:Chris Liddell

Liddell was born in Matamata, New Zealand, the youngest of five siblings. His father was a school teacher and died while Liddell was young. His mother supported Liddell and his siblings by working a variety of jobs, including at Smith & Caughey's in Auckland.{{cite news|last1=Read|first1=Ellen|title=Trump's Kiwi man of mystery Donald Trump's assistant Chris Liddell 'driven and very smart'|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/88550400/donald-trumps-assistant-chris-liddell-driven-and-very-smart|access-date=23 January 2017|work=The Press|date=23 January 2017|page=A9}} Liddell received his secondary education at Mount Albert Grammar School. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree with honors from the University of Auckland and a Master of Philosophy degree from Worcester College, Oxford University. He was named one of Auckland University's Distinguished Alumni in 2003.{{Cite web|title=Past winners - The University of Auckland|url=https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/alumni/our-alumni/distinguished-alumni/past-winners.html|access-date=2020-07-07|website=www.auckland.ac.nz}}

He has been married to Renee Harbers Liddell, since 2011.

In 1983, Liddell took up a position at investment bank Jarden & Co which would morph into Credit Suisse First Boston's operation in New Zealand and finally Jarden today. He rose to the role of joint-CEO and managing director of CS First Boston NZ.{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704304504574610010455604176|title=GM Taps Microsoft's Finance Chief|last=Lublin|first=John D. Stoll And Joann S.|date=22 December 2009|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|issn=0099-9660|access-date=17 January 2017}}

In 1995, he joined Carter Holt Harvey as chief financial officer. Four years later he was chief executive officer - the first New Zealander to be appointed by majority shareholder International Paper, which had previously sent Americans David Oskin and John Faraci down to head the company.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/chris-liddell-innovative-man-is-an-impatient-competitor/PKBRXBXPTOWCC7S5QXPDBN37LY/|title=Chris Liddell: innovative man is an impatient competitor| website=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=5 May 2021}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0210/S00166/new-ceo-to-lead-carter-holt-harvey.htm|title=New CEO to lead Carter Holt Harvey |website=www.scoop.co.nz|access-date=17 January 2017}} When Liddell left Carter Holt Harvey, the company was New Zealand's largest forest owner managing around 330,000 hectares and the country's second largest listed company by market capitalization, with sales of NZ$3.75 billion.{{Cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2002/BUSINESS/asia/07/16/newzealand.forests.biz/index.html?related|title=N.Z. lumber company posts strong profit| website=edition.cnn.com |access-date=5 May 2021}}

From 2003, Liddell served as CFO of Carter Holt Harvey's parent company International Paper until 2005.{{Cite web|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/international-paper-promotes-chris-liddell-to-senior-vice-president-and-chief-financial-officer-74635517.html|title=International Paper Promotes Chris Liddell to Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |last=Paper|first=International |website=www.prnewswire.com|access-date=17 January 2017}}

Liddell was a senior vice president and CFO of Microsoft, where, from 2005 to December 2009,{{Cite web|url=https://news.microsoft.com/2005/04/25/microsoft-names-chris-liddell-as-new-chief-financial-officer/ |title=Microsoft Names Chris Liddell as New Chief Financial Officer|website=www.news.microsoft.com|date=25 April 2005 |access-date=17 January 2021}}{{Cite web |last=Letzing |first=John |date=2009-11-24 |title=Microsoft CFO Liddell to leave the company |url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/microsoft-cfo-liddell-to-leave-software-giant-2009-11-24 |access-date=17 January 2021 |website=www. marketwatch.com}} he was responsible for leading their worldwide finance organization.{{Cite web|url=https://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2009/Dec/1221_Liddell.html|title=Chris Liddell Named GM Vice Chairman and CFO|website=www.media.gm.com|access-date=17 January 2021}} He oversaw Microsoft's acquisition strategy and helped to transform the company by tripling the rate of acquisitions. Under his leadership, Microsoft completed nearly 50 deals in just three years, ranging from small technology firms to the $6 billion acquisition of digital advertising firm aQuantive.{{cite news |title=CFO brings philosophy of change to Microsoft |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/yahoo-microsoft-liddell/cfo-brings-philosophy-of-change-to-microsoft-idUSN0631875320080208 |newspaper=Reuters |date=February 8, 2008 |access-date=March 27, 2023}}

