Holly Aprea Gibbons

Founder

Holly is a health policy leader and a former federal servant. She is a mentor, an advocate, and a cancer caregiver. Caring for her grandmother in her final months living with lung cancer shaped Holly’s passion for public health, cancer prevention, and advocacy.

Holly spent seventeen years at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), advising senior leaders across administrations on high-profile issues, working with members of Congress and their staff to ensure sustained investments in cancer research, and leading implementation of bipartisan legislation to advance progress for children with cancer and their families.

In graduate school, Holly studied public policy for the common good at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs.

She returned to Washington as a Presidential Management Fellow at the NCI, part of the National Institutes of Health, where she began her career as a public servant. Holly served as the Deputy Director of NCI’s Office of Government and Congressional Relations for the majority of that time. She was a senior advisor to five NCI Directors and an invaluable resource to congressional staff and members of Congress. 

Early in her career, Holly built foundational experience in health policy, advocacy, and leadership development. She worked at the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK), the national nonprofit spearheading federal and state tobacco prevention policy efforts.

At CTFK Holly organized a national and global youth movement, training hundreds of young people to advocate for tobacco prevention policy across the country and around the world.

Holly launched Commonwealth Catalyst Strategies to continue to partner with and advise organizations and coalitions who share her passion to improve health and advance public policy for the common good.

Testimonials

“Holly has an extraordinary ability to keep the mission at the center of every conversation and every initiative. She has a remarkable ability to communicate not only the science, but also the purpose behind it, helping people understand why our work matters. Behind every presentation, briefing, or visit, Holly found opportunities to advance our science, strengthen partnerships, and ultimately improve the lives of children with cancer.

I have always been impressed not only by how much Holly accomplished, but by how she accomplished it. Holly brought people together, listened thoughtfully, anticipated what was needed, and somehow made even the most complex interactions feel seamless. Her work often happened behind the scenes, but its impact was evident in every successful visit, presentation, collaboration, and new opportunity that followed. She somehow managed to make even the most stressful visit feel relaxed and engaging, and she always did it with a smile.

Holly was an exceptional partner, championing our work with such enthusiasm and authenticity. Her support has made a real difference—not only in helping others understand our mission, but in helping us move it forward. Holly’s ability to bring people together around a common purpose is truly exceptional.”

— Naomi Taylor, MD, PhD

  • "The Children's Oncology Group has been incredibly fortunate to work with Holly over the years in advancing NCI-funded pediatric cancer research. She was an expert in translating our plans and achievements for the general public, ensuring that our story could be told to as wide an audience as possible."

    — Douglas S. Hawkins, MD | Chair, Children’s Oncology Group

  • "Holly’s wisdom, guidance, and expertise have been invaluable, helping us navigate countless challenges while advancing our mission on behalf of patients and their families."

    — Margaret Mooney, MD, MS

  • "I really appreciated how Holly dug in and learned the key issues - and how much I was able to learn from her wise perspective, clever way with words, and down-to-earth approach."

    — Lindsay Morton, PhD

How can we help?

If your organization is looking to strengthen its advocacy efforts, navigate policy challenges, or build momentum around an important mission, Holly would love to connect.