Thomas Osborne

I have nearly a decade’s experience as a passionate civil servant in New Zealand, working with and delivering for a variety of stakeholders across regulatory policy, executive support and crisis response. Having recently made the move to the United Kingdom I am seeking opportunities to further my career in the civil service, public administration or non-governmental sectors.

Across my career have led projects, teams and strategies to a high standard as a trusted government adviser. I thrive in a fast-paced environment, where I can support senior leaders and leverage my prowess for building warm, successful relationships and delivering high-quality, tailored advice. 

Ministry of Business, Education and Employment (MBIE), Wellington, New Zealand

Senior Adviser, Operational Policy and Regulatory Systems
Strategy, Performance and Design

September 2021 – June 2025

I was responsible for working across MBIE’s service delivery arm to provide policy advice to support execution of operational and statutory functions across a variety of regulators and Registrars, operational delivery teams, Ministers and the Chief Executive. 

I led and delivered projects to provide formal policy advice, represent stakeholders on cross-government forums, and co-ordinate the amendment or introduction of secondary legislation by Cabinet Ministers and in the House of Parliament, on behalf of regulators including the New Zealand Companies Office, Labour Inspectorate, Electrical Workers Registration Board, CERT New Zealand, and the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand. 

Principal Adviser, Operational Policy and Regulatory Systems

Strategy, Performance and Design

March – May 2023; October 2024 – January 2025

I was seconded to the role of Principal Adviser, where in addition to my substantive Senior Adviser role I was responsible for supporting management to plan and assign work programmes for other team members, evaluating light-touch business cases for branch prioritisation, and leading and supporting group training, induction, and professional development for Advisers and Senior Advisers

Ministry of Education (MoE), Wellington, New Zealand

Principal Adviser to the Secretary of Education and Chief Executive
Office of the Secretary for Education

July 2018 – August 2019

I was responsible for supporting the Secretary for Education as her Principal Adviser in strategic and operational decision-making. During my time in the office, I gained intimate knowledge of government executive leadership and modelled the Ministry’s strategic style, operational environment and expectations for delivery. 

Intelligence Function and Incident Management Team Member
Ministry COVID-19 Response Team

March – May 2020

I was seconded to the Ministry’s pandemic response team, where I was responsible for co-ordinating daily situation reports across the Ministry and Minister’s office, stakeholder relationship management with other education agencies, and direct reporting into the New Zealand All-of-Government response centre. I was also placed as a liaison within the National Crisis Management Centre.

Senior Adviser, Early Childhood Education Operational Policy
Sector Enablement and Support

June 2016 – September 2021

I was responsible for providing operational staff with support on, and to made improvements to, the delivery implementation of regulations, standard operating procedures and guidance. This supported Ministry staff and the sector to meet their obligations and succeed within the regulatory environment. 

University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

Customer Services Representative, University Course Advice Service
Academic Services 

November 2014 – May 2016

I was responsible for receiving and processing student enrolments and course changes, assessing compassionate consideration and exceptional circumstances requests, and supporting the role-out of the University’s new online course management system, e:Vision. I was also responsible for supporting the establishment of the University Course Advice Service where I conducted interviews with prospective and current students seeking advice on how to structure their course. 

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) First Class, University of Otago, New Zealand, completed 2014.