In 2007, he was ranked among the best CFO’s within the software sector globally by Institutional Investor and then in 2010, he was named the New Zealand Business Leader of the Year by the New Zealand Herald.{{cite web |title=The Best CFOs (Expanded Edition) |url=https://www.institutionalinvestor.com/article/b150nxdfhkwk58/the-best-cfos-expanded-edition |website=Institutional Investor |date=8 March 2007 |access-date=April 6, 2023 }}{{Cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10693488|title=Business Leader of the Year 2010: Chris Liddell|last=Dann|first=Liam|date=11 December 2010|newspaper=New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ|issn=1170-0777|access-date=17 January 2017}}

Liddell served as vice chairman and chief financial officer at General Motors, where he managed the company’s $23 billion IPO in November 2010, which, at that time, which was the largest public offering in history. “Chris was a major contributor during a pivotal time in the company’s history,” said Daniel Akerson, former GM chairman and CEO. In 2010, GM posted a full-year profit that was its first since 2004 and its largest since 1999.{{Cite web|url= https://money.cnn.com/2010/11/17/news/companies/gm_ipo_pricing/index.htm|title=GM IPO Biggest Ever|website=www.money.cnn.com|access-date=17 January 2021}}{{Cite web|url= https://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/home.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2011/Mar/0310_cfo.html |title= GM Announces CFO Transition|website=media.gm.com|access-date=17 January 2021}}{{Cite web|url= https://www.seattletimes.com/business/gm-chief-financial-officer-chris-liddell-resigns/|title= GM Chief Financial Officer Chris Liddell resigns|website=www.seattletimes.com|date= 10 March 2011|access-date=17 January 2021}}{{Cite web |date=2015-12-30 |title=GM to Promote Ammann to CFO as Liddell Steps Down |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-DSB-7036 |access-date=17 January 2021 |website=wsj.com}}{{cite news |title=GM posts profit, sees modest 2011 earnings growth |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/cbusiness-us-gm-idCATRE71N0ZD20110224 |newspaper=Reuters |date=February 24, 2011 |access-date=March 27, 2023}}

In 2014, Xero, the cloud-based accounting software developer appointed Liddell as its new chairman. Xero's chief executive and founder Rod Drury said Liddell’s contribution had seen the New Zealand-founded company’s annualized committed monthly revenue (ACMR) triple during his tenure, stating “Chris leaves us in a good position with strong global revenue growth.” Liddell resigned from the New Zealand-based company to take on a new role in United States president-elect Donald Trump's administration.{{Cite web|url=https://www.crn.com.au/news/xero-chairman-chris-liddell-leaves-to-support-trump-replaced-by-ex-salesforce-cfo-graham-smith-448070|title= Xero chairman Chris Liddell leaves to support Trump, replaced by ex-Salesforce CFO Graham Smith |website=crn.com.au|access-date=5 May 2021}}

From 2014 to 2016, he worked as the CFO of Endeavor, a privately held company in the media, sports and entertainment industry.{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2014/biz/news/wmeimg-names-corporate-vet-cfo-as-agency-faces-post-merger-scrutiny-1201271948/ |title=WME/IMG Names Corporate Vet CFO as Agency Faces Post-Merger Scrutiny|last=Littleton|first=Cynthia|date=30 July 2014 |newspaper=Variety|language=en-US|access-date=17 January 2017}}

In 2012, Liddell was executive director of transition planning for the Romney Presidential Campaign and helped author The Romney Readiness Project, a comprehensive presidential transition guide. In 2013, Romney Readiness Project 2012: Retrospectives and Lessons Learned was published. In the foreword, Romney wrote, "My campaign was not successful but our Readiness Project team was."{{cite book |last1=The Romney Readiness Project |title=The Romney Readiness Project: A Retrospective & Lessons Learned |publisher=Independently published |year=2012 |isbn=978-0615799865 }}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/nzs-chris-liddell-reveals-extent-romney-role-and-refuses-join-doom-merchants-ck-132139 |title=NZ's Chris Liddell reveals extent of Romney role - and refuses to join doom merchants|date=11 November 2012 |newspaper=The National Business Review|access-date=17 January 2017}}

