YPFP Fellowship Cohort

Elizabeth Spencer
Chief of Staff

Elizabeth Spencer

Chief of Staff

Noni Abdur-Razzaq
Operations and Finance

Noni Abdur-Razzaq is currently a Program Assistant at the Council on Foreign Relations. Prior to that, she gained experience in research, project management, and program development working for several international non-profit organizations. Her interest in international politics and development encouraged her extensive service work and study abroad as an alumna of both the Semester at Sea Program and Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program through the U.S. Department of State. Noni received her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a concentration in Global Comparative Politics from Binghamton University. Her professional passions include African politics and political economy, democratic governance, sustainable development in emerging economies, and global gender policy. Outside of work, she loves traveling, studying French, Latin dancing, and exploring New York City's culinary scene.

Noni Abdur-Razzaq

Operations and Finance 

Owen Daniels
Publications

Owen Daniels is the Publications Fellow at YPFP, where he has also led the organization's Rising Experts Program focused on helping young professionals develop their writing and analytical skills. He is a Policy Communications Specialist at Georgetown’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET), working across the organization’s analytical portfolio. Prior to that, he worked in the Joint Advanced Warfighting Division at the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA), where he researched artificial intelligence and autonomous weapons norms and joint operational concepts. He has also worked as an Associate Director in the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security and as a defense researcher at Aviation Week Magazine. Owen attended Princeton University, majoring in International Relations with minors in Arabic Language and Near Eastern Studies.

Owen Daniels

Publications

Jessie Moore
Programs and Events

Jessie is a Georgia native who completed her master's in international affairs at the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2021. During her academic career, her research focused on development and gender equity, particularly in the context of food security and sustainability. Jessie has worked for several nonprofits, including time with CARE and AmeriCorps. Currently, she is residing in Arlington, Virginia and working as a data policy analyst for USAID. When not working, she can be found reading mysteries, roller skating, and running with her corgi named Banjo.

Jessie Moore

Programs and Events

Christina Alvarez
Communications

My name is Christina Alvarez and I am your Communications Fellow for YPFP. I am passionate about foreign relations and policy and exploring the dynamics of culture and diplomacy to promote global peace and international relationships.
Being passionate about this work is why I am so thrilled to be a part of this organization and work alongside like-minded individuals who are striving to be proactive global citizens. Some of my previous involvement include -- being a returned Peace Corps volunteer (Peru) as well as a San Diego Diplomacy Council intern. I currently work for the Department of Defense as an Installation Management Specialist under the Army Career Program 29. I work in the Directorate of Operations and Emergency Management. I am looking forward to continuing my professional growth and utilizing my education and skills to bring forth progress and awareness within foreign policy and national security.

Christina Alvarez

Communications

Nigel Vinson
Global Coordination

Nigel Vinson is a research assistant for the Technology and National Security Program at CNAS. His research interests focus on Australian foreign policy, the maintenance and modernization of U.S. alliance structures in the Indo-Pacific, including properly leveraging Indo-Pacific alliances to compete in the emerging technologies and digital space.

Before joining CNAS he was an intern and researcher with the Reconnecting Asia Project at CSIS focusing on the digital aspects of China's BRI. During his undergraduate degree, he spent time working with former combatants of the Yugoslav war on a peace-building mission in Kosovo, Montenegro, and Albania, while also spending a summer in Hong Kong studying the economic and intellectual trends of 20th century China.

Vinson is originally from Cleveland, Ohio and he received his B.A. in East Asian Studies along with a Mandarin proficiency certificate from Ohio University and his M.A. in International Relations from the University of Sydney in Australia.

Vinson is also a current member of Harvard's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs North Korea Cyber Working Group.

