The main function of our board is to ensure the independence of the Banking Ombudsman and to make sure that we are well-run and effective.

Miriam Dean CNZM KC

Independent Chair - appointed June 2013

Miriam was the first female partner of law firm Russell McVeagh and the first female President of the New Zealand Bar Association.  She has been involved in a number of government inquiries including chairing the Ministerial Inquiry into the Fonterra botulinum incident and leading the review of ACC’s dispute resolution processes.   She was appointed a Queen’s Counsel in 2004 and a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2011 for services to law and business.

Miriam has extensive governance experience. Current governance roles include director of Crown Infrastructure Partners, Otakaro Ltd and the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ).

Jon Duffy

Consumer representative - appointed September 2020

Jon is the Chief Executive of Consumer NZ.  Jon has had a long career in the consumer protection field including roles as a Senior Investigator at the Commerce Commission, Head of Trust & Safety at Trade Me and Assistant Privacy Commissioner.

Jon is currently Deputy Chair of Netsafe and was previously Chair of the Consumer NZ Board.

Jon is a big fan of people getting a fair deal, whether it’s making sure marketing is straight up, how our data is being collected and used or looking at the impact what we buy has on our environment.

Jon speaks regularly on consumer issues and is increasingly interested in the convergence between privacy and consumer protection as well as how the high concentration of certain markets such as supermarkets and air travel in New Zealand affect consumers.  

Catherine McGrath

Banking representative - appointed April 2025

Catherine McGrath is the Chief Executive Officer and Director of Westpac New Zealand Limited.

Catherine was appointed Chief Executive Officer and Director of Westpac New Zealand in November 2021. She has more than 25 years’ experience working in financial services and prior to joining Westpac, Catherine led large-scale transformations at some of the world’s best known banks including Barclays Group and Lloyds TSB in the UK. Earlier in her career she worked at BNZ, ASB and the Prudential Group. Catherine was raised in New Zealand. She graduated from Canterbury University with a Bachelor of Law and a Bachelor of Commerce.

Steve Jurkovich

Banking representative - appointed April 2024

Steve joined Kiwibank in July 2018 as Chief Executive.

Steve graduated from Otago University with a Bachelor of Law and completed his MBA at the University of Sydney. With over 20 years of banking experience in Australia and New Zealand, Steve’s career to date has included senior and executive leadership positions with accountabilities across Retail, Corporate, Commercial and Rural Banking and Legal with New Zealand’s largest banks. 

Steve is passionate about business and business leaders delivering performance through a purpose led approach and having some fun doing it.

Steve is also a founding trustee of the "Tania Dalton Foundation" whose purpose is to help young women achieve their epic potential.