Jo Brosnahan

Dame Jo Anne Brosnahan is a New Zealand company director and leadership adviser, and former regional government executive. She served as chief executive of Northland Regional Council for five years from 1991, followed by eight years as chief executive of Auckland Regional Council. In 2005, Brosnahan was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for public services, and in 2023 she was appointed Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to services to governance and business.

Early life and family Brosnahan was born in Whangārei attending Kamo High School, and studied at the University of Auckland, earning a Bachelor of Arts in geography and economics, and a Masters Honours degree in geography. She married Chris Brosnahan in 1976, a real estate executive, and the couple went on to have two daughters.

Career After leaving university, Brosnahan took a position as a research officer with the New Zealand Railways Department. She was part of a group investigating the feasibility of rapid rail in Auckland, before returning to Whangārei in 1978 to carry out a rail-freight study. She then moved to the Northland Harbour Board, first as economics and planning officer and later as commercial manager. She left in 1987 to establish a consulting business, North Ventures. During her tenure as ARC chief executive, she was involved in moving $1.6 billion of assets from central government to ARC control, as well as securing over $1 billion of fuel taxes to address Auckland's transport issues. She left the role in December 2004, with 18 months of her contract remaining, after a dispute with ARC chair Gwen Bull. , the organisation had produced over 700 alumni across the business, Māori, social services and community sectors. . She is also a past chair of Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, Medial and Surgical Development Group of the Northland Area Health Board. In the 2023 King's Birthday and Coronation Honours, she was made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to governance and business.