Liddell advocates for a new approach to presidential transitions called the "Five-Year Presidency." He suggests that presidential candidates should view their term not just as a constitutional four-year term, but as a five-year journey that launches at least a year before the election. Liddell proposes that candidates should focus on key tasks during this "Year Zero" to set themselves up for success, such as assembling a leadership team and preparing for crises.{{cite journal|last=Liddell|first=Chris|title=The Five-Year Presidency|journal=National Affairs|edition=55|date=Spring 2023|url=https://www.nationalaffairs.com/publications/detail/the-five-year-presidency|access-date=March 27, 2023}}

In January 2017, he was appointed as assistant to the president for strategic initiatives in Donald Trump's White House,{{Cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11783761|title=Kiwi businessman Chris Liddell appointed as one of Donald Trump's assistants|date=18 January 2017|newspaper=New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ |issn=1170-0777|access-date=17 January 2017}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/national/kiwi-businessman-chris-liddell-appointed-as-donald-trumps-assistant/|title=Kiwi businessman Chris Liddell appointed as Donald Trump's assistant |last=O'Sullivan |first=Fran |website=Newstalk ZB |access-date=17 January 2017}}{{cite news |title=All of Donald Trump's White House staffers, ranked by salary |first=Kira |last=Bindrim |url= https://qz.com/1019868/who-makes-the-most-money-in-trumps-white-house/ |newspaper=Quartz |date=1 July 2017 |access-date=25 November 2017}} He was appointed to the Office of American Innovation (OAI) when it was established on 27 March 2017, where he was focusing on federal IT modernization. He opted to receive the minimum salary required to get health insurance, $30,000.{{cite news |url=http://www.politico.com/agenda/story/2017/07/01/jared-kushner-office-american-innovation-000470 |publisher=Politico |title=What Jared's office actually does |date=1 July 2017 |first=Nancy |last=Scola |access-date=26 November 2017}} He was also appointed director of the American Technology Council {{Cite web|date=2017-05-03|title=Establishment of the American Technology Council|url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/05/03/2017-09083/establishment-of-the-american-technology-council|access-date=2020-07-07|website=Federal Register}} and was a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force. In March 2018 he was picked to replace Rick Dearborn as White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy. In his White House roles he has coordinated administration policy around a number of technology issues, in particular relating to cyber security, and to the Industries of the Future, which include Artificial Intelligence, 5G, Advanced Manufacturing, Quantum Computing and Synthetic Biology.{{Cite web |date=2018-12-06 |title=Tech executives convene at White House on AI, other 'industries of the future' |url=https://www.fedscoop.com/5g-ai-quantum-white-house-industry-roundtable/ |access-date=4 February 2021 |website=www.fedscoop.com}}

He served as the White House lead for the Trillion Trees Initiative, part of the Trillion Tree Campaign, which aims to conserve, restore, and grow a trillion trees around the world by 2030. President Trump signed an Executive Order "Establishing the One Trillion Trees Interagency Council" in October 2020.{{Cite web|date=2020-10-16|title=President Trump Signs One Trillion Trees Executive Order, Promoting Conservation and Regeneration of Our Nation's Forests|url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/articles/president-trump-signs-one-trillion-trees-executive-order-promoting-conservation-regeneration-nations-forests/|via=National Archives|work=whitehouse.gov|access-date=2020-11-15}} Liddell oversaw the Administration's contribution, and represented the White House during its engagements with 1t.org and the 1t.org Stakeholder Council.{{Cite web |last=Allen |first=Mike |date=2020-05-11 |title=Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump to lead White House's "1 Trillion Trees" initiative |url=https://www.axios.com/white-house-1-trillion-trees-jared-kushner-ivanka-trump-328ecd22-411b-4628-ab4a-7c74d3bedde2.html |access-date=2020-07-28 |website=Axios |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Abby |date=2020-10-13 |title=Trump signs order backing 1 Trillion Trees effort |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/energy/trump-to-sign-order-backing-1-trillion-trees-effort |access-date=17 January 2021 |website=www.washingtonexaminer.com}}

