Birth and Education 

Allan Kinsella is from Wellington, New Zealand where he was born on 28 October 1971. He was brought up in a culturally artistic and vibrant family. Kinsella attended Saint Patrick's College, Silversteam from 1985 to 1989, where he honed his basic skills and went on to perform exceptionally well in his studies along with other extracurricular activities. Kinsella developed an interest in sports, music and drama which led to him having an immense interest in history and economics. He also served as captain of many leadership positions in school.

Allan pursued his Bachelor of Arts from the University of New South Wales. It was during this phase that he was prepared for a life filled with strategy and service through his education.  

Military Career and Achievements

Seeking a challenge outside of a desk job, Kinsella joined the New Zealand Army in 1990. His military training began at the Australian Defense Force Academy and was later continued at the Royal Military College, Duntroon where he became a Lieutenant in the Royal New Zealand Artillery in 1993.

His career included operational deployments with the United Nations in Sierra Leone (1999) and East Timor (2002). While in Sierra Leone, he worked as the senior operations officer and took part in the Lome Peace Talks in Togo where he helped negotiate very important parts of the military for the peace accord. The 2005 recipient of the Distinguished Master Strategist award from the U.S. Command and General Staff College, he was awarded one of the most distinguished marks of excellence, among over 1,000 military officers

Changeover to Public-Sector Management

Strategic leadership transitions followed a distinguished military career. In the New Zealand public service, Allan put to use his leadership and crisis management life skills avenues. He levelled up quickly and became the Director Assurance at the Ministry for Primary Industries. He spearheaded responses to the infant formula 1080 threat as well as COVID-19 compliance operations. His team won the Supreme MPI Leadership Award because of his leadership abilities.

Life and Resilience

Allan Marks met Jennifer in ‘97. Their connection grew over the years which lead to them being married in 2002 just before Allan's deployment to East Timor. Together they created a nurturing environment for their two children Emma and Cayden. Unfortunately, Jennifer lost her battle to myeloma, remaining strong throughout her cancer journey in 2023. He had devoted his life to remaining a husband and father and demonstrated immense resilience towards the end of his wife's journey.



Commitment to Community and Charity

Apart from his career, Allan actively participates in community work. He helps the Salvation Army, Mary Potter Hospice, and Wellington Children's Hospital. Caring Families Aotearoa was also supported by him and his wife Jennifer, which shows their values of togetherness and care.

Conclusion

The life of Allan Kinsella shows remarkable commitment to service in uniform, to government, and the family. His exemplary leadership strengthens the fabric of community in New Zealand and the world.