Virginia (Gini) Welch joined Waka Kotahi in June 2021 and leads the Rail Regulator. She came from the New Zealand Police, where she served since 1994. During her time in Police Gini carried out several roles, including District Commander, National Manager Road Policing, District Prosecution Manager, and GM Training. Gini has strong regulatory and people leader experience and is someone who demonstrates values-based leadership. Her leadership was recognised when she was nominated for most outstanding female police leader in the Australasian Council of Women in Policing Award, and when she became a Woolf Fisher Fellowship recipient. Originally from Dunedin, Gini has spent most of the last 27 years in Wellington where she lives with her family.
