Former dux now has OBE

From the halls of Spotswood College to an Officer of the British Empire, Donna Leong’s life has never been boring.

The New Plymouth-born woman now works for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) in the UK government, and she was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to business in the New Year’s Honours announced by the Queen.

Leong attended Spotswood College from 1979 - 1983, being named college dux in 1983.

‘‘I have had some lovely comments from colleagues and acquaintances on the award itself, which is a great reminder of the positive impact you can have as a civil servant,’’ she said.

‘‘The benefit of the civil service is that you are able to move around and do a variety of different things, building on your knowledge and expertise.’’

After high school, Leong went on to do a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in economics before starting work at the NZ Treasury, and later completed a Masters in Economics. She moved to the UK in 1997, and began working at Her Majesty’s Treasury as an economist and policy official.

She worked part-time while her children were young, and is now the deputy director of analysis, strategy and critical infrastructure in the consumer and competition policy directorate at BEIS.

‘‘I am responsible for a variety of areas, including analysis on consumer and competition policy, economic regulation, and also our policy towards foreign investment in critical infrastructure (hence the very long title).

‘‘I have enjoyed the variety of work and the people.

‘‘As a civil servant, I’ve valued the ability to be involved in really impactful decisions.’’

As part of the financial crisis, she helped develop schemes to improve the flow of credit to businesses and was also involved in new ground-breaking policy areas, such as how quantitative easing should work in the UK.

‘‘Inventing something new is always interesting and the national security aspects make it even more fascinating.’’

She said they are predominantly in the UK for work reasons, but London also has great cultural opportunities.

‘‘There is always something interesting to go and see. Plus you have very easy access to the rest of Europe – at Christmas we went to Florence and I tortured my children by taking them to galleries and churches,’’ she said.

She comes back to New Zealand every couple of years to see her parents and siblings.

‘‘My kids love it - as we normally go in the summer they think it is perpetually warm and sunny.

‘‘My parents... have now moved to Tauranga but I do try to visit New Plymouth when I come back and take the time to sit at the beach having fish and chips - if weather permits.

‘‘I’ve been quite surprised by how interested people are in my award but that’s part of what makes it special.’’