Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche has announced the appointment of David Hosking to lead an independent assurance review of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Our Future Services (OFS) programme.
The programme is a seven-year transformation to modernise Immigration New Zealand’s systems and services, improve risk management, and enhance customer and staff experience.
The review is separate to the inquiry being led by Michael Heron KC into the conduct of officials linked to the failed multi-million dollar Biometric Capability Update (BCU) project – including whether they may have withheld information and misled Ministers.
Immigration Minister, Erica Stanford asked the Commissioner to also examine the OFS programme to provide confidence on cost, governance, management, reporting, and delivery of expected benefits. Â
Mr Hosking (pictured), a specialist in providing assurance over multi-year technology transformation delivery programmes with budgets greater than $100 million, will make findings in his report. He will be supported by specialist technical assurance advisers working under his direction.
Mr Hosking has worked for more than three decades at Accenture, where he was a Quality Assurance Lead and Assurance Director, primarily based in Canberra, Australia.
He has conducted structured quality reviews across a range of government projects in New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, and Japan, including projects in taxation, child welfare, immigration, customs and border protection, health, defence, and public sector finance.
“Mr Hosking brings extensive experience providing assurance over large and complex technology transformation programmes in the public sector,” said Sir Brian.
“It is important that significant public sector programmes are subject to appropriate scrutiny and assurance. This review will help provide that assurance.”
Sir Brian said he would not be commenting further until the review is finished.
