Holly Shrumm

Holly is a legal practitioner for Natural Justice, a non-profit organisation that facilitates the full and effective participation of Indigenous peoples and local communities in the development and implementation of laws and policies relating to conservation, customary use of biodiversity and the protection of cultural heritage. The organization collaborates with partners at the local, national, regional and international level to ensure that community rights and responsibilities are respected and represented. Holly is involved in all aspects of the organisation’s work, including providing support for communities and community-based organizations in local efforts to secure their rights and territories, advising government agencies on legal issues pertaining to community and the environment, advocacy for community concerns in intergovernmental negotiations as well as coordinating and producing various reports, articles, legal research, and training materials. Currently, Holly is coordinating a local project with Indigenous Dusun communities around Mount Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysia as well as conducting a global review of laws that support or hinder Indigenous peoples’ and local community conserved areas and territories (ICCAs). She hopes to gain knowledge about strategies for effective advocacy which she will be able apply to Natural Justice’s ongoing activities. Holly is keen to broaden her regional network of fellow advocates of Indigenous rights and hopes this will lead to concrete collaboration and joint advocacy on related issues.