past Experience

Kceniya Holmes with Andrea Gori from Illuminem, at London Climate Technology Show in October 2022

Kceniya with Andrea Gori, Founder of Illuminem, during London Climate Technology Show, 2022.

Satellite Vu or ‘Satvu’

Supporting Net Zero transition & building bridges in the UK Climate Tech Space Sector

  • To support company mission and early product validation, I secured an academic research partnership with Surrey Research Park, which enabled the Park to validate their Net Zero targets based on government EPC regulations. Read about the project here.

  • Proactively positioned SatVu as a leader in high-resolution thermal technology by communicating world-changing value and securing strategic affiliation at leading events, publications, UK government programs and within the venture capital market.

  • Secured coverage in high-profile outlets including BBC, Sky News, TechCrunch, The Observer; writing press releases, organising and briefing spokespeople for interviews.

  • Led the procurement and evaluation of three website redesign proposals, working collaboratively to launch a new website with an updated logo and representative colour scheme aligned with the brand’s vision.

  • Designed and sourced high-quality sustainable marketing materials for events, sales initiatives, internal onboarding processes, and investor relations.

  • Organised regular internal events aimed at enhancing team morale, fostering collaboration, and improving overall team effectiveness.

Bawani international

Building Global Partnerships in Saudi Arabia

  • Successfully negotiated and secured individual and corporate leases with prominent international clients, leading high-impact projects aligned with Vision 2030 objectives across sectors such as entertainment, construction, professional services, and hospitality.

  • Managed day-to-day operations and led a team of 15 international staff, ensuring seamless coordination between internal and external stakeholders to consistently deliver high-quality customer service. Fostered a collaborative environment that maintained operational efficiency and client satisfaction.

  • Led the Ishbilia Compound Business Club in Riyadh, a monthly forum dedicated to exploring and discussing contemporary business ideas and trends, fostering community engagement among professionals.

  • Organised a weekly gathering to explore the works of influential philosophers such as Hannah Arendt, Martin Heidegger, Maurice Merleau-Ponty, and Emmanuel Levinas, supporting in-depth discussions in a multi-cultural environment.

  • Led a weekly movement class for women, designed to help expatriate participants find their natural flow through breathing techniques and modern dance principles. The sessions promoted relaxation, stress relief, and cultural adjustment, offering support in navigating the challenges of living in a new and different environment.

  • Active member of an international group that met weekly for weekend desert walks and hikes, fostering cross-cultural connections and promoting physical fitness in a unique natural setting.

Kceniya with her team of colleagues, from 8 different nationalities, at Ishbilia Compound.

Leuven Writers Collective

Empowering a Thriving community Network for Writers and Creatives in Belgium

  • Kceniya founded the Leuven Writers’ Collective in December 2015 and led the group until February 2018. During this time, the Collective organised live performances, collaborated with local organisations and held regular meetings, workshops and social gatherings. Membership was cultivated through organic and guerrilla marketing techniques, and the initiative operated as a self-funded, non-profit entity.

  • In response to the March 22, 2016, terror attack in Brussels, the Leuven Writers’ Collective launched a public engagement initiative. This project encouraged residents to anonymously express their thoughts and feelings by writing messages on paper and placing them in a shoebox. The collected messages were later shared with the community.

  • Kceniya directed "How We Make Love: When Poetry and Theatre Meet," a dynamic performance blending poetry and theatre. The production featured 15 poems—half from Collective members and half from renowned poets like Mary Oliver and W.H. Auden—exploring themes of love, trust, and renewal. An accompanying exhibition enriched the experience by transforming text into spoken word and motion into gesture.

    In "By heart // Mnemosyne speaks," eight performers recited ten poems from memory, each paired with a unique video installation created by Kceniya. One poem was recited in Russian with visual translation, and another performance was conducted virtually via Skype. This event took place on May 18, 2016, at Pangaea, KU Leuven.

  • Between 2015 and 2018, Kceniya led and facilitated regular creative writing workshops that focused on various exercises designed to inspire creativity, improve writing ability and create community.

