Donna Leigh Holden
About Donna Leigh Holden
Donna Leigh Holden serves as the Design Team Lead for Disaster Ready 2.0 at Alinea International, bringing extensive experience in evaluation and design across various international development projects. Her career includes significant roles at the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, UNHCR, and other organizations, focusing on disaster risk reduction, gender inclusion, and community development.
Current Role at Alinea International
Currently, Donna Leigh Holden serves as the Design Team Lead for Disaster Ready 2.0 at Alinea International. In this role, she focuses on enhancing disaster preparedness and response strategies across various regions, including Fiji, Vanuatu, Timor Leste, Solomon Islands, and Papua New Guinea. Her responsibilities involve leading design initiatives that aim to improve community resilience to disasters, ensuring that local needs are met through effective planning and implementation.
Previous Experience at Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Donna Leigh Holden has held multiple roles at the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). She worked as a Design Writer for the Australia Indonesia Partnership for Disaster Risk Reduction in 2013 and later served as Team Leader for various evaluations, including the Pacific Sport Partnerships and Asia Sport Partnerships from 2016 to 2017. Her extensive tenure at DFAT includes positions such as Partnership Specialist and Design Facilitator, contributing to numerous projects focused on humanitarian assistance and community development.
Education and Expertise
Donna Leigh Holden holds a Master's degree in Applied Anthropology and Development from the Australian National University, achieved between 2003 and 2006. She also completed a Graduate Certificate in Management at the University of Wollongong from 1997 to 1998. Her educational background supports her expertise in strategic planning, monitoring, and evaluation within the context of international development and humanitarian aid.
International Experience and Language Proficiency
Donna Leigh Holden has extensive international experience, having worked in diverse countries such as Sri Lanka, Timor Leste, Myanmar, and various Pacific nations. She is fluent in Indonesian and Malay, with basic proficiency in Thai. This linguistic ability enhances her effectiveness in engaging with local communities and stakeholders in her development work.
Consulting and Evaluation Roles
Throughout her career, Donna Leigh Holden has taken on various consulting and evaluation roles, including positions with organizations such as UNHCR, UNICEF, and Oxfam Australia. Her work has involved designing and evaluating programs across sectors such as health, gender inclusion, and disaster risk management. She has demonstrated a commitment to enhancing organizational capacity and effectiveness through her evaluations and strategic planning initiatives.