Dana McDonald joins the ANZSOG Alumni Advisory Council in 2020. Originally from Canada, Dana came to New Zealand in 1995.

In May 2020, he was appointed to the Group Manager – Intelligence, Investigations and Enforcement role in the New Zealand Customs Service.

The Group Manager – Intelligence, Investigations and Enforcement is a senior leadership role within the Operations group in Customs, responsible for increasing Customs’ ability to identify risk, detecting non-compliance and carrying out enforcement. In this role, Dana manages 250+ staff across the group which includes Strategic Coordination, Intelligence, the Integrated Targeting and Operations Centre (ITOC), Investigations and Operations Support.

The Group Manager also represents Customs on a number of inter-agency committees, both domestic and international. Dana also has extensive experience working in the public sector, previously for the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE) where he held the roles of National Manager Border and Head of Security & Emergency Management.  Prior to that, Dana served in the NZ Police for 17 years.  He held a number of operational roles from Constable to Detective, then progressed through the ranks to Inspector as the Area Commander of Eastern Waikato, New Zealand.  Dana’s first job in New Zealand was with the Fire Service, based in Rotorua.

Dana completed a Certificate Towards Strategic Leadership in 2018 (ANZSOG), Certificate in National Security System Senior Officer in 2018 (Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet, New Zealand) and Master of Business Administration (with Distinction) in 2015 (Waikato University, New Zealand). He also holds a National Certificate in Maori (2004).

Dana McDonald graduated from ANZSOG’s Executive Fellows Program in 2021, Towards Strategic Leadership in 2018 and is a member of ANZSOG’s Alumni Advisory Council. To find out more about the Alumni Advisory Council, click here.