Mia Hughes – Whistleblower, “WPATH Files”

Mia Hughes is the alias of an investigative researcher who, along with American author Michael Shellenberger, leaked a trove of internal documents from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) in early 2024. These “WPATH Files” included emails and videos purportedly showing medical professionals discussing gender treatments for minors in concerning ways. Hughes authored analyses of the files, alleging “widespread medical malpractice” and a disregard for long-term outcomes in transgender healthcare. The leaks became a cause célèbre in conservative media worldwide, though WPATH and others criticized the portrayal as misleading. Mia Hughes participated in the IPNZ summit via video link from overseas, where she detailed what the leaked WPATH documents revealed. In IPNZ’s promotion, she was billed as the “author of the WPATH files”. Little is publicly known about Hughes’ identity or background – it’s likely a pseudonym to protect her given the sensitivity. Her involvement lent an international dimension to IPNZ’s event, connecting New Zealand activists to global developments (the “gender whistleblower” narrative). Hughes does not appear to have a public social media profile under that name; her work is mainly seen in the reports published on sites like Environmental Progress (Shellenberger’s site) and discussed in forums such as Conservative Kiwi subreddits. In essence, Mia Hughes functions as an OSINT figure herself – uncovering information about trans healthcare practices – and IPNZ leveraged her findings to argue NZ is behind countries like the UK in scrutinizing gender-affirming care.