Claire Achmad

Claire Indrawati Achmad is a New Zealand lawyer. She served as the Chief Children's Commissioner between 2023 and 2025, and became the sole Children's Commissioner following the abolition of the Children and Young People's Commission in August 2025. She concluded her term as the Children's Commissioner in July 2026.

Early life and education

Achmad has a Pākehā mother and a Javanese father. She grew up in the Waitakere Ranges, and was educated at Titirangi Primary School, Glen Eden Intermediate School, and Avondale College, where she was head girl in her final year. After completing a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws at the University of Auckland, Achmad earned a Master of Laws specialising in Public International Law prior to her PhD titled Children's Rights in International Commercial Surrogacy: Exploring the Challenges from a Child Rights, Public International Law Perspective at the University of Leiden.

Career Achmad worked in child advocacy for the Human Rights Commission, World Vision in Melbourne, UNICEF, and Barnardo's Aotearoa.

Achmad is a member of the Asia New Zealand Foundation's Leadership Network. In 2007 Achmad was named CLANZ-Bell Gully Young Corporate Lawyer of the Year. The University of Auckland included Achmad in their '40 under 40' profiles of young alumni "who continue to shine in both their professional and personal lives".

Achmad was chief executive of the collective organisation Social Service Providers Te Pai Ora o Aotearoa from 2021 to 2023. She had been Deputy Children's Commissioner since July 2023. As Commissioner Achmad has expressed concerns about government plans to run military-style bootcamps for young offenders.

In late June 2025, the Sixth National Government passed legislation abolishing the Children and Young People's Commission and reinstating the single Children's Commissioner, effective 1 August 2025. Under the new framework, Achmad remained as Children's Commissioner for at least one year. On 14 August, Achmad called for Gloriavale Christian Community's private school to be shut down after the school failed two consecutive Education Review Office reports. She said:

In early July 2026, the Social Development Minister Louise Upston announced that Achmad would be succeeded as Children's Commissioner by former detective, solicitor and Child Matters charity CEO Jane Searle, effective 1 August 2026. According to The New Zealand Herald, Achmad had reapplied for the role but the New Zealand Government had decided not to reappoint her, effectively reducing her term by 2.5 years. In response, several children's charities organised a petition calling on the Government to retain her as Children's Commissioner.

Selected works