Disability advocate and former paralympian Paula Tesoriero has been appointed as the Human Rights Commission’s next Disability Rights Commissioner.

Ms Tesoriero will take up her three-year appointment on 31 July 2017, replacing Paul Gibson.

Since February 2016 Ms Tesoriero has been General Manager, Systems and Partnerships with Statistics New Zealand.  From 2010 to 2016 she was General Manager Higher Courts with the Ministry of Justice.

Ms Tesoriero also has a high profile in the disability sector, where she served as Deputy Chair of the NZ Artificial Limb Service and a Board member of the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation.  She holds an LLB, BA, and Postgraduate Diploma in Public Management qualifications.