Philip Houlding is an experienced professional in international trade and economic policy. Currently serving as the Director of International Policy at the Ministry for Primary Industries since February 2019, Philip previously held the position of Trade and Economic Counsellor at the New Zealand Embassy in Washington DC from January 2015 to January 2019, where leadership of the trade and economic section was a key responsibility. Prior roles include Trade and Economic Manager at the New Zealand Meat Industry Association and Senior Policy Officer and Trade Negotiator at the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the latter involving trade access and economic and environmental analysis. Philip began a career in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade as a Policy Officer in the APEC Unit. Educational qualifications include a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Arts (Hons) in Mathematics, German, and English, as well as a Master of Arts in English Language and Literature from the University of Auckland.