In October 2020 he was nominated by Donald Trump to be the next secretary-general of the OECD.{{Cite web|title=President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Christopher Liddell for Secretary General of OECD|url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/president-donald-j-trump-announces-intent-nominate-christopher-liddell-secretary-general-oecd/|access-date=2020-10-14|via=National Archives|work=whitehouse.gov|language=en-US}}{{cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300142539/will-nz-back-chris-liddell-for-oecds-top-job |title= Will NZ back Chris Liddell for OECDs top job? |publisher= Stuff |date=27 October 2020}}{{cite news |title=Why a 'horrified' Chris Liddell won't quit |url=https://www.newsroom.co.nz/liddell-i-was-horrified-by-the-events-yesterday |access-date=10 January 2021 |work=Newsroom |date=8 January 2021 |language=en-AU}} On 20 January 2021, the OECD confirmed that Liddell had withdrawn his nomination to serve as the secretary-general of the OECD.{{cite news |last1=Hunt |first1=Elle |title=New Zealand Trump aide Chris Liddell pulls out of race to lead OECD |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/21/new-zealand-trump-aide-chris-liddell-pulls-out-of-race-to-lead-oecd |access-date=21 January 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=20 January 2021}}{{cite news |title=OECD confirms New Zealand-born Trump confidant Chris Liddell has bowed out of race for top job |url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/oecd-confirms-new-zealand-born-trump-confidant-chris-liddell-has-bowed-race-top-job |access-date=21 January 2021 |work=1News |date=21 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121015959/https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/oecd-confirms-new-zealand-born-trump-confidant-chris-liddell-has-bowed-race-top-job |archive-date=21 January 2021|url-status=live}}

New Zealand's government did not make a decision to support the nomination. The left-wing Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand said he should be rejected as his work for Trump had eroded multilateral approaches in the Paris Agreement and the World Health Organization. The right-wing New Zealand National Party said it would be in New Zealand's interest to have a "boy from Matamata" in the role, but later reversed their support for Liddell.{{cite news |last1=Milne |first1=Jonathan |title=Trump's official tries to avoid burning NZ bridges |url=https://www.newsroom.co.nz/pro/trumps-man-tries-to-avoid-burning-nz-bridges |access-date=11 January 2021 |work=Newsroom |date=10 January 2021 |language=en-AU}}{{cite news |title=National backs Kiwi Trump staffer Chris Liddell for top OECD post, Green Party urges rejection |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300143186/national-backs-kiwi-trump-staffer-chris-liddell-for-top-oecd-post-green-party-urges-rejection |access-date=10 January 2021 |work=Stuff |date=27 October 2020 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=National backtracks on support for Trump's NZ staffer Chris Liddell |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/434444/national-backtracks-on-support-for-trump-s-nz-staffer-chris-liddell |access-date=13 January 2021 |work=Radio New Zealand |date=13 January 2021 |language=en-nz}}

Prior to the 2021 inauguration Liddell called for legislation that "allows a provisional ascertainment to occur so that an incoming administration [and] the president-elect can get security briefings for a lot of the time-sensitive issues regardless of whether the formal election has been settled or not."{{Cite web|title=Rocky Presidential Transition Prompts Calls for Changes in the Law|url=https://www.govexec.com/management/2021/02/rocky-presidential-transition-prompts-calls-changes-law/171895/|access-date=2021-02-26|website=Government Executive|date=5 February 2021 |language=en}}

Liddell reportedly considered resigning after the January 6 United States Capitol attack in Washington D.C., but announced he would stay on to ensure a smooth transition to President-elect Joe Biden. Liddell had a key role in the transition.{{cite news |last1=O'Sullivan |first1=Frank |title=US riots: NZ Trump aide Chris Liddell staying on to 'lead successful transition' |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/us-riots-nz-trump-aide-chris-liddell-staying-on-to-lead-successful-transition/DG6KAKIK32H52DGG7MGZ7MRCYE/ |access-date=9 January 2021 |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=8 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108103752/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/us-riots-nz-trump-aide-chris-liddell-staying-on-to-lead-successful-transition/DG6KAKIK32H52DGG7MGZ7MRCYE/ |archive-date=8 January 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Milne |first1=Jonathan |title=Liddell stays to manage presidential transition: 'I was horrified by the events yesterday' |url=https://www.newsroom.co.nz/liddell-i-was-horrified-by-the-events-yesterday |access-date=9 January 2021 |work=Newsroom |date=8 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108083304/https://www.newsroom.co.nz/liddell-i-was-horrified-by-the-events-yesterday |archive-date=8 January 2021|url-status=live}}

