Police Commissioner Richard Chambers has announced the provisional appointments of Jill Rogers as Deputy Commissioner and Cassandra Anderson as Chief of Staff, completing a refreshed senior leadership team heading into 2026.
Rogers, who has been acting Deputy Commissioner since March 2025, brings more than three decades of policing experience across frontline duties, complex investigations, and senior command roles, said Chambers. Her current responsibilities have included oversight of the Northern Districts, covering Northland, Waitematā, Auckland City, Counties Manukau, Waikato and the Bay of Plenty, alongside national portfolios such as iwi and community partnerships, road policing, deployment, and victim services.
Much of Rogers’ career has been based in Auckland, including six years as Counties Manukau District Commander from 2017 to 2023. In 2023 she was appointed Assistant Commissioner: Leadership, Talent and Development, with responsibility for recruitment, training, and the Royal New Zealand Police College. She began her policing career in 1993, spent 17 years in the Criminal Investigation Branch, and holds an Executive Master of Public Administration.
Anderson returns to the role of Chief of Staff after rejoining Police in 2025, following two years as Deputy Chief Executive of People, Culture and Enabling Services at Oranga Tamariki. Her previous tenure with Police spanned 2007 to 2023 and included serving as Chief of Staff to former Commissioner Mike Bush and as Executive Director of People Capability, where she led culture, leadership, and workforce reforms.
Her career has also included roles in policy and strategy focused on crime prevention and organised crime, as well as earlier positions as a Private Secretary at Parliament and a policy advisor at the Ministry of Justice. Anderson holds an Executive Master of Public Administration, law and arts degrees from Victoria University of Wellington, and has studied at the Australia New Zealand School of Government.
Chambers said the appointments, alongside statutory Deputy Commissioner Mike Pannett and the upcoming appointments of Corrie Parnell, Jeanette Park and Tim Anderson as Assistant Commissioners from February 9, provide Police with a stable and experienced executive leadership team.
He said he had full confidence in the new leadership group, describing them as bringing the experience, competence and integrity needed to support frontline staff and deliver on the priorities of New Zealand Police.
OMG