Dame Janet Marie Shroff (born 1944) is a New Zealand public servant. She has served as the

Cabinet Secretary A cabinet secretary is usually a senior official (typically a civil servant) who provides services and advice to a cabinet of ministers as part of the Cabinet Office. In many countries, the position can have considerably wider functions and powe ...

(1987–2003), Privacy Commissioner (2003–2014), and chair of the New Zealand Electoral Commission (2019–2024).

Biography

Shroff was born in Auckland in 1944 and educated at

Epsom Girls' Grammar School Epsom Girls Grammar School (often simplified to Epsom Girls, or EGGS) is a state secondary school for girls ranging from years 9 to 13 in Auckland, New Zealand. It has a roll of 2,200 as of 2025, making it one of the largest schools in New Zeala ...

and the

University of Auckland The University of Auckland (; Māori: ''Waipapa Taumata Rau'') is a public research university based in Auckland, New Zealand. The institution was established in 1883 as a constituent college of the University of New Zealand. Initially loc ...

. She worked as a research assistant for the

Ministry of Foreign Affairs In many countries, the ministry of foreign affairs (abbreviated as MFA or MOFA) is the highest government department exclusively or primarily responsible for the state's foreign policy and relations, diplomacy, bilateral, and multilateral r ...

(MFAT) and then as a journalist for the

New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation The New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation (NZBC) was a publicly owned company of the New Zealand Government founded in 1962. The Broadcasting Act 1976 then reformed NZBC as the Broadcasting Corporation of New Zealand (BCNZ). The corporation was ...

. Her husband also worked for MFAT, and so she worked as a teacher at

Samoa College Samoa College is a secondary education, secondary school in Samoa officially opened in 1953. It is Mixed-sex education, co-educational and teaches from years 9 to 13. It is in Apia on the island of Upolu and is considered the main college in the co ...

, and then for the UK Cabinet Office during his foreign postings. On her return to New Zealand she worked for the

State Services Commission The Public Service Commission (PSC; ), called the State Services Commission until 2020, is the central public service department of New Zealand charged with overseeing, managing, and improving the performance of the public sector organisations ...

in policy development and then on the creation of

State-owned Enterprises A state-owned enterprise (SOE) is a business entity created or owned by a national or local government, either through an executive order or legislation. SOEs aim to generate profit for the government, prevent private sector monopolies, provide goo ...

. From 1987 to 2003, Shroff served as

Secretary of the Cabinet The Permanent Under-Secretary of State for the Cabinet Office, known informally as the Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary, is the second-most senior civil servant of the Cabinet Office. It was conventionally joined with the positions of Cabinet Sec ...

and Clerk of the

Executive Council of New Zealand The Executive Council of New Zealand () is the full group of " responsible advisers" to the governor-general, who advise on state and constitutional affairs. All government ministers must be appointed as executive councillors before they ar ...

and during that time she co-led a senior officials group which prepared central government for the introduction of the

proportional electoral system Proportional representation (PR) refers to any electoral system under which subgroups of an electorate are reflected proportionately in the elected body. The concept applies mainly to political divisions (political parties) among voters. The aim ...

in New Zealand. From 2003 to 2014 she served as Privacy Commissioner. In August 2019 she was appointed to chair the New Zealand Electoral Commission, and served in that role until November 2024, when she was succeeded by Simon Moore. Shroff is a member of the Media Council and on the boards of

Consumer NZ Consumer NZ, previously known as Consumers' Institute of New Zealand, is an organization that covers a wide range of activities relating to consumer protection and information. Its work includes comparative tests and surveys of consumer goods and ...

and the Consumer Foundation. In 2017, she became the inaugural chair of the Privacy Foundation New Zealand, and she continues to sit on its board.

Honours and awards

Shroff was awarded the

New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal The New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal 1993 was established by Royal Warrant on 1 July 1993. It was created to commemorate Women's suffrage in New Zealand and to recognize those New Zealand and Commonwealth citizens who had made a significant ...

in 1993. She was made a Commander of the

Royal Victorian Order The Royal Victorian Order () is a dynastic order of knighthood established in 1896 by Queen Victoria. It recognises distinguished personal service to the monarch, members of the royal family, or to any viceroy or senior representative of the m ...

in 1995 and a Companion of the

New Zealand Order of Merit The New Zealand Order of Merit () is an order of merit in the New Zealand royal honours system. It was established by royal warrant (document), royal warrant on 30 May 1996 by Elizabeth II, Monarchy of New Zealand, Queen of New Zealand, "for th ...

in the 2004 New Years honours list. In the

2022 New Year Honours The 2022 New Year Honours are appointments by some of the 15 Commonwealth realms to various orders and honours to recognise and reward good works by citizens of those countries. The New Year Honours are awarded as part of the New Year celebratio ...

, Shroff was promoted to

Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit The New Zealand Order of Merit () is an order of merit in the New Zealand royal honours system. It was established by royal warrant on 30 May 1996 by Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand, "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have ...

, for services to the State and the community.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shroff, Marie Living people New Zealand public servants New Zealand women public servants New Zealand Commanders of the Royal Victorian Order Dames Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit University of Auckland alumni People educated at Epsom Girls' Grammar School 1944 births Recipients of the New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal 1993