David Marchick elaborated on Liddell’s role in the tumult of the translation in his book The Peaceful Transfer of Power: An Oral History of America’s Presidential Transitions, noting that while Presidential transitions are incredibly complicated endeavors in the best of circumstances, Liddell had “kept order, done heroic work in an impossible environment.” {{cite news |last1=O'Sullivan |first1=Fran |title=US riots at Capitol Hill: Kiwi Chris Liddell weighs up resigning as Donald Trump's deputy chief of staff |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/us-riots-at-capitol-hill-kiwi-chris-liddell-weighs-up-resigning-as-donald-trumps-deputy-chief-of-staff/TKWFHEO3NO36RE35ILP6F4C5RA/ |newspaper=New Zealand Herald |date=January 7, 2021 |access-date=March 27, 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Marchick |first1=David |title=The Trump Official Who Did The Right Thing |url=https://washingtonmonthly.com/2022/10/07/the-trump-official-who-did-the-right-thing/ |access-date=23 November 2022 |publisher=Washington Monthly |date=October 7, 2022}}

Author, documentary filmmaker, and White House historian Chris Whipple, in a preview chapter on the transition from his book on the Biden White House, The Fight of His Life, published in Vanity Fair, said that Liddell “helped make the transfer of power possible, becoming an unlikely leader of a plot to save democracy.”{{cite news |last1=Whipple |first1=Chris |title=EXCLUSIVE: INSIDE THE S--TSHOW THAT WAS THE TRUMP-BIDEN TRANSITION |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/10/exclusive-inside-the-shtshow-that-was-the-trump-biden-transition |access-date=23 November 2022 |publisher=Vanity Fair |date=October 12, 2022}}

Liddell's book, Year Zero: The Five-Year Presidency, explores the crucial elements of building and operating an effective White House, emphasizing its pivotal role in the success of a presidency and the democratic process in the United States. Drawing on his experience as the former White House Deputy Chief of Staff, Liddell provides a strategic framework for a strong presidency. The book, published by the University of Virginia Press, offers concrete, nonpartisan steps to improve White House functionality and rebuild trust in this fundamental institution.{{cite news |last1=Liddell |first1=Chris |title=The Five-year Presidency |url=https://www.nationalaffairs.com/publications/detail/the-five-year-presidency |access-date=15 December 2023 |publisher=National Affairs |date=June 20, 2023}}{{cite book |last1=The Five-Year Presidency |title=Year Zero |publisher=The University of Virginia Press |year=2023 |isbn=978-0813951133 }}{{Cite web|title= 'Year Zero' Review: Presetting the Presidency|url=https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/books/year-zero-review-presetting-the-presidency-f26cbdcf|access-date=2024-01-23|website=www.wsj.com|language=en}}

In the Time essay How Rocky Presidential Transitions Put America at Risk, Liddell explores the national security risks inherent in political transitions. Liddell draws attention to historical examples and underscores the need for proactive planning by presidential candidates. He advocates for early submission of national security team nominees and emphasizes the importance of cooperation between outgoing and incoming teams to effectively address potential crises.{{Cite web|title= How Rocky Presidential Transitions Put America at Risk|url=https://time.com/6556067/presidential-transition-national-security-essay/|access-date=2024-01-17|website=Time|date=17 January 2024 |language=en}}

