Second female Brigadier for NZDF

Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant General Tim Keating, has today promoted the Director of Defence Legal Services, Colonel Lisa Ferris, to the rank of Brigadier — making her the New Zealand Defence Force’s second female Brigadier.

“I congratulate Lisa on being promoted to Brigadier — a promotion well earned,” Lieutenant General Keating said.

“She stands as a role model to others. People will look to her success and be encouraged to follow her example.”

Brigadier Ferris was born and raised in Gisborne and is of Ngati Porou descent. She joined the New Zealand Army in 2003 and has held a range of positions within Defence Legal Services.

She has extensive operational experience, having been deployed twice to Afghanistan, to Iraq and to the Arabian Gulf as the Legal Officer on HMNZS Te Mana.

She has also participated in a number of exercises and exchanges, including a three-month exchange with the Australian Defence Force and a number of multilateral exercises in New Zealand and overseas.

Last year she was confirmed as Director Defence Legal Services, becoming the principal legal advisor to the Chief of Defence Force.

“The NZDF has an inclusive culture and Defence Legal Services reflects this,” Brigadier Ferris said. “I am proud to lead such a diverse unit and note that, including myself, women make up 50 per cent of the senior legal leadership within the NZDF.

“I am proud to represent my hapu, Ngati Konohi and Ngati Oneone, and of course my whanau, who have a long history of military service.”