Sir Frank Holmes Visiting Fellowship in Public Policy

Discover the Sir Frank Holmes Visiting Fellowship in Public Policy, its purpose, and how it fosters debate on major contemporary issues in New Zealand.

The Sir Frank Holmes Visiting Fellowship in Public Policy was established through an endowment set up by the children of the late Sir Frank Holmes in 2012.

The purpose of the endowment is to bring distinguished researchers and policy makers to New Zealand to contribute to public policy debate on major contemporary issues.

2025 visiting fellow

Dame Juliet Ann Gerrard DNZM FRSNZ

Dame Juliet Ann Gerrard DNZM FRSNZ delivered the 2025 Sir Frank Holmes Memorial Lecture in Policy Studies on Tuesday 18 November 2025.

As the Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor to three Prime Ministers, Dame Juliet provided science advice on a broad range of topics. Her lecture, “A front row seat: lessons learned at the intersection of science, policy, and politics”, reflected on these tumultuous six years of her career, including the Christchurch mosque shooting, the volcanic eruption of Whakaari / White Island, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Barbara Allen, Head of the School of Government, says, “The Sir Frank Holmes Visiting Fellowship and Memorial Lecture in Public Policy is a highlight for the School of Government. We were delighted to have Juliet with us to honour the late Sir Frank Holmes and to deliver her thought-provoking reflections on science and public policy.”

Watch the 2025 Sir Frank Holmes Memorial Lecture with Dame Juliet

Previous visiting fellows

Since its inception in 2012, there have been eleven Sir Frank Holmes Visiting Fellows:

  • 2024—Professor Dame Anne Salmond—Professor of Māori Studies and Anthropology, and a former Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Equal Opportunity) at the University of Auckland. Listen to her lecture.
  • 2022—Sir Ashley Bloomfield—Former New Zealand Director-General of Health
  • 2020—Sir David Skegg—Emeritus Professor, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago
  • 2019—Professor Robert Wade—Professor of Global Studies, London School of Economics
  • 2018—Lord Gus O’Donnell—former British Cabinet Secretary
  • 2017—Dr Alan Bollard—Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat
  • 2016—Professor Lavanya Rajamani—Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi
  • 2015—Professor Ross Garnaut—University of Melbourne
  • 2014—Professor Julia Black—London School of Economics and Political Science
  • 2013—Dan Fiorino—Director of the Center for Environmental Policy, American University School of Public Affairs
  • 2012—Professor Greg Duncan—University of California.