Our People

Cathod Du was founded in early 2018 by Luke Holland, following a twenty year career spanning politics and communications. 

Luke’s previous roles include Shadow Cabinet Political Advisor, Senior Media Advisor to the Mayor of Melbourne Port Phillip, Deputy Campaign Director for Yvette Cooper, Head of Media & Public Affairs at Hammersmith & Fulham Council and Head of Press and Broadcasting at Welsh Labour. In 2021, Luke drafted the framing narrative and acted as a strategic advisor on Welsh Labour’s hugely successful Senedd election campaign. 

A member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and Public Affairs Cymru, Luke is a former Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and publisher of trend-setting late 90’s culture magazine SOSP. 

Away from Cathod Du, Luke divides his time between his unfeasibly cute daughter and more books than are strictly necessary. 

Ben joined Cathod Du following a stint as Public Affairs and Policy Manager for one of Britain’s oldest charities.

A former senior Parliamentary staffer, Ben has over half a decade of experience advising politicians at both national and local level. His most cherished accomplishment in his time in Parliament was helping draft a landmark report into prison education provision in Wales, with the Welsh Government subsequently adopting many of the recommendations. Ben leads Cathod Du's Parliamentary work, and is a member of Public Affairs Cymru.

Outside of work, you’ll find Ben slightly too obsessed with all things houseplants and trying to convince others that his scone recipe simply can’t be beaten.

Sophia studied German, Russian, and French at Sheffield University before a year in Vienna teaching at the Musikverein Concert Hall. A two-year Masters in Russian and Post-Soviet Politics at UCL and at Charles University in Prague followed.

Sophia's expertise in the politics of Russia and the former Soviet Union countries have been invaluable to her managing the Index on Censorship account. A Public Affairs Cymru member, Sophia is an avid follower of politics and public policy in Wales and the UK.

Before joining Cathod Du, Sophia lived in Kyiv for a year teaching English. Her career highlight remains a holiday job in Disneyland Paris, hanging out with mini princesses all day. 

Prior to joining Cathod Du, Bethan studied History at Cardiff University, followed by a Masters in International Relations and a two year stint at the Royal Mint Museum working as a Public Engagement Officer. 

Bethan leads our media and wires monitoring work, and is the source of much of Cathod Du's engaging social media copy and campaigns. She is a Public Affairs Cymru member.

Bethan is an avid festival goer, having volunteered at Glastonbury festival for the last 18 years. She can often be found with her nose stuck in a book daydreaming about her next travelling adventure.

Matt Greenough is the former Chief Special Adviser to the Welsh Government. In addition to being the top adviser on policy and media, Matt wrote all of Carwyn Jones’ political key-note speeches in the last five years, and drafted many of his key Governmental remarks. 

He has worked on successive and successful UK and Welsh General Election campaigns, and the referendum on further powers for the National Assembly for Wales.

Matt was the European Speechwriter of the Year for 2020.