To be a Companion of the Queen’s Service Order:
QUILTER, Ms Helene Elizabeth
For services to the State
Ms Helene Quilter has had more than 40 years' experience in the public sector and has held a variety of management and leadership positions in the Ministry of Social Development, the State Services Commission, and the Ministry of Defence.
Ms Quilter was appointed Secretary of Defence and Chief Executive of the Ministry of Defence in 2012. Prior to this role she was Deputy Commissioner at the State Services Commission where she was responsible for managing the performance of chief executives in the justice, defence, intelligence and foreign affairs agencies. She produced the Ministry of Social Development's first five-year strategic plan and implemented new reporting systems to facilitate more effective governance and assessment of risks. She led the Central Agency team responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Defence White Paper 2010 and worked with the justice sector on the development and implementation of the Better Public Services Justice Sector Results Action Plan. As Secretary of Defence, she led the Defence White Paper and Capability Plan 2016 and the Strategic Defence Policy Statement 2018. Ms Quilter has contributed to strengthening the Ministry of Defence and, with the Chief of Defence Force, has led comprehensive reform of the Defence capability management system, responsible for the delivery of major military equipment.
To be a Companion of the Queen’s Service Order:
SEYMOUR, Mrs Patricia Anne (Pat), OBE
For services to local government and the community
Mrs Pat Seymour was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1995 for her services to the family and the community.
Mrs Seymour has been a Councillor for Gisborne District Council for six terms, during which time she has chaired the Environmental Planning and Regulations and the Hearings committees, and the Fresh Water Advisory Group. She been a member of the Gisborne Crime Prevention Camera Trust and the HB Williams Memorial Library Book Trust, and Chair of the District Licensing Trust. She chaired the Tairawhiti Area Health Board from 1998 to 2000. She is currently Chair of the War Memorial Theatre Trust and the Lawson Field Theatre. She oversaw the War Memorial Theatre Trust’s fundraising of $5 million for a theatre upgrade and similarly upgrade work has begun in 2018 for the Lawson Field Theatre. She was appointed National Chairperson of the Life Education Trust in 2018, having previously chaired the Gisborne branch for 20 years. Mrs Seymour was a Lay Member of the Nursing Council of New Zealand from 2009 to 2018.
HONOURS
Officer of the Order of the British Empire, New Year 1995