Holly Walker

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 joined the Board of Inspiring Communities in 2025.

Holly’s current work is as a public servant and policy contractor. Her recent appointments include time at the Climate Change Commission, Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons Learned, and Ministry of Transport, where she led 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, essays and poems to several collections and journals. She can be heard reviewing books on RNZ’s Nine to Noon programme and in 2025 chaired the panel of judges for the Okham New Zealand Book Awards, in the General Nonfiction category.