Liddell is founding chairman of the Next Foundation,{{Cite web|title= About Us|url=https://www.nextfoundation.org.nz/about-us/|access-date=2021-01-17|website=www.nextfoundation.org.nz|language=en}} a NZD $100 million dollar foundation in New Zealand focused on environmental and education projects.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/100m-next-foundation-launched/FWKJ4HNS5HTHSFSYTRSOFKMAZY/|title= $100m 'Next Foundation' launched| newspaper=New Zealand Herald |date=14 March 2014|access-date=26 September 2021}}{{cite web |title=XE Currency Table: NZD - New Zealand Dollar |url=https://www.xe.com/currencytables/?from=NZD&date=2014-03-14 |website=www.xe.com}} Next has funded projects such as Project Taranaki Mounga,{{Cite web |date=2015-12-11 |title=Project Taranaki Mounga NEXT big project |url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/news/media-releases/2015/project-taranaki-mounga-next-big-project/ |access-date=2021-01-17 |website=Department of Conservation |language=en}} a ten-year project to control pests and re-introduce nature birds in the 34,000 ha of Egmont National Park, and Predator Free Wellington City, a partnership to make Wellington the first predator free capital in the world. Liddell was a signatory to the Tomorrow Accord, an agreement between the New Zealand government and NEXT to focus on large scale ecological restoration projects, and commit to maintaining their ecological benefits in perpetuity.{{Cite web|title=Minister of Conservation and NEXT Foundation sign Tomorrow Accord |url=https://www.nextfoundation.org.nz/minister-of-conservation-and-next-foundation-sign-tomorrow-accord/|access-date=2021-01-17|website=www.nextfoundation.org.nz|date=21 March 2014 |language=en}}

In 2001, Liddell was on the conference committee for the Catching the Knowledge Wave project, one of the biggest meeting of minds to take place in New Zealand history. The conference hosted about 450 academics, officials, politicians, economists and business leaders who discussed ways of lifting New Zealand’s economic performance. Led by the New Zealand prime minister and the vice chancellor of the University of Auckland, it was a catalyst for the realization that New Zealand could no longer remain primarily a producer of agricultural commodities but instead transform itself to a high-value, knowledge-based economy.{{Cite web |date=2020-01-20 |title=2001 – Knowledge Wave conference |url=https://www.cie.auckland.ac.nz/cool_timeline/2001-knowledge-wave-conference/ |access-date=6 May 2021 |website=www.auckland.ac.nz}}{{Cite web |date=2001-05-31 |title=Committee Represents Broad Cross Section Of NZ |url=https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0105/S00143/committee-represents-broad-cross-section-of-nz.htm |access-date=6 May 2021 |website=www.scoop.co.nz}}

In 2006, he was a recipient of the Kea World Class New Zealand Award.{{cite web |title=World Class Network |url=https://keanewzealand.com/world-class-network/ |website=KEA New Zealand |access-date=April 6, 2023 }}

In 2008, Liddell was patron of the University of Auckland’s inaugural Leading the Way fundraising campaign. The campaign sought to raise NZD $100 million to support teaching, research and community service activities and eventually achieved NZD $120 million in philanthropic support.{{cite web |title=UniNews Issue 22 |url=https://cdn.auckland.ac.nz/assets/auckland/about-us/the-university/official-publications/uninews/2008/issue22.pdf |publisher=University of Auckland |date=2008 |access-date=April 6, 2023 }}{{cite web |title=University Donors Give $120 Million for Research |url=https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC1011/S00014/university-donors-give-120-million-for-research.htm |website=Scoop News |publisher=Scoop Media |date=November 4, 2010 |access-date=April 6, 2023 }}

He was chairman of Project Crimson, a conservation group, and was active in a number of environmental projects in New Zealand, such as the restoration of Rotoroa Island and the Abel Tasman National Park.{{cite web |title=Biography of Christopher Liddell |url=https://www.sec.gov/about/offices/oca/acifr/bios/cliddell.pdf |publisher=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission |access-date=April 6, 2023 }} Liddell was a founding trustee of Pure Advantage, a registered New Zealand charity, which supports a broad range of sustainability, regenerative and green growth-focused research activities.{{cite web |title=Trustee Biographies |url=https://img.scoop.co.nz/media/pdfs/1107/Pure_Advantage_Trustee_Bios.pdf |publisher=Pure Advantage |date=July 2011 |access-date=April 6, 2023 }}

He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.{{Cite news|url=http://www.cfr.org/about/membership/roster.html?letter=L|title=Membership Roster - Council on Foreign Relations|newspaper=Council on Foreign Relations|access-date=January 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170111055805/http://www.cfr.org/about/membership/roster.html?letter=L|archive-date=January 11, 2017|url-status=dead}}

