Beverley Wakem

Wakem's background is in broadcasting, public relations, and consulting for both the public and private sectors. She was chief executive of Radio New Zealand from 1984 until 1991. In 1991, she was appointed commercial director for Wrightson Limited, soon becoming the company's general manager of human resources and corporate affairs.^[2] In 1992 she considered running as a candidate for Mayor of Wellington at that years local-body election.^[3] From 1996 to 1997, Wakem was executive chairman of Hill & Knowlton New Zealand, and in September 1997 was appointed to the Higher Salaries Commission.^[2]

Wakem was appointed Ombudsman on 1 March 2005 and reappointed for another five-year term on 1 March 2010.^[4] She was president of the International Ombudsman Institute from November 2010 to October 2014, being the first woman and the third New Zealand ombudsman to hold the position.^[5]

After her second term as Chief Ombudsman, Wakem was elected to Porirua City Council in the 2016 local elections.^[6]

In the 1990 Queen's Birthday Honours, Wakem was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, for services to broadcasting and to the community.^[7] The same year, she was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.^[1] In the 2012 Queen's Birthday and Diamond Jubilee Honours, she was made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the State.^[8]