Plenary Session Speakers Plenary Session 2: International Perspectives Friday June 17, 2005 8:30 am - 10:00 am Speaker: Mr. Don Gray Associate Chief Executive (Social Development, Policy and Knowledge) New Zealand Ministry of Social Development Biography Mr. Don Gray has worked on social policy and social development issues for over two decades, in New Zealand and internationally. Mr Gray has contributed to, or led, at an official’s level, advice on reforms of social assistance and employment for people of working age. He has also worked on pensions and housing policy and helped establish a broader cross-sectoral strategic social policy capacity in New Zealand.   Speaker: Mr. Mark Pearson, Head of Social Policy Division OECD Biography Mark Pearson is Head of the OECD’s Social Policy Division. His group provides policy advice to governments on how best to integrate income transfers with social and employment services in order to help individuals to fulfil their potential and to support a dynamic economy. Previously, he directed research on employment-oriented social policy at the OECD which included working on issues around reform of the tax and benefit system; and links between social protection, inequality and economic growth. He has also worked with the Institute for Fiscal Studies in London.