Katrina Shanks

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Katrina May Shanks (born 12 May 1969) is a New Zealand business executive and former politician. She was a member of the New Zealand National Party and served as a list MP in Parliament from 2007 to 2014.

Early life and career
Shanks was born in Dannevirke, New Zealand. She went to St Matthew’s Collegiate School in Masterton and Dannevirke High School, then earned a Bachelor of Business Studies from Massey University. Her father, Graeme Hislop, once stood for Parliament. Before entering politics, Shanks worked as an accountant, including roles as a project accountant for Westpac, in the United Kingdom with Newton Investment Management, and as a senior auditor for Audit New Zealand. She has three children and is married to Bill Shanks.

Politics
Shanks joined the National Party in 2001 and worked in party branches in Wellington. She was National’s candidate in the Ohariu-Belmont electorate in 2005 but did not win. She was high on the party list in 2005 and again in 2008, returning to Parliament in 2007 when Don Brash resigned and she became a list MP.

In Parliament, Shanks was the associate spokeswoman for commerce and economic development and served on the social services committee. She later became deputy chair and then chair of the social services committee (2009–2011). She stood again in 2011 and was re-elected as a list MP. She announced plans to retire in 2014 but left Parliament early in 2013, and Jo Hayes succeeded her.

Post-Parliamentary career
After leaving Parliament, Shanks became chief executive of the New Zealand Funeral Directors Association. She then became the inaugural chief executive of Financial Advice NZ in 2018. In 2023, she moved to Melbourne to become chief executive of the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (ANZIIF).

Summary
Katrina Shanks is a former New Zealand politician who spent seven years in Parliament as a National Party list MP, focusing on commerce, economics, and social services. Since politics, she has led major industry bodies in insurance, finance, and funerals, and continues to hold senior executive roles.