Isabella Holliday

In July 2024, I graduated from the University of Leiden, with an Advanced Masters in International Relations and Diplomacy. Prior to studying in Leiden, in 2022, I graduated from Ritsumeikan University, Kyoto, with the equivalent of a 2:1 in International Relations having taught English as a foreign language with the charity Project Trust for a year prior to that degree starting. In addition to my academic studies, during my time in Japan, I gained invaluable experience in communication and management working for a variety of internationally focused companies, including UNESCO. On completion of my first degree I accepted a place at Leiden University to develop my understanding of food policy from the East Asian and US perspective which I had gained in Kyoto, to also encompass the European perspective. I have built up a strong NGO network in both Japan and the Netherlands/Brussels and I am looking forward to the opportunity to working to developing Scotland's food policy.

Worked at an international and local level in Japan and the Netherlands, with a wide variety of roles in sustainability, policy and community projects. 

I obtained an Advanced MSc in International Relations and Diplomacy from Leiden University and the Clingendael Institute, where I completed a 20,000-word thesis titled "EU Are What You EAT: Crafting Common Agricultural Policy Recommendations for a Sustainable Future." This work utilised a multidisciplinary approach, using skills in data forecasting, discourse analysis, and policy evaluation to propose sustainable agricultural recommendations at both EU and state levels. Throughout my studies, I honed practical skills in negotiations, public speaking, and dynamic research, and actively engaged with prominent international bodies, including the European Parliament and the UN General Assembly.

Previously, I earned a BA in International Relations from Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, Japan, where I researched the impact of globalisation on Japanese diets through an anthropological lens. This experience fostered an intercultural academic perspective, enriched by a diverse lecture environment. My undergraduate studies encompassed a wide range of topics, including community development, conflict negotiation, and political discourse, both locally and internationally.