Brett Holland
Chief Innovation Officer
Brett has a diverse background in creating and running startup businesses, product development, operations management and sales growth. Brett originally joined the Creative HQ Board of Directors in 2014 before joining the management team in 2015 to lead all accelerator programmes. In his time with Creative HQ, Brett has developed and managed the following services:
- Ten Lightning Lab startup accelerator programmes and two Lightning Lab GovTech accelerator programmes;
- Three R9 Accelerator programmes with the New Zealand Ministry of Innovation and Employment;
- Three Disrupt Accelerator programmes for Fonterra; and
- Numerous workshops and design sprints for corporate and government clients in New Zealand and abroad.
Brett started his first business in 1998, and has started and developed three other companies, since then he has also helped over 250+ startups and innovation teams develop new products and business ventures, and has mentored a range of young companies in both New Zealand and the US. Brett has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago and both a Bachelor and Master of Science in Engineering from the University of Illinois.
As Chief Innovation Officer Brett oversees the development and management of all Creative HQ’s startup, corporate and government programmes. Brett is also Creative HQ’s most senior Innovation Specialist.