Gareth JonesMobile: 0275 534 337 Email: gjconsulting@paradise.net.nz

Personal Profile

Throughout my career I have helped public and private sector organisations, mostly in Wellington, as a business consultant and contractor.

My roles have been very varied and have given me the opportunity to develop broad skills and knowledge of how different agencies operate. I have successfully:

managed projects on time and within budget and improved the quality of results; analysed processes and designed improvements; written business cases; managed change and transition of groups and functions; designed and implemented new information systems; and procured goods and services.

I can pretty much do whatever an agency throws at me, whether it is getting work completed by a deadline date or keeping services going while a permanent staff member is absent.

Since every agency and situation is different I follow a range of good business practices but recognise that a pragmatic approach is important – whatever is right and works for the organisation.

My working style is collaborative, whether as a team member or leader, supporting colleagues and sponsors so that we can make best use of our talents and working together is enjoyable.

I am friendly, courteous and efficient. I am always mindful that an organisation has placed trust in me by hiring my services. It’s my responsibility to give of my best and deliver value.

I am an excellent communicator with strong written and presentational skills. These help me to work with executives, managers and staff, particularly when discussing the merits of different options and the benefits of recommended actions.

Despite a long career, I retain my energy and enthusiasm for work. Two years ago my wife had a serious accident and I took time off to look after her. She has now fully recovered and I am keen to re-join the workforce.

Extracts from Endorsements

“Gareth made a huge contribution to a major procurement revamp. He provided excellent project management at the same time as he grappled with some complex organisational issues”Richard Morris, ex Chief Financial Officer, Ministry of Health

“Thanks for your assistance & advice with the transition plan. Very pleased with the work you have done. We are very pleased with the final proposal document”.Vicki McKnight, Acting General Manager, Corporate Services, Aotea Pathology

“Gareth does not come with predetermined opinions and solutions in search of a problem. He listened to us, understood what we needed and developed pragmatic answers“.Marion Cowden, ex Chief Financial Officer, Department of Labour

“I have been working with Gareth since the mid 1980’s on various complex IT initiatives. Gareth is a straight shooter, very organised and a capable communicator. I like working with Gareth as he is able to speak to the Business Drivers Project Timing and Technical Constraints of a project with ease whilst keeping vendors like ourselves on the straight and narrow.”

Mike Ross, Director, Holistec Systems Limited

“You made a critical contribution to our Insolvency Law Reform Project. Your collaborative approach added considerable skill and expertise to our team. Thank you for providing fresh business thinking to our endeavours.”Robyn Cox, ex-Acting Group Manager Insolvency and Trustee Service

“It’s been a pleasure working with you and you are the main reason I come to work with a smile – because you are a great leader and a very well respected consultant”Jaleh Wanick, ex Business Analyst, Ministry of Health

Example of My Recent Work Achievements

Geni-i – Project Manager – Systems Infrastructures – 2014

Project managed the establishment and closure of a number of infrastructure development projects for a major client that included resolution of problems associated with legacy XP desktop and Citrix server systems, determination of the capacity of networks to support additional services, establishment of a proof of concept Citrix Share File system infrastructure and implementation of a platform upgrade for a call management system.

Aotea Pathology – Expansion of Services for DHBs – 2014

Designed and wrote the transition strategy and plan for the delivery of expanded services to three DHBs

Ministry of Health – Procurement Optimisation Project Manager - 2013

Identified and mapped end-to end the current services and designed processes to significantly improve cost and staff time savings and support the delivery of services that more strongly contribute to health outcomes.

Ministry of Economic Development – Business Registry Branch Projects Advisor – 1998 - 2013

Over a fifteen-year period ‘project advisor of choice’ to the Branch providing quality assurance services for a number of major business improvement and technology projects that have Implemented new on-line regulatory services for businesses, and case management applications to support internal productivity improvements. The projects have been at the forefront of government agency innovation, are examples of world best practice and have won a number of business awards.

New Zealand Defence Force - Strategic Bearer Initial Business Case - 2013

Advisor to the NZDF’s project that developed the successful initial business case for a strategic global satellite communication system investmentMinistry of Foreign Affairs and Trade – MFAT and IDG IT Integration - 2013

Designed IT system and support improvements through greater collaboration between the International Development Group’s and wider MFAT IT division.

Ministry of Social Development – Wellington Office Accommodation Strategy Project – 2012

Determined the robustness of the procurement process and the Single Stage Better Business Case justification of a collaborative approach to the acquisition of head office accommodation by five major Government agencies over the next 20 years.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade - IDG Integration Project - 2012

Developed improved processes, organisational redesign and cost savings from the re-integration of a range of functions of the International Development Group (formally NZAid) into the wider Ministry. Successfully managed the change issues for staff and delivered the project on time and within budget. Results fully endorsed by the CEO and Deputy Secretary and a client satisfaction rating of 50 out of 50 was awarded.

Ministry of Education – School’s Network Upgrade Project – 2012

Identified opportunities to address Project schedule slippage by improving the contracting and vendor management of networking services, the tracking and management of work in progress and vendor performance.

Ministry of Education – New Schools Property Programme – 2012

Led the development of the Programme Business Case for Schools Property that identified the complexity and magnitude of the requirements for new schools nationally for the next 10 years and the options for funding and procurement of their design, development and maintenance.

The Treasury – BASS Project – 2011

Specialist Procurement Advisor for the Better Administration and Support Services (BASS) Project providing advice on best business practice for procurement and wider supply chain performance and identified opportunities for improvement through collaboration.

Ministry of Social Development – Medical Alarm Scheme – 2010

Designed improved practices that could be applied to the assessment and approval of alarm entitlements and developed an improved approach for the accreditation and contracting of service providers.

Seven District Health Boards – Clinical Support Service Improvement & Cost Savings – 2006 - 2010

Project Manager for the development of improved procurement and wider clinical support services that could be delivered for significant reduction in costs and developed procurement implementation plans in support of regional shared service arrangements.

My Qualifications

NZ Citizen

NZ Security Clearance to Secret Level

Bachelor of Science (Honours) University of Wales

Certified PRINCE2 Project Management Practitioner

LEAN Practitioner University of Wales