Mark Steel

Deputy Secretary, Economic Development Policy

I’ve been working in economic development policy since 1985, when I joined the Department of Trade and Industry.

I worked on a wide range of regulatory policy issues, including competition law, state enterprise restructuring, intellectual property, company and securities law reform, and international regulatory policy coordination.

I was appointed Deputy Secretary of the Regulatory and Competition Policy branch (now Competition, Trade and Investment) at the Ministry of Economic Development. I held that role for five years, and in December 2006 became the Deputy Secretary of the Economic Development Policy branch (previously named the Industry and Regional Development branch).

During that time I worked on a range of economic development strategy, industry and innovation policy issues.

• From 2008 to 2010 I was responsible for the development of the government procurement reform programme.
• During 2010 I spent three months as Acting Chief Executive of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.

I have an MA (Hons) in Political Science, an LLB from the University of Canterbury, and a Master of Public Policy degree from the Australian National University.