Holly is an experienced leader, facilitator, writer, and policy professional who has worked for more than a decade at the interface of policy, politics, and advocacy. An outstanding communicator with sound political acumen, strong networks, and a demonstrated commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Holly looks for opportunities to deploy her unique skillset in ways that align with her values.

Holly’s current work is at the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons Learned, where she is part of a small team leading the drafting of the Inquiry’s Phase 1 report. Before that she was the Manager of Environment and Emissions Strategy at the Ministry of Transport, leading the team responsible for developing a long-term strategic approach to reducing transport emissions. She was the Deputy Director of independent public policy think tank the Helen Clark Foundation from 2020-22, and a Principal Advisor to the Children’s Commissioner from 2014-2019. Holly is also a former Member of Parliament, having served three years as a Green MP from 2011-2014.

Alongside her professional experience in the public sector, Holly is a writer, reviewer, and editor. She is the author of The Whole Intimate Mess (BWB, 2017) and the co-editor of Reconnecting Aotearoa (BWB, 2023) and has contributed chapters and essays to several collections and anthologies. She can be regularly heard reviewing books on RNZ’s Nine to Noon programme and in 2025 will be a judge for the Okham New Zealand Book Awards, in the General Nonfiction category.