SPC Director

Ms Grainne Somerville (Scott) MSc (Distinction); BA (Hons); GradDipPsych

Director, Performance and Leadership

Grainne known affectionately as "G," embarked on her journey in leadership by obtaining a BA (Hons) degree in the United Kingdom before making her mark in New Zealand in 1998. Her career took a significant turn in January 2004 when she joined the New Zealand Police (NZP), where her unwavering commitment and leadership skills have been evident in every role she undertakes.

Grainne started her career in management as a civilian and smoothly transitioned into dispatching and frontline roles. Her talent for investigative work, paired with strong leadership skills, enabled her to rise through the ranks from a qualified Detective to a Commissioned Officer.

Grainne’s commitment to service extended beyond New Zealand's borders when she undertook a tour to the Solomon Islands in 2009. There, she assumed the role of supervisor, trainer, and mentor, overseeing multiple police stations and guiding local staff, and implementing strategies to enhance policing practices in the region.

In 2016, Grainne's leadership was recognized once again when she was seconded to NZ Police National Headquarters as the Delivery Manager for the Police High Performance Program. Her role involved not only implementing organizational change but also supporting senior leaders in navigating through it.

Her expertise in leading high-performance teams led her to assume the role of heading the Cognitive Conditioning team at the Royal New Zealand Police College (RNZPC). In this capacity, she collaborated with external providers to develop and implement cognitive conditioning training for various police groups, including tactical and specialist teams, as well as recruits. Her responsibilities included providing guidance to coaches and leadership teams, supporting police and tactical training, and offering individualized support to staff, further solidifying her reputation as a leader in her field.

Grainne’s career has been punctuated by involvement in high-profile cases and critical events. She was part of the investigation team in the Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) efforts during the Christchurch earthquake and led teams in the aftermath of the Christchurch Mosque Shootings, earning citations for her exemplary service. Her prowess in investigative work has been consistently acknowledged, culminating in a commissioner’s commendation in 2020.

In addition to her law enforcement responsibilities, Grainne works as a Police and Public Safety Consultant with Psychological Health in Roanoke, USA. In this role, she utilizes her extensive experience in law enforcement to offer consulting services that enhance psychological health and overall safety in public safety organizations. Grainne’s global impact extends further as a Partner at Human Performance Factors (HPF) with Verpora UK, where she focuses on maximizing human potential in the pharmaceutical sector by implementing HPF principles and strategies. She has also presented internationally at the Sport Psychology Conference (Austria, 2024), garnering significant praise and attention for her work.

Beyond her professional commitments, Grainne's passion for sports shines through. A former representative for New Zealand in Lacrosse and Canterbury in Ice Hockey, she was named the NZ Police Sportsperson of the Year in 2008. Her coaching endeavors span across four different sports, and her expertise as a High-Performance coach for NZ Lacrosse is widely recognized.

Driven by her fascination with the mental aspect of sports, Grainne pursued academic excellence, obtaining a Graduate Diploma and a Master of Science (MSc) in Performance Psychology graduating with distinction. This unique combination of academic knowledge and practical experience equips her to empower individuals and teams from diverse backgrounds to reach their full potential.

Grainne's profile stands as a testament to her multifaceted skill set, unwavering dedication, and relentless pursuit of excellence. Whether leading high-performance initiatives, navigating complex investigations, or championing efforts to enhance psychological health and safety, she continues to inspire and make a profound impact with her leadership, expertise, and passion for service, sports, and well-being.