Having started drinking flat whites at the age of 9 whilst living in Sydney, Hols has always been a coffee lover. But it wasn’t until 2010 whilst walking the foothills of Mt Kenya to speak with coffee producers for her final year dissertation that she fully grasped all that goes into crafting the perfect cup. This experience was deeply emotive, sparking an idea that if coffee could be traded more responsibly (and if the consumer felt closer to the producer), it could hold immense opportunity to build positive impact in the communities it is grown, helping to safeguard its future. North Star was established in 2013 with the sole aim of building a coffee industry that works for everyone.