Martin Welsh

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT MARTIN WELSH

The Director, Partnerships role leads MBIE\'s Better for Business (B4B) team and work programme, along with partnerships strategy and support for MBIE\'s Small Business Services Unit.From 20••••22, I was Programme Manager, Leverage for the APEC21 Auckland Programme at Auckland Tourism, Events & Economic Development (ATEED), then part of Auckland Unlimited\'s management team delivering the Regional Business Partner Network Support Programme, and subsequently the Activate Tāmaki Makaurau Business Support Programme on behalf of MBIE for the Auckland region. From 2016 to early 2018 I was the Principal Advisor, Strategic Partnerships at Auckland Council. In this role, I led programme management and implementation support for Auckland Council\'s strategic partnership projects, working with business, philanthropic, public and community funders. I was also responsible for the council\'s stakeholder management programme.My professional background includes more than 20 years as a career diplomat for the New Zealand Government. I have completed diplomatic postings in the Pacific, Australia and Asia, as well as numerous senior policy roles for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Wellington. I was New Zealand’s Consul General for New South Wales and Queensland, based in Sydney, from 20••••14.In 2015 I undertook a sabbatical, working as Organisational Development Manager for the UK-based NGO Skillshare International which provides vocational training for refugees at the Dukwi Refugee Camp in Botswana. I hold a Law degree and an Arts degree in French and Psychology from the University of Otago, New Zealand, and am Prince II qualified in project management. I speak fluent French and intermediate-level Vietnamese.