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Job title: Director, visits and ceremonial office, Internal Affairs

Yes, says Mark Oldershaw, various heads of state will be visiting New Zealand in the next few months. No, he couldn't possibly name them - nothing is confirmed - "but we're going to get quite busy, quite soon".

Discretion and diplomacy are big parts of the job when you manage the New Zealand visits of overseas dignitaries. Whether they're doing the full public tour or catching up with one of our ministers at an airport transit lounge while passing through, Oldershaw, 34, is involved.

But there is more to the job than squiring visitors, he says. It also involves looking after commemorative events and state funerals. He will probably get to meet quite a few famous faces, but describes himself as having "a background role".

It is a complete contrast to Oldershaw's previous job, running the corporate side of the Wearable Art awards in Nelson.

Napier born and bred, Oldershaw trained as an economist - he has an honours degree from Victoria University - and is also a chartered accountant. He first worked in finance for Telecom.

But one of his personal passions is musical theatre, and that blending of commerce with his hobby over the years has led to event management. "I've had a reasonably eclectic background. Most of what I'm doing has spun out from a lot of things I've done on the side."

Oldershaw is married with one child and has moved his family to Wellington.