Ian Axford Fellow Kathleen Cochrane from Washington, DC will research “Financing Mechanisms for the Multilateral Development Banks” at the Treasury. Kathleen is Lead Counsel for Oversight and Senior Counsel, General Counsel’s Office for International Affairs at the U.S. Department of the Treasury in Washington, DC. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University in Washington, DC in 2003, and obtained her J.D. from Columbia Law School in New York, NY in 2008.

Ian Axford Fellow Paul Holland, from Arlington County, Virginia, will research ‘Strengthening Climate Resilience within the Indo-Pacific: An Analysis of Best Practices within the New Zealand Ministry of Defence to Achieve Resilient Infrastructure.’ while gaining experience at the New Zealand Defence Forces. Paul is a Senior Program Analyst with Leidos, where he supports the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy, Installations, and Environment. He graduated with a BA in History from Princeton University, New Jersey, and a MSc in Nature, Society, and Environmental Policy from Oxford University, UK.

Ian Axford Fellow Julie Buchwald, from Santa Monica, California, will provide strategies for enhancing the community engagement strategies currently employed by the Independent Police Conduct Authority, the civilian oversight agency for the New Zealand Police. Julie is a Special Investigator/Community Relations Coordinator with the Office of the Inspector General for the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners, which provides civilian oversight for the Los Angeles Police Department.  She graduated with a JD from the University of Southern California Law School and a BA in Philosophy and International Studies from Northwestern University in Chicago.

Ian Axford (New Zealand) Fellowship in Public Policy Rachel Galanter from Durham, North Carolina will research current early intervention efforts to address early signs of need and improve child wellbeing at the Oranga Tamariki Evidence Centre. Rachel is the Executive Director of Exchange Family Center in Durham, North Carolina.

Ian Axford (New Zealand) Fellowship in Public Policy Melissa Favreault, from Washington, DC, will research a specific group of New Zealanders’ health needs, service use, and barriers to accessing health services at the Ministry of Social Development. Melissa is a Senior Fellow in the Income and Benefits and Policy Center at the Urban Institute, Washington DC.

Ian Axford (New Zealand) Fellowship in Public Policy Nate Swinton is Senior Trial Counsel at US Department of Justice and Adjunct Professor of Law with Georgetown University Law Center. Nate’s previous roles include clerk to federal magistrate, district, and circuit court judges, and he spent eight years in the Federal Programs Branch of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division, and seven months as detail to the Office of the Vice President. Email Nate

Ian Axford (New Zealand) Fellowship in Public Policy Alexa Daniels-Shpall is a Police Special Investigator at the Los Angeles Police Department’s Office of the Inspector General. As a member of the Use of Force section, she has authored several public reports on the LAPD’s policing practices and use of force, which have resulted in significant changes in department-wide policies and procedures. These reports have covered topics such as ‘suicide-by-cop’ incidents, less-lethal force options, and a comparison of use of force policies, investigations, and training at five U.S. law enforcement agencies (including the LAPD). Additionally, Alexa drafted the LAPD’s policy for releasing video from critical incidents to the public, and she is also responsible for monitoring and providing input on the development and implementation of LAPD training. Prior to joining the Police Department, Alexa worked as a Special Investigator at the Los Angeles Fire Department’s Office of the Independent Assessor where she wrote public reports on the LAFD’s employment-related litigation, risk management practices, and disciplinary system. Alexa is an attorney and holds both a Juris Doctor and Master of Public Policy degree from the University of Southern California, as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Ian Axford (New Zealand) Fellowship in Public Policy Paul Phifer has worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) since 2001.  For the past decade, he has served as the assistant regional director for Ecological Services in the Service’s Northeast Region.  In this capacity, he manages a dozen offices working on a host of species and habitat conservation areas, including endangered species, environmental contaminants, coastal issues and wetlands.  He came to the Northeast from the Pacific Northwest, where he was the Northern Spotted Owl Recovery Coordinator. Prior to working for the Service, Paul was a diplomat the with U.S. Department of State negotiating, at the United Nations, international treaties on invasive species and movement of genetically modified organisms. After graduate school, he led field research in New England to study the effects of environmental contaminants on birds and bats for BioDiversity Research Institute. Paul graduated from Boston College with a degree in philosophy and holds a doctorate in conservation biology from the University of Minnesota. Email Paul

Ian Axford (New Zealand) Fellowship in Public Policy Rachel Levinson-Waldman, from Washington, D.C., will research ‘Social Media Surveillance in New Zealand: Landscape, Best Practices, and Guardrails’ while gaining experience at the Office of the Privacy Commissioner. Rachel is the Managing Director, Liberty and National Security Program at the Brennan Centre for Justice in Washington.  She has a BA in Religion from Williams College, Massachusetts, and a JD from the University of Chicago Law School.

Ian Axford (New Zealand) Fellowship in Public Policy Jeff Mosley from Silver Spring, Maryland will research how community-based organisations access varying forms of financial capital to deliver affordable housing with the Ministry of Social Development and Community Housing Aotearoa. Jeff is the Director of Training and Technical Assistance at the Housing Assistance Council in Washington, DC.

Ian Axford (New Zealand) Fellowship in Public Policy Laura Berntsen serves as Domestic Policy Advisor for the U.S. Senate Finance Committee and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (Democrat-Oregon). Laura develops national public policy in the fields of welfare, unemployment insurance, child welfare, child care, education and workforce development. Prior to joining Finance Committee staff, Laura worked in Sen. Wyden’s personal office from 2011 to 2013 and in the House of Representatives for Rep. Jim McDermott (Democrat-Washington) from 2006 to 2011. Laura holds a Master of Arts from Georgetown University and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Washington. Email Laura

Ian Axford (New Zealand) Fellowship in Public Policy Megan Seeds, from Hennepin County, Minnesota, will research ‘Strategies to transform digital experience in New Zealand’s social service delivery’ while gaining experience at the Ministry of Social Development. Megan is Director of Digital Experience at Hennepin County, Minneapolis. She graduated with a BA in Psychology and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin, and a Master of Public Policy from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities.

Ian Axford (New Zealand) Fellowship in Public Policy Michael Wolking from Grosse Pointe, Michigan is researching the role of technology in developing 21st century skills with the Ministry of Education and Network for Learning. Mike is a Senior Strategist at Education Elements in Washington, DC.