Nicci Simmonds

Nicci is a senior leader who brings strong strategic instincts, helping clients to quickly understand challenges and choices so they can adapt and have more impact.

She has been pressure-tested in some of the most challenging contexts, including a senior role in New Zealand’s All of Government COVID response as well as leading crisis response in the Pacific.

Nicci works as effectively with communities and vulnerable groups as she does with leaders. Before she joined us in 2026, she had been New Zealand’s High Commissioner to Vanuatu for four years and then Manager, Economic Diplomacy and Policy with MFAT.

Examples of Nicci’s work

• Developing the model and Business Case that is transforming how the New Zealand Government supports Vanuatu’s education infrastructure to be more resilient and recover more rapidly from natural disasters
• Overseeing a major renewable energy project in the Pacific to ensure it was implemented, including keeping stakeholders on board through a series of obstacles
• Leading major crisis responses, including as Chief of Staff on the All of Government COVID response and as Head of Mission for New Zealand’s crisis response to the December 2024 earthquake in Port Vila
• Managing a programme of reform of public financial management and general budget support in the Pacific.