In 2017, Liddell and his brother, John, donated $1 million to Mount Albert Grammar primarily to fund teacher and pupil scholarships.{{cite news |title=His father left them penniless; Chris Liddell tells of his path to White House power |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/americas/102627938/his-father-left-them-penniless-chris-liddell-tells-of-his-path-to-white-house-power |work=Stuff |date=1 April 2018 |first=Dileepa |last=Fonseka |access-date=7 May 2022}} Later that year, Liddell donated $450,000 to Auckland University to fund a postgraduate scholarship to Worcester College, Oxford.{{cite web | last=Buckleton | first=Ophelia | title=Trump's Kiwi staffer makes big donation to U Auckland | website=The New Zealand Herald | date=24 November 2017 | url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/trumps-kiwi-adviser-chris-liddell-donates-450000-to-auckland-university/XCHJJJMV34ZITJ6QHO6XG72EKA/?c_id=3&objectid=11946588 | access-date=13 June 2024}}

In 2021, Liddell joined the Blavatnik School of Government on a Transformational Leadership Fellowship.{{cite web |title=Transformational Leadership Fellowships |url=https://www.bsg.ox.ac.uk/transformational-leadership-fellows |website=bsg |access-date=22 November 2022}} In 2022, Karthik Ramanna and Liddell raised philanthropic funding to help drive further carbon accounting pilots of the E-liability accounting method, resulting in the creation of the E-liability Institute, where Liddell serves as chairman.{{cite web |title=KARTHIK RAMANNA LAUNCHES E-LIABILITY INSTITUTE TO ENCOURAGE RIGOROUS CARBON ACCOUNTING WORLDWIDE |url=https://www.bsg.ox.ac.uk/news/karthik-ramanna-launches-e-liability-institute-encourage-rigorous-carbon-accounting-worldwide |website=bsg |date=11 November 2022 |access-date=22 November 2022}}{{cite web |title=About E-liability and the Institute |url=https://e-liability.institute/about-e-liability/ |website=E-liability |access-date=22 November 2022}} Additionally, Liddell is a visiting research fellow at Green Templeton College, Oxford.{{Cite web|date=2024-05-23|title=Fellows |url=https://www.gtc.ox.ac.uk/about/fellows/chris-liddell/|access-date=2024-05-23|website=GTC.ox.ac.uk|language=en}}

Liddell has served as trustee of the New Zealand Sports Foundation and as a director of the New Zealand Rugby Union.{{cite news |title=Kiwi businessman Chris Liddell named as assistant to Donald Trump |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/88519138/kiwi-businessman-chris-liddell-named-as-assistant-to-donald-trump |work=Stuff |publisher=Stuff Limited |date=January 19, 2017 |access-date=April 6, 2023 }} He was the driving force behind the purchase of Peter Snell's 1964 Tokyo Olympics running singlet for Te Papa Museum.{{Cite news|date=December 31, 2015|title=New Year Honours: Chris Liddell - A proud Kiwi made good|language=en-NZ|newspaper=New Zealand Herald |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11567765|access-date=January 17, 2017|issn=1170-0777}} He spearheaded and funded a campaign to assemble and publicly display the most important All Black jerseys in the team's 120-year history.{{Cite web|date=2019-07-27|title=Kiwi achiever Chris Liddell proves trump card in the great All Blacks jersey quest|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/114549780/kiwi-achiever-chris-liddell-proves-trump-card-in-the-great-all-blacks-jersey-quest|access-date=2020-07-20|website=Stuff |language=en}} In addition to his administrative and philanthropic contributions to sports, Liddell also personally completed an Ironman triathlon in 1995.{{cite web | title=IRONMAN NZ 1995 Christopher Liddell | website=SportSplits | date=4 March 1995 | url=https://www.sportsplits.com/races/imnz-1995/events/1/results/individuals/258/ | access-date=13 June 2024}}

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Category:1958 births

Category:Alumni of Worcester College, Oxford

Category:Chief financial officers

Category:Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit

Category:General Motors executives

Category:Living people

Category:New Zealand chief executives

Category:People educated at Mount Albert Grammar School

Category:People from Matamata

Category:First Trump administration personnel

Category:University of Auckland alumni

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Category:New Zealand emigrants to the United States