Name Beverley Wakem | ||
Education University of Kentucky, Victoria University of Wellington | ||
Dame Beverley Anne Wakem (born 27 January 1944) is the former Chief Ombudsman of New Zealand.
Wakem's background is in broadcasting, public relations, and consulting for both the public and private sectors. She was Chief Executive of Radio New Zealand from 1984 until 1991. In 1991, she was appointed Commercial Director for Wrightson Limited, soon becoming the company’s General Manager of Human Resources and Corporate Affairs. From 1996 to 1997, Wakem was Executive Chairman of Hill & Knowlton New Zealand, and in September 1997 was appointed to the Higher Salaries Commission. She was appointed to the role of Ombudsman on 1 March 2005 and reappointed for another five-year term on 1 March 2010.
In October 2010, Wakem was appointed President of the International Ombudsman Institute. She is the first woman and the third New Zealand Ombudsman to hold this position.