Meet the Commissioners Tūtakina ngā Kaikōmihana

Professor Tony Blakely is an epidemiologist and public health medicine specialist who led research on health inequalities, and the impact and cost-effectiveness of preventive interventions, at the University of Otago from 1998 to 2019. He relocated to the University of Melbourne in 2019. During the COVID-19 pandemic he undertook research on the impact of public health and social measures on the spread of the virus and provided expert media commentary in both Australia and New Zealand.

John Whitehead CNZM KStJ is an economist with extensive public sector experience that includes serving as Minister (economic) at the New Zealand High Commission in London, Economic Advisor to the Prime Minister, Secretary and Chief Executive of the New Zealand Treasury and as an Executive Director and member of the Board of the World Bank. In 2020 he was appointed Chancellor and Board Chair of the Order of St. John in New Zealand and has served as Chair or Board member of charitable and religious organisations.

Mr Illingworth is a litigation specialist who was called to the bar in 1974 and has conducted his own practice as a barrister since 1975. In his 50 years in practice, Mr Illingworth has appeared as counsel in the High Court, Court of Appeal, Privy Council and the Supreme Court as well as various disciplinary tribunals. He has particular expertise in public law, including constitutional law, administrative law and judicial review. He acted as counsel in proceedings involving major constitutional crises in Fiji and represented the Chief Justice of Fiji in disputed allegations of misconduct arising from one of those crises.

When not practising law, Mr Illingworth undertakes voluntary work including for the New Zealand Law Society and the Law Association. He also supports community groups and church organisations.

Hekia Parata was a Commissioner with the Inquiry from December 2022 to November 2023. She is a former Member of Parliament, whose Ministerial experience spanned numerous portfolios including Education, Energy and Resources, ACC, Women’s Affairs, Pacific Island Affairs and Ethnic Affairs. She also has substantial public sector experience and a successful track record of understanding and engaging with Iwi and Māori interests. Hekia recently served as Chair for the Ministerial Inquiry into Land Use, and her international OECD work also reflects her capability.