Nigel Vinson

Global Coordination

Washington, DC Team


Phillip Davis
Deputy Director, Global Operations

Phillip R. Davis II joined YPFP in June 2020 and currently serves as the Deputy Global Operations Director at YPFP. In this capacity, he helps maintain relationships between YPFP’s headquarters team located in Washington, DC, and its branches around the globe. During the day, Phil is a Presidential Management Fellow (PMF) at the U.S. Department of State working on issues pertaining to the Near East and international security. Previously, he gained experience in international affairs and government working for the U.S. House of Representatives, Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA), and the United Kingdom Parliament.  Phil received a BA in International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania. He recently graduated with a MA in International Security from the Josef Korbel School of International Studies - University of Denver.  In his free time, Phil enjoys all aspects of music (especially The Weeknd), travel, and brunch. He’s happy to be back in the DMV.

Phillip Davis

Deputy Director, Global Operations


Evelyn Heck
Newsletter Editor

Evelyn Heck joined YPFP summer 2019 when she moved to D.C. after graduating from the University of Notre Dame in May. She works for the Rumsfeld Foundation, a non-profit focused on free economic and political systems within the U.S. and abroad. She assists in facilitating the many activities of the Foundation, including the Central Asia-Caucasus Fellowship Program and the Graduate Fellowship Program, as well as with relations with the Foundation’s network of partners, Fellows, military charities and more. She gained experience in public policy and diplomacy through internships with the U.S. Senate, UK Parliament, and the U.S. Department of State. She loves to run, explore new places in D.C., and has a passion for chocolate chip cookies and football.

Evelyn Heck

Editor, Newsletter


Courtney Powell
Head of Special Events

Courtney Powell

Director, Special Events


Tia Potskhverashvili
Director, Discussion Groups

Tia Potskhverashvili currently works as a Deputy Director for the Office of The United States Trade Representative, Office of Environment and Natural Resources. 

In this role, she provides her team with support and research on a variety of environmental trade policy issues, including illegal logging, illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, wildlife trafficking, and marine litter.  Additionally, Tia’s portfolio includes monitoring the environmental obligations as written in the Free Trade Agreements between the U.S. and Chile, Bahrain, and Oman.  Prior to her assuming this role at USTR, Tia worked at the U.S. Senate and U.S. Treasury, developing her skillset in policy research and analysis, as well as press and communications.  

Tia holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations and Economics from The Elliott School of International Affairs at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., in addition to fulfilling coursework at Institut d'études politiques de Paris and London School of Economics.

Tia Potskhverashvili

Director, Discussion Groups


Jeffrey Nahm
Deputy Director, Programs

Jeff is the Deputy Director of Programs at YPFP where he helps create, manage, and moderate various events with foreign policy thought leaders and organizations. Previously as his day job, Jeff was an IBM senior associate consultant contracted to the USDA's Foreign Programs Team (FPT). As a leader of FPT, he helped manage the USDA's foreign loan portfolio which includes resolving debt disputes, participating in interagency initiatives, and providing debt restructuring to disadvantaged countries. Jeff has since transitioned to a Strategy Consultant position at Deloitte where he will continue to apply his foreign affairs and business acumen in the public sector. He holds a BA in Economics and BS in Finance at the University of Maryland.

Jeffrey Nahm

Deputy Director, Programs

Brussels Team


Adrian Garcia-Esteve
Executive Director, Brussels

Adrian has been Managing Director of the Brussels - EU team since January 2020, and is responsible for leading on strategy development, coordination, and team management. Outside of YPFP, Adrian serves as CEO and Chairman of the Board of Res Terrae SRL, a cross-disciplinary consultancy specializing in strategy, social impact, and communications, and is a member of the Advisory Board of Think Film Impact Productions, supporting global advocacy campaigns that seek to create positive social impact through award-winning films, documentaries, and inclusive policy dialogues.

