new challenge.

"I am committed to quality assurance within education. Improving access to education must go hand-in-hand with quality assurance. "

Dr Poutasi is a medical graduate of Otago University, and holds Otago University and Harvard University management qualifications. She has held a Harkness Fellowship and is on the New Zealand appointments committee for Harkness Fellowships in health care policy.

Karen Sewell will remain as acting chief executive until Dr Poutasi takes over in May.

The former chief executive, Karen Van Rooyen, who resigned in May, was paid between $200,000 and $210,000.

- NZPA