Welcoming Back Pete Carter

27 Feb 2026

We’re delighted to welcome Pete Carter back to HardyGroup as Principal Search Consultant. After several years in a senior executive role as Regional Manager of Mental Health and Alcohol & Drug Services (Central Region), Health New Zealand, Pete returns with fresh perspective and even deeper sector insight.

Pete brings more than 30 years of leadership experience across New Zealand and Australia, spanning public sector, NGO and Board environments. His career has included roles such as Director of the Mental Health Alcohol & Drug Office at NSW Health and National Strategic Planning Manager, Mental Health, for New Zealand’s Health Funding Authority during the implementation of the country’s first National Mental Health Plan.

He has worked at the intersection of strategy, funding, governance and frontline operations, which means he understands not only what great leadership looks like on paper, but what it demands in practice.

His expertise spans mental health and addictions, disability, aged care, and broader health and social service leadership. Around half of Pete’s career has been dedicated to planning, contracting and funding healthcare services, balanced by operational management roles and national advisory positions across government. He has also served on multiple Boards in both Australia and New Zealand, giving him a strong governance lens alongside his executive experience.

For our clients and candidates, this matters.

Pete knows the pressures facing Chief Executives, Directors of Service Delivery, and Medical and Clinical leaders,  because he has sat in the chair. He understands reform, workforce complexity, and the accountability that comes with public sector leadership. That depth translates into thoughtful briefings, rigorous assessment, and appointments that stand the test of time.

Many in our network will already know Pete from his previous tenure with HG, where he consistently delivered high-quality outcomes and received exceptional feedback from both clients and candidates.

Reflecting on his return, Pete shared:

“Returning to the HardyGroup is like coming home to family. Such a warm and wonderful group of people and a testament of that, is the fact that most of the people who were there when I left are still there and they’ve been joined by a few more equally amazing people. I’m reminded of one of Stephen Covey’s quotes “true greatness will be achieved through the abundant mind that works selflessly – with mutual respect, for mutual benefit”. The HG team is selfless and mutually respectful and, ultimately, it’s for the greater benefit of our customers, our candidates and for the sectors we serve. It’s very nice to be home”

We’re thrilled to have him back in the executive search team bringing his extraordinary experience to the complex appointments that shape our sector. Welcome back, Pete!