Ian Axford (New Zealand) Fellowships in Public Policy are for outstanding mid-career American professionals to research and gain first-hand experience of public policy in New Zealand.
Each year, two or three Fellowships for the duration of three to seven months are granted.
- Applications for the 2026 cycle are now open!
- Click here to find out more and apply.
Kathleen Cochrane
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.
Paul Holland
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.
Julie Buchwald
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.
Rachel Galanter
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.
Melissa Favreault
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.
Mary Jo (MJ) Kaplan
Ian Axford (New Zealand) Fellowship in Public Policy
MJ Kaplan from Providence, Rhode Island researched social enterprise with a focus on the youth pipeline and start-up enterprises, at the Ministry of Social Development in collaboration with ASB Community Trust. MJ is President of Kaplan Consulting, a Partner at Social Venture Partners Rhode Island and an Adjunct Professor at Brown University.
MJ’s report: Growing the Next Generation of Social Entrepreneurs and Start-ups in New Zealand