Adrian Garcia-Esteve

Managing Director, Brussels


Cristinia Lavinia-Badulescu
Managing Director, Brussels

Cristiana became co-Managing Director in 2020, having previously held a leadership position within YPFP as part of the Security and Defence team. She has a Ph.D in Political Sciences, a M.A in International Conflict Analysis and Resolution and a B.A. in Law. Cristiana has experience in academic research and policy analysis on peace, conflict, justice and gender and has conducted fieldwork  on the Nagorno-Karabakh and Cyprus conflicts. Her research interests include foreign and security policy, peacebuilding, conflict resolution, intractable conflicts, transitional justice, criminal law. She has published on a wide range of  international peace and security related topics. 

Cristinia Lavinia-Badulescu

Deputy Managing Director, Brussels


Petra Chladkova
Finance Director

As Finance Director of the Brussels branch, Petra is in charge of budgeting, payments and monthly financial reporting of the YPFP’s Brussels branch. Petra holds a Master’s degree in Economics and Management and enjoys working with figures, spreadsheets and statistics. Originally from the Czech Republic, Petra has been living in Brussels since 2014, when she started her job at NATO in the Executive Management Division.

Petra Chladkova

Finance Director, Brussels


Soraia Ribeiro
Director of Communications & Marketing

Soraia Ribeiro

Director of Communications & Marketing, Brussels


Franziska Krueger
Director of Programmes

Franziska studied European Studies, with a special focus on Eastern Europe, and International Relations in Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Italy. Next to her undergraduate studies, Franziska was a board member of the Model United Nations Association Basel and AIESEC Basel. Furthermore, she has worked in Serbia and Kosovo on the topic of R2P and volunteered in Africa in the areas of poverty reduction and environment. In her spare time Franziska enjoys traveling and learning new languages.

Franziska Krueger

Director of Programmes, Brussels


Elisa Cherry
Director of Security & Defence

Elisa Cherry

Director of Security & Defence, Brussels

London Team

Maria is Managing Director at YPFP London, responsible for driving the chapter's sustainability and growth. She works as a Programme Officer at the Centre for Global Mental Health at King’s College London. She’s currently a PhD candidate at KCL’s Centre for Implementation Science, researching the design of exit strategies in international development programming in low- and middle-income countries.  

Maria holds a BSs+MSc in Political Science and Governance from Complutense University of Madrid and the Institute for Development Studies at the University of Sussex, as an EU Erasmus Programme student. Prior to joining King’s College London in 2017, she was a Junior Policy Officer at the Directorate-General for International Development and Cooperation at the European Commission in Brussels where she worked with the EU Council on mainstreaming digital technologies in international development initiatives.

Maria Milenova

Managing Director, London


Ian Perrin
Director of Programming, London

Ian is the Director of Programming at YPFP London, where he is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the events programme. He has a Master’s degree in Latin American Politics, and has extensive experience in International Relations. 

Ian previously worked for the prestigious foreign affairs think tank Chatham House, and currently works for Canning House, one of the world’s leading fora on Latin American politics, economics and business, where he is the head of policy, research and operations.

Ian Perrin

Director of Programming, London


Isabelle Scott
Director of Communications, London

Isabelle joined the YPFP Comms team in 2019, and took on the role of Comms Director at the beginning of 2021. She is responsible for driving the Charter’s communications strategy and public engagement.

Isabelle is a UK civil servant with extensive international and domestic policy experience. She currently works at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Isabelle speaks French, and is also learning Russian

Isabelle Scott

Director of Communications, London

New York Team


Colin Wolfgang
Managing Director, New York

Colin Wolfgang is the Managing Director for the New York branch of Young Professionals in Foreign Policy, overseeing staff operations and working to enhance membership experience and increase overall membership.

Colin received his B.A. in International Relations from Boston University. He is an independent political and communications consultant with experience working on issues such as healthcare, gun control, and education, as well as directly on political campaigns. In his spare time, he enjoys gardening, cooking and tennis.

Colin Wolfgang

Managing Director, New York


Dylan Johnson
Finance Director, New York

Dylan is a senior at New York University Stern completing his degree in Business and Political Economy. Half of his university education was spent abroad, first studying in London for sophomore year and splitting junior year in Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv. While in the Middle East, Dylan worked as an analyst intern for Le Beck International, a security risk consulting firm. He has done institutional research on Yemen and Egypt, at research centers in Tel Aviv and Washington D.C.
 
