Front Page

John Allen has been Chief Executive and Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade since July 2009.  

He is the Government’s chief adviser on foreign and trade policy, official development assistance, international law, and diplomatic and consular issues.  He is responsible to the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Disarmament and Arms Control. 

With a rapidly changing global environment, John is leading the Ministry through an unprecedented period of change. He has focused on developing a strong vision and direction for the Ministry that is designed to underpin New Zealand’s security and economic prosperity.  A major programme called Ministry 20/20 is underway to create a more flexible and efficient organisation that is well placed to meet future requirements. 

Prior to joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, John was Chief Executive of New Zealand Post, where he led a range of initiatives to drive growth in advance of declining mail volumes.  He held a number of senior positions at New Zealand Post before his appointment as its Chief Executive in 2003.

A former Partner of Rudd Watts & Stone, specialising in commercial and public policy issues, John has also been a visiting Lecturer in Law at Victoria University of Wellington. He is an experienced company director and was co-Chair of the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum until April 2011.  John is Chair of the Employers’ Disability Network and a Trustee of the Be.Accessible Trust.  He is also a member of the Territorial Forces Employer Support Council, and a Trustee of the New Zealand International Arts Festival and the New Zealand Book Council.