Carina Holmes

Environmental College Representative to the CCSD SPC

Carina Holmes is a member of Wicklow Planning Alliance (WPA) and Delgany Community Council (DCC).   She has become increasingly involved and concerned about the substantial and imminent threats to the natural and built environment, in particular, the detrimental impact that climate change is having on wildlife habitats, water resources, air quality, biodiversity and woodlands/forests, and the need to preserve and protect both the environment and built heritage.   She is keen to contribute to the Public Participation Network (PPN) in Wicklow having worked on national economic, financial and fiscal policies in both the Central Bank of Ireland and H.M. Treasury in London.  Her career as an economist in the public sector has spanned over 30 years where she has represented both the Irish Central Bank and British Government at EU and other international meetings, which have included IMF/World Bank meetings where Ireland’s progress on the attainment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been discussed.  She believes that the attainment of the SDGs requires strong national and local objectives and joined-up/integrated plans and policies across all levels of government.  She believes that the best policy results and actions are achieved when all stakeholders, in particular, those in the community and in voluntary groups and organisations are consulted, engaged and their legitimate concerns are incorporated into policies and actions.  This inclusion enables buy-in and helps to build long-term trust and respect among all stakeholders.   She has always been strongly motivated to serve the public interest and has led economic teams to find solutions to national economic, financial and fiscal problems.   She has also led in the preparation of economic projections and forecasts of national macroeconomic aggregates (e.g. income, employment, inflation, housing and public finances).   Carina is very interested in being able to contribute to local economic and environmental planning and development in Wicklow.