As the Finance Director for YPFP's New York branch, Dylan handles expenses and budgeting, working with the executive team to ensure that YPFP's vision in the city is financially sustainable.
 
In his free time, Dylan enjoys practicing Arabic, watching films, playing music, and cooking new recipes.

Dylan Johnson

Finance Director, New York


Ariana McAuley
Programming Director, New York

Ariana McAuley is the Programming Director for the New York branch of Young Professionals in Foreign Policy, where she is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the events program, scheduling, and topics with strategic organizational goals. During the day, she works at Mazars in the Business Development & Strategic Marketing department where she supports the global consulting & financial services service lines. Ariana has educational and professional achievements abroad from living in France for 3 years and has skills in French and Spanish. She holds a double Master of Arts degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from Schiller International University-Paris and the University of Roehampton- London. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from East Carolina University.

Ariana McAuley

Programming Director, New York


Sepideh Behzadpour
Communications Director,
New York

Sepideh Behzadpour has been a member of the YPFP New York team and has been on the communications team since August 2018. She currently serves as the Director of Communications. Sepideh is a communication professional and had worked in the nonprofit sector helping organizations utilize and leverage social media into their communication and community outreach strategy. She received her BA in Communication/Journalism from the University of Washington and her MS in Global Affairs from NYU. In her spare time, she enjoys playing video games, reading, and baking.

Sepideh Behzadpour

Communications Director, New York

Toronto Team


Angie Khayan Rojas
Managing Director, Toronto

Angie received her Hons. B.A. in Political Science and Statistics from the University of Toronto where she specialised in issues of international security. Alongside her undergraduate studies, she served as delegate for the 63rd United Nations Commission on the Status of Women for VOW Canada and was the News and Politics Correspondent at Acta Victoriana. Originally Colombian-Venezuelan, Angie grew up across the Americas and Caribbean, East Asia, and the Middle East before moving to Canada for her undergraduate studies. Her passion lies in blockchain and its potential for humanitarian work and volunteers as an interpreter for Canadian Government-Assisted Refugees and Refugee Claimants.

Angie Khayan Rojas

Managing Director, Toronto


Jeff Dexter
Deputy Managing Director, Toronto

As a director with Control Risks, Jeff protects clients from crippling regulatory fines with due diligence, corruption / fraud investigations, and AI solutions to mitigate risk from third parties. He has more than twelve years of experience advising clients on anti-bribery and anti-corruption regulations, anti-money laundering laws and conventions, and sanctions compliance. Previously with PwC and Kroll, he was awarded 35 under 35 by Consulting® magazine for excellence in client service. He has deep experience and knowledge of the Middle East, with a specialization in the Levant. Jeff lived in Syria in 2009 and 2010 where he studied Arabic. He holds a graduate degree in international affairs from the University of Pittsburgh and an undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Rhode Island. During his education, he interned with US Congressman James Langevin, the Rhode Island Human Rights Commission, and International Crisis Group (intern for Rob Malley). Before moving to Toronto, he was a member of YPFP DC.

Jeff Dexter

Deputy Managing Director, Toronto


Reena Manjania
Director of Events and Partnerships, Toronto

Reena has experience in the not-for-profit and public sectors, including working as a policy advisor in both the federal and provincial governments.  Currently, Reena is working with the Government of Ontario to support the uptake of low carbon vehicle technology within the province. Over the past two years, she has been working with the Government of Canada, where she has supported work to increase inclusivity and diversity in federal procurement and developed program advice to advance renewable energy capacity within Canada. Reena’s passions lie in supporting climate change mitigation efforts and advancing gender equity.  Reena holds a Master of Public Policy from the University of Toronto.