Dance & performance Art

Dynamic Dialogues: Artistic and Philosophical Collaborations

  • Working with artist Vera Tussing, at STUK House of Dance, Image and Sound in Leuven, Belgium. ‘Mazing’ (2016) asked questions on what it means to be together and how can we generate new models of positive sociality through performance.

    My role was to provide a review of the performance during rehearsals and practise, assisting in creative problem solving to some methodological choreographic challenges.

  • Working with artist Iffy Tilleu, on her project ‘Faithful Enemy’ (2015), I provided philosophical insight into misogyny found in the history of Western philosophy.

    ‘Faithfull Enemy’ asked participants at KunstWest Centre in Amsterdam, on how they deal with the emotion of hatred and provided a workshop type setting for emotional expression and healing.

  • We worked together on an artistic dance project interpreting words, speech and the unconscious through dance and movement.

Video Essays

  • Ongoing video diary capturing the delicate and fragile nature of the natural world and its wonders.

  • Filmed on location in Exmoor National Park, exploring ideas on solitude, isolation and estrangement.

  • Inspired as an existential reaction to the UK Withdrawal Bill from the European Union.

  • “Verbinding,” meaning "connection" in Flemish, is a video essay that explores the relationships I forged through dance in Leuven, Belgium.

  • Poetic documentary exploring the philosophical foundations of western philosophy through the concept of the muse, filmed on the slopes of Mount Olympus.

  • Scripted, filmed and edited a 9-minute documentary that delves into the conceptual tensions between capitalism and environmentalism through the lens of the Hegelian dialectic.

  • Closing speaker at The Rebellious Muse Feminist Art Fest in Amsterdam, where I highlighted the roles and representation of women in both art and philosophy.

  • Final year dissertation presentation exploring the philosophy of Martin Heidegger to deepen the understanding of art and the ways we engage with paintings. This work examines the intersections of perception, being and aesthetic experience in the context of still life.

  • Delivered at the annual Sussex Undergraduate Philosophy Society, this presentation delved into the concept of 'Xenia' as interpreted through the lens of Jacques Derrida, examining its implications in contemporary philosophical discourse and beyond.

Presentations & Discussions

Creative writing

  • While staying in Asturias, a young girl embarks on a walk which will lead her to an encounter…

  • Inspired by real world events when an innocent sweet chestnut tree was torn from its roots in Leuven, Belgium.

Short Fiction Writing

  • Written for The Seed, an online community celebrating storytelling. Each week, one image is released and writers are asked to write a ‘seed' in less than 100 words, inspired by the image.

  • In 2019, I had the privilege of organising and hosting a short fiction writing competition at Ishbilia Compound in Riyadh, which served as a wonderful platform for creativity and engagement among residents.

Editor & Proofreader

  • Served as the Editor of the Ishbilia Compound Monthly Newsletter, producing and overseeing content and publication to keep residents informed, inspired and connected.

  • Proofread theses, articles and research proposals for research funding bodies and academic journals.

Mountain Leadership

Kceniya at the Summit of Kala Patthar, 2014.

  • In 2011, I embarked on a self-funded, independent solo expedition to Nepal, spending six months exploring the country. My journey included trekking to Everest Base Camp and reaching the summit of Kala Patthar, volunteering, learning Nepali and teaching English, immersing myself in both the culture and the breathtaking landscapes.

  • I was part of an all female group attempting to summit Mount Meru in Tanzania. Although we didn't reach the summit, we gained invaluable lessons in collaboration, teamwork, and resilience, strengthening our bonds as we faced challenges together.

  • After graduating in 2014, I organised and led an expedition to the summit of Mount Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa, followed by a scenic tour of Lake Ifni in Morocco.

  • As part of the Rebellious Muse feminist art project, I trekked solo to Mount Olympus to explore the historical legacy and lineage of the concept of the muse in Western philosophy, art, and culture, making a video essay to document my journey.