Darryl Stevens MNZM

Chief Executive of NZBPT since March 2018. Darryl has extensive knowledge of the parliamentary and executive government environments through his previous positions in the Visits & Ceremonial Office and Constitutional Services (Dept of Internal Affairs) and the Office of the Clerk (Inter-parliamentary relations and education).

Darryl’s early career was focused around advisory and policy work relating to youth programmes and constitutional functions, before moving into line management positions with the Department of Internal Affairs.

Experience with new business and establishing operational desks to manage one off special events has seen him play pivotal roles in the NZ Remembers secretariat [1994-1995] to manage the 50th anniversary of the End of WWII. In 2002 he was seconded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in the role of Deputy Chief of Protocol to re-establish a Visitor’s Unit inside the Protocol Division and in 2004 he was seconded to the Ministry for Culture and Heritage where he undertook a leading role with the development and implementation of a ceremonial events based programme for the return of New Zealand’s Unknown Warrior.

Darryl has either directed or been involved with a wide range of high level ministerial and royal visits, national and commemorative ceremonies, flagship events and public occasions commemorating and celebrating milestones in NZ history and promoting “NZ Incorporated”.

Darryl is also actively engaged with Commonwealth Civil Society through his current roles as President and Director of Royal Commonwealth Society Wellington, RCS national spokesperson and Chair, Victoria League Wellington Trust. He was awarded the MNZM in 2013.