Executive Team


Aubrey Cox Ottenstein 
Global Executive Director

Aubrey Cox Ottenstein joined as the Executive Director of Young Professionals in Foreign Policy (YPFP) in September 2019. Prior to joining YPFP, she served as the lead for youth programs at the United States Institute of Peace. In this role, Aubrey elevated the role of youth in peacebuilding and increased the inclusion of young people in peace and security processes.

Aubrey has spent most of her career working on issues of inclusion, peace and security. Prior to joining USIP, Aubrey worked in a double-bottom line impact investment fund focused on financial inclusion at Accion International. Earlier, she conducted field-based monitoring and evaluation research for Operation Smile. Aubrey holds a bachelor's degree from the Beatty Business School at the College of Charleston and a master's degree from the School of International Service at American University. She and her husband live in Washington, DC. 

Aubrey Cox Ottenstein

Executive Director


Merritt Ogle
Chief of Staff

Merritt is honored to serve in the role of Chief of Staff for YPFP. Merritt joined YPFP in May 2019 as the Director of Development & Special Projects. Working with the Executive Director and Finance Director, in her role, she worked to identify and build strategic partnerships for YPFP. Additionally, she has managed additional projects such as the U.S.-China Futures Project, the Emerging as a Global Leader Experience (EaGLE) workshop, and youth summits. In her day job, she is a Senior Associate at Markon Solutions where she supports both corporate strategic growth and client project management. She is also the Director of Growth for #NatSecGirlSquad where she leads coalition building for advancing competent diversity in the national security apparatus. Merritt graduated from The Ohio State University in 2017 with degrees in Public Affairs and International Studies. Her professional passions include innovation for national security, building intrinsically inclusive environments, Eurasian studies, and advancement of LGBTQ+ professionals. Outside of work and “adult extracurriculars”, she loves traveling to obscure places, binge watching Somebody Feed Phil, and watching Ohio State football.

Merritt Ogle

Chief of Staff


Andre Ball
Senior Director, Finance

Andre Ball is a Sr. Lead Program Administrator with the Applied Conflict and Transformation (ACT) Center at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP). He currently assists in supporting programs with contractual, financial and budgetary responsibilities as well as general logistical and programmatic support. Andre has been with USIP for 6 years and joined after a year of service with AmeriCorps in Austin, Texas where he served as a Program Analyst and High School Admissions coach for a non-profit college access organization called College Forward.

Andre earned an MBA graduate from George Washington University and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Florida. In his free time, Andre enjoys playing sports, including basketball, boxing and table tennis.

Andre Ball

Senior Director, Finance


Paul Kwon
Program Manager

Paul H. Kwon is a Program Manager at Young Professionals in Foreign Policy, prior to which he was a Project Manager for the 2020 Democratic National Convention Committee.

Previously, Paul worked as a coach, teacher, assistant administrator, and T4:8 leader for El Camino Academy, a dual-degree K-12 accredited school in Bogota, Colombia. Paul has also interned for the City of Salisbury, focusing on getting those experiencing homelessness off the streets and into habitable group homes. He is PMI-PMP certified and holds a B.S. from Salisbury University in interdisciplinary studies: Business Management and Conflict Analysis & Dispute Resolution.

Paul H. Kwon

Program Manager

Headquarters Team


Tyler L. Cundiff
Director, Special Projects

Tyler L. Cundiff has served on the YPFP Leadership Team since March 2020. As Director of Special Projects, he provides strategic guidance and operational support to programs and initiatives across the organization.

Tyler is a special assistant and member of the senior leadership team for academic innovation at the George Washington University. He previously served as a policy advisor and delegate for the Republic of Malta to the United Nations Office at Geneva, Switzerland, handling a portfolio focused on peace and security issues.

A native of Hawaii, Tyler earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and communication from the University of Southern California while playing volleyball for the Trojans. Having begun graduate studies in international affairs at the Graduate Institute Geneva (IHEID), he is currently working toward a master’s degree at the Elliott School of International Affairs.

Tyler L. Cundiff

Director, Special Projects


Owen Daniels
Director & Managing Editor

Owen is Director & Managing Editor in YPFP’s fellowship program, which he joined as an editor in 2017. He currently works as a Research Associate in the Joint Advanced Warfighting Division at the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA). Prior to joining IDA, he worked in the Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Center and at Aviation Week magazine. A graduate of Princeton University, his analysis has appeared in Politico, War on the Rocks, The Hill, The National Interest, and Axios, among other outlets.

Owen Daniels

Director, Fellowship Program


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


Ben Goodrich
Director of Communications

Ben Goodrich joined YPFP in 2018 and became the Director of Communications in 2020. In addition, he has served on the Secretariat for the Y7 Summit in 2020.

Ben works as Staff Assistant at the Consortium of Social Science Associations (COSSA), a non-profit advocacy organization for social and behavioral research and its role in shaping public policy. At COSSA, he enjoys a wide array of responsibilities including supporting COSSA’s science advocacy efforts, curating COSSA’s social media and newsletter, and providing policy research on issues related to research policy, public health, and national security. Ben joined COSSA following a brief stint with Global Citizen, an international non-profit concerned with poverty alleviation, where he worked as a policy & government affairs assistant. Born and raised in the Upper Midwest, Ben graduated with a dual B.A. in Political Science and History from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2018.

