Research and Education Advanced Network New Zealand

Discover a career with purpose at MBIE

About the Research and Education Advanced Network New Zealand (REANNZ) Research and Education Advanced Network New Zealand Limited (REANNZ) operates and supports a specialist high-performance digital network that is engineered to meet the unique performance demands of scientists, researchers, innovators and educators from 45 member organisations from New Zealand’s universities, Crown Research Institutes, institutes of technology and polytechnics, and the wider education, research and innovation sector.
REANNZ is used by researchers to access, move and share data-intensive research around the country and across the world, enabling them to collaborate and contribute to world-leading research to benefit New Zealand and the world. REANNZ engineers also develop and support solutions to address complex technical issues in this specialist environment.
- Proven well-developed governance experience.
- Strong understanding of the science and innovation or telecommunications sectors.
- A good understanding of public accountability.
- Commercial and/or financial acumen.
- An understanding of technology.
- A connection to the governance of CRIs. Additional skills and experience required Directors should have an appreciation of the role of the Crown as an investor and the need to maximise the value to New Zealand from Crown-funded investments, as well as an understanding of the public sector and governance responsibilities of the Crown as a responsible investor under the Companies Act 1993 and the Crown Entities Act 2004.

Directors must be aware of the importance of personal integrity and the need to disclose any interests they have or are likely to have in matters relating to the REANNZ Board, whether or not these create a conflict of interest. Directors must also be sure that they have the interest and enthusiasm needed to contribute effectively to the performance of the entity throughout their term of directorship.
Board members are appointed as individuals to deliver on their collective responsibilities and not as representatives of particular sectors or interest groups. Diversity of experience and background of members across the Board is a key consideration.
**The Crown Entities Act requires the shareholding Ministers to**:

- Only appoint a person who, in the shareholding Ministers’ opinion, has the appropriate knowledge, skills, and experience to ensure the sound management of the Crown entity company and to assist the company to achieve its objectives and perform its functions.
- In appointing, take into account the desirability of promoting diversity in the membership of Crown entities. Applicants for a director role should have the necessary skills and experience to enable them to meet the requirements of a director in terms of the Companies Act and other relevant legislation; and have the demonstrated skills to contribute to board level decision-making. Applicants must have the legal right to work in New Zealand.

Time commitment and remuneration The fee payable to directors of the REANNZ Board for carrying out their duties is set in accordance with The Treasury’s Crown Company Fees Methodology. Currently directors’ fees for REANNZ Board are based on a rate of $20,184 per annum. Actual fees paid are within the discretion of the REANNZ Board. REANNZ policy is to reward committee chairs (currently Finance and Audit and People and Culture) within the pool of board fees so the director remuneration is a minimum of $19,434 per annum.
The Board may authorise the reimbursement, by the Company, of reasonable travelling, accommodation, and other expenses incurred by directors in attending meeting of the Board or Shareholders, or in relation to any other affairs of the Company.
The REANNZ Board meets a minimum of eight times per year, primarily in Wellington. Board meetings are occasionally held in other locations to meet REANNZ staff and learn more about stakeholders. A director is also expected to be a member of at least one committee that meets a minimum of three times per annum and attend an annual strategy session. In addition, directors are expected to spend an estimated one day preparing for each meeting and on other board matters. Board materials are distributed to Board members in sufficient advance of the Board meetings to allow members to be thoroughly prepared.
More information Section 31 of the Crown Entities Act 2004 requires that before a person is appointed as a member of a Crown entity, the person must:

- Consent in writing to being a member.
- Certify that they are not disqualified from being a member under section 30(2) of the Act.