Hilary Gorman of Hilary Gorman Consulting Ltd

Hilary is a researcher and practitioner with nearly 20 years of experience working in the international development sector. Her work focuses on the Pacific region where she has lived and worked since 2008. She lives in Rarotonga, Cook Islands. Gender equality, social inclusion and social policy more broadly, particularly social protection are the key areas she works on.  

Hilary has worked for a range of development partners including governments, non-government organisations as well as bilateral and multilateral organisations. In 2020 she established Hilary Gorman Consulting and has undertaken a range of assignments for the Asian Development Bank (ADB), DT Global, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), UNICEF, UNDP, UNFPA, Pacific Island governments and other development partners. Her recent consulting work has included developing policies and plans to support gender equality, social inclusion, climate change, social protection and wellbeing. 

In 2024, Hilary commenced a PhD in the Department of Pacific Affairs at The Australian National University. Her research focuses on the gender equality and social protection. More specifically the interaction of formal social protection programs, particularly cash transfer programs and traditional cultural systems as they relate to women’s unpaid care work. It includes case studies of Cook Islands, Fiji and the Marshall Islands. Along with her PhD research, she continues to do consultancy work that focuses on gender equality and social policy.