MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKERS

Christine Rankin

Former WINZ CEO, Leadership Speaker & Resilience Authority

Christine Rankin is one of New Zealand's most recognisable public service figures — a former Chief Executive of Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ) who rose from beneficiary to lead the country's largest government department, then rebuilt her career and reputation in the face of unrelenting public scrutiny. Today she's a sought-after speaker on leadership, resilience and personal reinvention.

Who is Christine Rankin?

Born in Greymouth and raised in Blackball on the West Coast, Christine joined the Department of Social Welfare as a temporary clerk in 1978 — a young solo mother of two, on the DPB. She rose rapidly to become CEO of WINZ in 1998, leading more than 5,500 staff and overseeing $14 billion in welfare and superannuation payments.

Career Highlights

  • Chief Executive of Work and Income New Zealand (1998–2001)

  • Youngest regional director in the public service at age 34

  • Founder of the Rankin Group, now the Transformational Leadership & Change Company

  • Former Auckland Regional Councillor (2007)

  • Former Commissioner of the Families Commission (2009–2013)

  • Former Deputy Mayor of Taupō District Council (2019–2022)

Key Speaking Themes

  • Leadership under pressure and in the public eye

  • Resilience, reinvention and rebuilding after failure

  • Breaking the mould — backing yourself when no one else will

  • Public service, governance and change management

  • Authenticity, communication and people-first leadership

What Your Audience Will Gain

A frank, no-spin look at what it really takes to lead at the top — and to come back when the country turns against you. Christine speaks with rare candour about the highs of running WINZ and the public storm that followed, and shares the leadership lessons that have shaped her ever since.

Ideal For

  • Leadership and management conferences

  • Women in business and public service events

  • Resilience, change and transformation programmes

  • Local government and not-for-profit gatherings

  • After-dinner and keynote bookings

Frequently Asked Questions about Christine Rankin

What does Christine Rankin speak about? Leadership, resilience, reinvention, change management and her own story of rising from beneficiary to public service CEO.

What is Christine Rankin best known for? Serving as CEO of WINZ from 1998 to 2001, and the high-profile public controversy and Employment Court case that followed.

Where did Christine Rankin grow up? She was born in Greymouth and grew up in Blackball on the West Coast of the South Island.

Has Christine Rankin worked in local government? Yes — she served on the Auckland Regional Council and as Deputy Mayor of Taupō District Council from 2019 to 2022.

What businesses does Christine Rankin run today? She is a director of the Transformational Leadership & Change Company, alongside her son Matthew.

Is Christine Rankin available for keynotes and after-dinner events? Yes. Christine speaks nationally on leadership, resilience and public life, and is a popular keynote and after-dinner choice.