Holloway, Dr Kathy

Jocelyn Peach
Jul 19, 2024
2 min read

Updated: Jan 6

Director - Victoria University of Wellington, School of Nursing, Midwifery, and Health Practice

BN (Distinction)(UTS), MHSc (Distinction) (CSU), Doctor of Nursing (UTS)

Dr Kathy Holloway prepared as a registered nurse at Wellington Polytechnic, graduating in 1980.

After graduation, she travelled overseas and worked extensively in both Australasia and the United Kingdom. I did further study in the clinical specialities of cardiothoracic nursing and intensive care nursing, working as a clinical nurse specialist.

She started in nursing education roles around 1992 in Australia and then returned to New Zealand to teach at Wellington Polytechnic (now Massey). She taught at Whitireia from 1996.

Kathy completed a Master of Health Science (with Distinction) from Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, Australia in 2005; and a Doctor of Nursing, University of Technology Sydney Australia in 2011. Her doctoral work developed a specialist nursing framework for New Zealand and has been used by speciality nursing groups nationally to articulate the contribution they can make to addressing health care need through the National Nursing Consortium processes. Through her academic research and global engagement Kathy is involved in clarifying the potential of nursing expertise to improve the patient experience and inform workforce planning models. In 2014 she represented New Zealand as a nurse leader at a Global Symposium of Advanced Nursing Practice held in the United States.

Kathy was appointed as Dean - Whitireia Community Polytechnic, Faculty of Health, New Zealand from January 2013 - June 2016. In 2016, Kathy was appointed Associate Dean (Academic, Equity and Students), Victoria University of Wellington to January 2021. She was appointed as Dean (Acting) - Victoria University of Wellington and is currently Director - Victoria University of Wellington, School of Nursing, Midwifery, and Health Practice, Wellington.

Dr Kathryn Holloway has held a number of professional roles, which include being Deputy Chair of Nursing Council of New Zealand where she served as a ministerial appointee for seven years and a member of the expert advisory group to the Minister of Health for the New Zealand Health Strategy Refresh. Kathy is a previously elected Board member and current Fellow of the College of Nurses Aotearoa, and past. She is the current co-chair of the National Nursing Leadership group [NNLG]. This is the peak nursing body in New Zealand representing senior leaders from across the nursing sectors of policy, regulation, employment, professional bodies and education working to progress their commitment to equity through the development of a sustainable nursing workforce.