Zoe is an experienced finance professional who is able to distil complex ideas into language and formats that are easy for her clients to understand. She brings a strong set of problem-solving skills, along with extensive public-sector experience in financial modelling, funding reviews, and Budget processes. 

Naturally inquisitive, Zoe asks the right questions, delving deep into the root causes of complex issues. With a strong focus on practical outcomes, she takes pride in offering evidence-based solutions that meet rigorous standards. Her energy and confidence put clients at ease, fostering productive collaborations. 

Before joining MartinJenkins in 2023, Zoe was the Principal Advisor in MBIE’s Finance and Performance Group. Earlier she held several senior finance positions that were at the heart of MBIE’s operational business groups, such as Immigration New Zealand and MIQ. In those positions Zoe provided an array of expert advice, including financial recommendations for policy initiatives and long-term forecast models.  

Before working at MBIE, Zoe made significant contributions to financial and non-financial performance reporting at the Department of Corrections and KiwiRail. 

Examples of Zoe’s work 

• Funding model for the MIQ system – Zoe developed a comprehensive financial model that covered every facet of the MIQ operation. This model was pivotal in MBIE successfully securing $1.7 billion Cabinet funding over three years. The model was also the foundation for setting fees for non-residents staying in MIQ, ensuring a fair and transparent cost-recovery mechanism. Zoe also adapted the model for various other purposes, such as scenario modelling for group arrivals, including overseas sports teams and Recognised Seasonal Workers, ensuring that their collective employers were charged appropriately.  

• Cost to serve for Immigration New Zealand – By analysing the key input data and setting appropriate assumptions, Zoe was able to provide INZ with clear insights into the cost to service individual visa applications. These results served as valuable inputs to the latest visa fee and levy review and formed a crucial pillar of INZ’s Future Funding Strategy. 

• Standardising MBIE’s project finance template – Recognising a gap in existing project finance reporting, Zoe developed a standard template for this. It enables project managers to monitor their finances at a resourcing level, across the entire project lifecycle, from start-up through to delivery and close out. Widely adopted across MBIE, this template is now prescribed as part of the project induction pack. 

Zoe’s qualifications 

Zoe is a Chartered Accountant (CAANZ) with a Bachelor of Accountancy from Massey University. She is also fluent in Mandarin Chinese.