Strategic advisory firm, MartinJenkins, today announced that award-winning AI Strategy and Transformation leader, Jarred Griffiths, will join the firm as a Practice Lead, helping clients realise value from harnessing the power of AI.
Jarred joins MartinJenkins from his role as Director of Strategy and Engagement at Hutt City Council. In this role he carved out a reputation as one of the country’s most respected leaders in AI strategy and adoption in public entities and helped Hutt City emerge as a pioneer of AI in local government and the wider public service.
Jarred’s work has been nationally recognised - in September Hutt City Council won the Innovation Award at the Public Service Commission Awards. And In December, Jarred received the Jim Higgins Leadership Award for his vision, leadership, and commitment to the responsible use of AI to deliver innovation and organisational engagement.
Jarred will lead MartinJenkins’s growing practice in AI adoption and transformation, complementing the firm’s organisational strategy, design, and performance advisory team.
MartinJenkins Managing Partner, Allana Coulon, said she was delighted with Jarred’s appointment, which would bring depth, experience and genuine leadership to an area of strategic focus for the firm.
“There is huge scope for us to add real value to our clients through helping them harness the transformational power of AI,” she said. “Jarred’s appointment reflects the importance of AI to the continued growth of our business and success of our clients.”
Allana said while Jarred’s AI expertise would be valuable across MartinJenkins’ work across the public and private sectors, there was an immediate opportunity for local government to better use AI to manage through a challenging operating environment and deliver public value.
“There is clear and increasing interest from across the economy in the transformational possibilities of AI. We’re delighted to be bringing one of the country’s leading AI strategy and adoption practitioners into the firm at precisely the right time.
“AI is an area that can deliver value very quickly with the right capability, support and advice.”
Jarred Griffiths said he’s excited to join MartinJenkins and to support organisations across New Zealand turn AI ambition into real results.
“I’ve spent the last two years leading AI adoption across an entire organisation, sitting at the executive table, making decisions, and seeing what actually works. These lessons will support other organisations to effectively accelerate their own AI transformations.
“New Zealand is at a critical point with AI. The interest is there, and the opportunity is significant, but many organisations are stuck between knowing they need to act and knowing how to do it well. This is where I’ll be focused – helping leaders close that gap to deliver genuine change and transformation, not just deploying the technology and tools.”
Jarred says local government has an opportunity to better use AI in response to sector challenges.
“Having been a senior leader in local government, I’ve seen how AI can be harnessed as a powerful tool to respond to significant challenges facing councils in the years ahead. Rates capping, general financial pressure, and amalgamation, combined with public expectations, means there’s an opportunity to better use AI to lift performance and improve value for money.”
Jarred will also work alongside MartinJenkins' existing teams in economics, infrastructure, and public sector advisory.
