KAYLA HOLLIS
Wellington,NZ
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
Work History
PRINCIPAL STRATEGIC ADVISOR, OFFICE OF THE DCE
Department of Corrections
02.2024 - Current
- Delivered executive-level advice on infrastructure expansion and stakeholder engagement strategies.
- Co-led development of refreshed organizational strategy, aligning departmental goals with broader organizational objectives.
- Provided strategic leadership on organizational performance and enterprise strategy implementation.
- Designed performance frameworks to measure strategic outcomes, enabling assessment of organizational impact and informed decision-making.
- Led strategic projects addressing regulatory, legislative, and governance considerations.
- Created operating model proposals to strengthen external partnerships, positioning organization for sustained long-term success.
- Developed long-term insights briefing on technology's influence on corrections system through 2050.
- Established strong connections with senior leadership and community stakeholders with senior leadership, external partners, and community stakeholders.
OPERATIONAL MANAGER (CONTRACT)
Ministry of Social Development
10.2023 - 02.2024
- Led a team responsible for the design and implementation of a large-scale operating model transformation programme.
- Led planning, design and testing of a new relational commissioning operating model.
- Managed multidisciplinary team to deliver organizational design initiatives, enhancing alignment with business goals.
- Facilitated stakeholder engagement across multiple business groups and governance forums to ensure cohesive decision-making.
- Directed evaluation and testing activities to validate proposed operating model changes.
- Drove process improvement initiatives to enhance service delivery and customer outcomes.
- Influenced senior decision-makers regarding future-state business design.
PRINCIPAL ADVISOR
Ministry for Māori Development
06.2021 - 09.2023
- Led strategic partnerships and investment oversight for large-scale community initiatives.
- Cultivated strategic relationships with key service delivery and funding partners to enhance collaboration and resource allocation.
- Directed cross-agency collaborations among government and community organizations.
- Developed investment cases and budget proposals totaling $166 million.
- Developed performance measurement frameworks to evaluate program outcomes and optimize investment efficacy.
- Managed contract oversight and funding processes, ensuring compliance and alignment with organizational objectives.
- Negotiated complex contracts while managing diverse stakeholder relationships.
- Coached colleagues, enhancing organizational capability through mentorship.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - International Relations, Political Science, Social Policy
Victoria University of Wellington
Wellington, NZ12-2015
Skills
- Strategic execution
- Organizational transformation
- Operating model design
- Change management
- Performance measurement
- Performance reporting
- Project leadership
- Stakeholder engagement
- Cross-sector collaboration
- Executive governance
- Data-driven decisions
- Commercial management
- Team leadership
- Relationship influence
Core Capabilities
- Strategic Planning & Execution
- Organizational Transformation
- Business Performance & Reporting
- Executive Advisory & Governance
- Stakeholder & Partner Engagement
- Operating Model Design
- Change Management
- Programme & Project Leadership
- Commercial & Contract Management
- Performance Measurement Frameworks
- Data-Driven Decision Making
- Relationship & Influence Leadership
- Cross-Sector Partnerships
- Team Leadership & Capability Development
Commercially Relevant Experience
- Enterprise strategy
- Organizational performance
- Executive advisory
- Strategic communications
- Stakeholder management
- Transformation planning
- Operating model design
- Business transformation
- Team leadership
- Process improvement
- Customer and stakeholder experience
- Change management
- Investment strategy
- Contract management
- Procurement
- Strategic partnerships
- Budget management
- Performance reporting
- Governance support
Affiliations
- Body Building
- Fitness and Nutrition
- Coaching and Mentoring Youth Sports
- Reading
- Netball
- Baking
About Me - Summary
SENIOR STRATEGY AND PERFORMANCE LEADER with extensive experience influencing executive decision-making, leading organizational transformation, and delivering complex strategic initiatives across large organization's. Trusted advisor to Chief Executives, Executive Leadership Teams, Boards, Ministers and cross-sector stakeholders. Proven ability to translate complex challenges into clear strategic direction, build high-performing relationships, and drive sustainable organizational outcomes. Recognized for combining strategic thinking with practical delivery, leading enterprise-wide strategy development, operating model design, performance frameworks, stakeholder engagement, and change initiatives. Brings particular expertise in partnering with diverse communities, navigating complex environments, and aligning organizations around shared outcomes.
Accomplishments
- Co-led development of the Department of Corrections organizational strategy, aligning long-term priorities, performance measures and organizational objectives.
- Led the development of the Department's Long-Term Insights Briefing examining future technology impacts and strategic opportunities through to 2050.
- Successfully developed three major investment proposals totaling $166 million, securing funding for critical service expansion, operational sustainability and innovation initiatives.
- Designed organization-wide performance and measurement frameworks that improved visibility of outcomes, accountability and decision-making.
- Established complex partnership arrangements involving government agencies, service providers, iwi and community organizations to deliver shared strategic objectives.
- Led operating model design, regional operating model development, and large-scale organizational improvement initiatives.
Timeline
PRINCIPAL STRATEGIC ADVISOR, OFFICE OF THE DCE
Department of Corrections
02.2024 - Current
OPERATIONAL MANAGER (CONTRACT)
Ministry of Social Development
10.2023 - 02.2024
PRINCIPAL ADVISOR
Ministry for Māori Development
06.2021 - 09.2023
Bachelor of Arts - International Relations, Political Science, Social Policy
Victoria University of Wellington