Reena Manjania

Director of Events and Partnerships, Toronto


Xinhua (Tina) Yang
Director of Communications and Marketing, Toronto

Tina has spent most of her career in government where she provided expertise and advice to senior management on the implications of investment projects, federal decisions (e.g., the accelerated phase-out of coal), and new policy tools (e.g., new tax incentives). She has led and assisted on specially referenced projects such as:

Phase-out of coal power plants,

Economic impact analysis for investment proposal. In her personal time, she started learning the guitar to fight her mid-age crisis. She also enjoys spending time with her dog, a three-year-old girly looking little boy.

Xinhua (Tina) Yang

Director of Communications and Marketing, Toronto


Surriya Z Khan
Membership Coordinator, Toronto

Being raised in South Asia, the Middle East and North America, I was eager to understand how national law and policies impact global relations. From one state having a strong interest in maintaining a monarchy and the other in promoting a democracy, I was stunned to see how states with differing values collaborated on global issues. As I began my undergraduate studies at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, I realized how tightly intertwined law and policy issues are and how much of an impact they have in addressing global inequalities. I attained my BA (Hons.) in Legal Studies with a minor in Forensic Psychology and a specialization in Alternative Dispute Resolution and began working in the legal field through an immigration firm. Being an immigrant myself, I passionately defend and advocate for the immigrant community. I have worked as a Research Assistant for organizations seeking to reform Canadian immigration laws in hopes of making them more inclusive. I also have experience in international human rights advocacy with the United Nations Association of Canada Toronto Branch (UNACTO). My interest in a career in international law and policy drove me to pursue an LLB degree from the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom. Thus, I am currently an international student who is very passionate about legal and judicial development in developing countries, refugee law and human rights issues. 

Surriya Z Khan

Membership Coordinator, Toronto

San Francisco Team


Timothy McGuire
Executive Director, San Francisco

Tim is the Executive Director of YPFP San Francisco, where he is responsible for overseeing the growth and sustainability of YPFP activities in the Bay Area. He is focused on securing partnerships and amplifying public-private sector dialogue. In his day job, he works on data analytics and engagement at the Defense Innovation Unit in Silicon Valley, accelerating commercial technology for national security. Tim is a U.S. Air Force veteran with more than 10 years of experience in the fields of logistics, linguistics, cyber operations, and in offices of inspectors general. Before joining YPFP in 2018, Tim was a fellow with Veterans in Global Leadership.

Timothy McGuire

Managing Director, San Francisco

Tokyo Team

Lauren Power

Managing Director, YPFP Tokyo Branch

Professor of Global Humanities, Temple University Japan

Researcher and Ph.D. Candidate, University of Tokyo

Lauren is an award-winning researcher, author, speaker, and migrant advocate. She is an Adjunct Professor of Global Humanities at Temple University Japan and a Ph.D. Candidate at the University of Tokyo with a focus on understanding the economic and social lives of highly skilled migrants. Lauren is the Founder and Managing Director of YPFP Tokyo Branch. Lauren is currently a contributing researcher to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UN-OHCHR) and is the Co-founder of the University of Tokyo Violence Against Women Working Group (UT-VAW).

Lauren was the Founder and Country Leader for the Japan Migration Working Group of the United Nations Major Group for Children and Youth (UN-MGCY), leading comprehensive international research and publications on youth and migration and was selected as a civil society spokesperson for the United Nations Asia-Pacific Regional Review of the Global Compact for Migration in 2021. In 2020, Lauren was appointed Head Delegate of the American Delegation to the G20 Youth Summit (Y20) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and was selected for the Global Dialogue Fellowship. Lauren has subsequently served as a member of the C20 Working Groups on the 2030 Agenda and Education and Global Citizenship for the 2021 G20 Summit in Rome. Lauren previously worked as an Official for the OECD, an entrepreneur starting her own consultancy, and a member of the Editorial Boards of the Journal for Human Security Studies Special Edition and the Refugee Review.

Lauren Power

Managing Director, YPFP Tokyo Branch

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