Paula Knaap is Deputy Chief Executive, Organisational Enablement at the Ministry for Regulation, where she leads a broad portfolio of corporate and operational services and serves as the Ministry’s Chief Financial Officer and Chief Information Officer. Paula has played a pivotal role in building the Ministry from the ground up, embedding digital modernisation, AI enablement, and people-centred frameworks that drive high-performing, agile operations.

She brings senior leadership experience across a range of complex regulatory and social policy environments, including the Environmental Protection Authority, WorkSafe NZ, Ministry of Education, and Inland Revenue. Her career spans leading multi-disciplinary teams of up to 1,000 people and budgets of $60M, and representing New Zealand internationally in negotiations and intergovernmental agreements.

A qualified lawyer with a Master’s in Business from Henley Business School (UK), Paula is a Global Women Breakthrough Leaders alumna. She is passionate about enabling innovation and delivering enduring impact through shared values and inclusive leadership—ensuring technology transformation works for people and communities.