Allan Kinsella

Director Assurance,Ministry for Primary Industries,Government 

About Me

Born on October 28, 1971, in Wellington, New Zealand, a city rich in culture, Allan Kinsella has lived a life characterised by achievement, diversity, and determination. Early on, while still a student at Saint Patrick's College, Silverstream, he showed a remarkable passion for learning and leadership. He continued his education at the University of New South Wales, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree while pursuing his love of economics and history. ​

His early career was greatly influenced by his 1990 choice to enlist in the New Zealand Army in search of challenges outside the norm. At the Australian Defence Force Academy and then at the Royal Military College, Duntroon, where he earned his degree as a Lieutenant in the Royal New Zealand Artillery in 1993, his dedication and determination were acknowledged. During his operational tours with the United Nations in Sierra Leone and East Timor, where he held positions ranging from Senior Operations Officer to Deputy Battalion Commander, he demonstrated remarkable leadership and strategic abilities.

He achieved academic success alongside his military career, earning an MBA with distinction from Massey University while balancing work and family obligations. His executive leadership abilities were further refined through a Cambridge University curriculum. ​

Emma and Cayden are Allan Kinsella NZ's two children from his 2002 marriage to Jennifer Marks. Even when his wife passed away in 2023, he continued to be a devoted father, juggling his work obligations with his interests in languages, fitness, and pastimes like diving, fishing, and brewing. His life, characterised by service to his community, family, and country, is evidence of his adaptability, tenacity, and dedication.

He applied the fortitude and strategic acumen he had acquired in the military to his position in the government after entering the public sector. He quickly rose to the position of Director of Assurance in the Ministry for Primary Industries in New Zealand. He and his colleagues won the Supreme MPI Leadership Award for their crucial leadership amid significant national events like the COVID-19 epidemic and the 1080 baby formula issue.

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