Ben Goodrich

Director, Communications


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


Benjamin Lutz
Director, Youth Summits

Ben has volunteered with YPFP since October 2018 and he joined as a member in September 2018. As Membership Director, he works with all of YPFPs global members by making data-driven decisions. He also is in charge of the technical database, Wild Apricot, which manages all aspects of the membership experience. Ben received his BA in International Politics from Elon University and his MA in Middle East Security and Peace Studies from the University of Bradford. He speaks Arabic and enjoys the vibrant cultural scene of DC.

Benjamin Lutz

Director, Youth Summits


Luis C. Mojica
Director, Partnerships & Alliances

Luis C. Mojica joined the YPFP in June 2020 and is the Director of Partnerships at YPFP.

Luis studied Criminal Justice Administration at Sterling College in Sterling, Kansas and is currently an International Student with the University of London’s Law degree Program. With over six years in the legal field, Luis is presently working as the Practice Assistant for an International Energy Diplomacy Practice in a top 100 Global Law Firm, where he has taken the role of Project Manager in various International Impact Projects. In his prior jobs, Luis has worked in defending and advocating for the immigrant community in  the US. Luis has worked with members of Congress on a range of issues including immigration, education and healthcare reform. Luis was a founding member of the City Youth Council for the City of Moreno Valley, where he served his community for over two years. Luis is very passionate about International Development in Latin America, which has taken him to work with various governments and notable artists in education and youth development. In his free time, Luis enjoys cooking, salsa dancing, listening to music, golfing, horseback riding, and learning to play his favorite instrument, the vallenato accordion.  

Luis Mojica

Director, Partnerships & Alliances


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


Courtney Powell
Head of Special Events

Courtney Powell

Director, Special Events


Paul A. Sherman
Director, Global Operations

Paul A. Sherman is Director of Global Operations at YPFP. Currently, he is the Director of Programs at the Society for International Development, Washington Chapter. He graduated from the University of Michigan with a BA in public policy, focusing on European affairs and French. He served as Co-Managing Photo Editor at The Michigan Daily and Contributing Writer/Online Journal Editor at the Michigan Journal of International Affairs. He also gained experience in diplomacy and American foreign policy through internships with the Office of U.S. Senator Patty Murray, the American Embassy in Paris, France, and the Wilson Center.

Paul A. Sherman

Director, Global Operations


Spandana Singh
Chair, Diversity & Inclusion Task Force

Spandana Singh is the Chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Task Force of YPFP. Currently, Spandana works as a Policy Associate at New America's Open Technology Institute, where she focuses on issues of cybersecurity, content regulation, corporate transparency, AI, privacy and surveillance. Previously, Spandana served as a Millennial Public Policy Fellow at New America, a Public Policy Fellow at Twitter in San Francisco, and as the 2018 Cybersecurity and Technology Fellow at YPFP.  Originally from India, Spandana has spent most of her life living in East Africa, Europe and Southeast Asia. She is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley.

Spandana Singh

Chair, Diversity & Inclusion Task Force


Aaron Tielemans
Director & Editor-in-Chief

Aaron Tielemans is thrilled to be serving as the Director and Editor-in-Chief of YPFP’s Charged Affairs publication. A two-time graduate of George Washington University, Aaron has earned both his B.A. in International Affairs and his M.A. in International Affairs, with dual concentrations in Conflict and Conflict Resolution and Africa. His graduate research, conducted in partnership with the U.S. Department of State’s Global Engagement Center (GEC), focused on Countering Far-Right Extremism through tech platform regulation, civil society integration, and building cohesion between stakeholders to develop holistic solutions.

Aaron currently works at GIFCT, where he supports their mission of fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing to prevent the exploitation of digital platforms by terrorists and violent extremists. Additionally, he is a long-time Segway tour guide at Capital Segway. He enjoys sharing downtown DC, the National Mall, and endless restaurant recommendations with visitors from all around the world.

Aaron Tielemans

Director & Editor-in-Chief, Charged Affairs


Beau Wilcox
Deputy Finance Director

As the Deputy Finance Director, Beau provides a monthly financial & accounting reports to YPFP's global senior leadership both at the chapter and board levels. He became a volunteer in August 2019 because of his interest in developing his financial management and data analysis skills.

Beau is a Training Assistant over at the Foreign Service Institute. Previously, Beau interned at organizations such as the Middle East Institute and the International Center for Religion and Diplomacy. In addition, Beau is the current executive intern for Mediators Beyond Border International. His goal is to further his understanding of conflict resolution and data analysis to assist peace building programs in the Middle East and North Africa.

He received a BA in political science with a focus on international relations from Alma College located in Alma, Michigan. In the next two years, Beau hopes to enroll into Uppsala University in Uppsala, Sweden for their master’s program that focuses on the application of data in peacebuilding.

Beau Wilcox

Deputy Finance Director


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

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


Nima Hairy
Director of Membership

Nima is part of the Membership team and is tasked with improving the experience of current members and helping increase the visibility and overall membership size of the organization.  Having previously worked as a management consultant, he is also currently active in a Brussels based startup and in local Belgian politics.

Nima Hairy

Director of Membership, 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

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