About the experts

Matt Allen is a Director of Allen + Clarke. He relishes leading multifaceted policy, research and evaluation projects with diverse stakeholders. He is a skilled policy analyst with considerable experience in working within the machinery of government. Matt is enthusiastic about involving stakeholders in innovative ways, harnessing their insights to identify more effective and efficient ways of delivering policy, programmes and services.

Kelley Reeve has been the Executive Director of four Government inquiries, and Head of Secretariat for a Cabinet appointed Advisory Board – all addressing complex policy and regulatory challenges or matters of national significance such as mental health and addiction, identity and national security concerns, infant botulism, and social licence for the use of data. Kelley is the Practice Lead for the Optimisation + Delivery team, enabling our consultants to deliver high-impact high quality projects for our clients and communities.

Jaqui Ngawaka is a smart, capable leader with a talent for applying Māori wisdom to boost organisational development. She believes in the potential of Te Ao Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi to guide the future prosperity of Aotearoa NZ. Jaqui’s background as a senior executive has earned her a reputation for productive influence and energetic drive to achieve collective goals. Jaqui was raised in the King Country and her principal whakapapa connections extend throughout Ngāti Maniapoto and Ngāpuhi.

Jason Carpenter is a Senior Consultant with experience across the entire policy spectrum, including policy development, stakeholder and public consultation, and research and reviews. He has particular expertise within the health area, including significant experience leading and contributing to projects on tobacco control, drinking water, sport and physical activity, burials and cremation, mental health, and oral health. Jason enjoys tackling complex policy issues where there are no simple answers and a range of approaches are needed to successfully drive change.

Jen Locke has been involved in numerous Government inquiries addressing a range of challenges including sentinel events, public policy and reform, and sensitive disclosures. She is experienced in delivering effective and efficient Secretariat and Programme support. Jen’s expertise ranges from property and facilities management, procurement, contract management, financial processing and reporting, recruitment support and on-boarding, meeting management and organisation of conferences, public forums and events.