Backtosch Mustafa is a German physician and researcher at the intersection of medicine, public health, and artificial intelligence. He received his medical training at institutions in Hamburg, Beirut, and London, and gained research experience at Harvard Medical School.

After working in the Department of Neurology at the Charité in Berlin, he is currently pursuing graduate studies at Harvard University on a full merit-based scholarship, focusing on AI in healthcare, while researching AI governance at Harvard Law School.
As the founder of ApplicAid, a social enterprise with over 700 volunteers, he works to increase access to scholarships. His efforts have been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the European Parliament's European Citizen Prize, honors from the state of Hamburg and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and a spot on Forbes' 30 Under 30 list.
His contributions extend to global leadership initiatives. He was one of the youngest founding curators in the history of the World Economic Forum's Global Shapers community and was named a Young Global Changer by the Global Solutions Foundation. His professional achievements have also been recognized by CAPITAL Magazine's Top 40 under 40 and the global McKinsey Achievement Award.
His research spans molecular neurogenetics and public health, with notable work on COVID-19 activity prediction featured in the New York Times.
In his spare time, he enjoys squash and poker, and is currently competing with the Harvard team in the international IPA Poker tournament.

Ben is an MPA Candidate at Harvard Kennedy School and recently completed his concurrent MBA at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, where he was the 2024 McGowan Fellow.

Ben cares about increasing access to opportunities—especially in healthcare and education. He has spent his career helping organizations serve their communities more effectively, efficiently, and equitably, initially in high-growth consulting and tech firms in the UK and US, and more recently as an advisor to the British Government, where he designed and launched a new unit to support global health partnerships. He has also held a variety of pro bono positions including serving as Chair of Trustees at a hospital school and as an advisor with Europe’s leading early-stage ‘tech for good’ VC.
Ben has a BA in Biology from the University of Oxford. Originally from Bournemouth, on the south coast of England, you can often find him walking near the water, enjoying non-horror movies, and writing bad poetry in good coffee shops.

Jakob Grove Klahsen is currently pursuing his MBA at Harvard Business School, where he is focused on leveraging capital markets to accelerate the energy transition.

Before HBS, Jakob worked at Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), a leading greenfield renewable infrastructure fund manager. At CIP, he was involved in new business development, fund structuring, and investment strategies, all with the ambition of improving capital access and allocation for both established and emerging renewable technologies. Prior to CIP, he began his career at Goldman Sachs in London, advising institutional investors on asset allocation and alternative investments.
Jakob’s passion for renewable investments stems from both professional experience and a deep curiosity about the intersection of finance and sustainability. His work has spanned fund innovation, portfolio management, and investment structuring, always with a focus on scalable solutions to the challenges of the energy transition.
Outside of work, you’ll often find Jakob on the Charles River. A long-time competitive rower, he remains deeply engaged in the sport, which continues to shape his approach to teamwork, resilience, and discipline.

Javad Mushtaq is a current MC/MPA candidate on full scholarship at Harvard Kennedy School and an MBA graduate (Dean’s Fellow) from MIT Sloan, specializing in the intersection of technology, AI, impact, and early-stage investments. With experience spanning the private sector, global NGOs, and venture capital across five continents, he has worked at the nexus of responsible innovation, sustainability, and inclusive economic growth.

Originally from Norway with roots in Pakistan, Javad has been a champion of systems change, climate action, and the role of ethical technology in shaping a more equitable future. As Co-Founder of WE& Capital, Norway’s first diversity-led investment firm, he has actively supported underrepresented founders, particularly in climate tech and circular economy solutions across the Nordics and emerging markets. Previously, as Deputy CEO of EAT Foundation, he played a key leadership role in driving global food systems transformation. He has also worked in corporate strategy roles in large corporations, in early-stage investing, and in social enterprises, giving him a broad perspective on how different sectors can drive meaningful impact.
Javad’s leadership has been recognized globally. He is a UN Alliance of Civilizations Fellow, a Next Gen Leader by the German Marshall Fund and NATO, and has been featured as one of Kapital’s 40 Under 40 - Norway's new stars in business, the highest honor for young leaders. His accolades include the Global Impact Award, Performance Award from Norway’s PM, Coca-Cola Hero of the Year global recognition for work in DE&I, and multiple recognitions as one of Norway’s top leadership talents.
During the YJI Japan Trip 2025, Javad seeks to explore how Japan’s deep-rooted principles of long-term sustainability, craftsmanship, and ethical business practices can inform global approaches to responsible innovation and investment. He is particularly interested in how Japanese companies have built enduring legacies by balancing tradition with forward-thinking innovation - lessons that are critical for shaping equitable AI governance, impact investing, and the transition to a sustainable economy. By engaging with Japanese leaders and cultural thought frameworks, Javad hopes to gain new insights into resilience-driven business models and the integration of social purpose into traditional strategies.

Kelvin Tan is the CEO of Project ID, an education organization focused on leadership, social-emotional learning, and career readiness. Under his leadership, Project ID has partnered with the Ministry of Education Malaysia, UNICEF, and DHL, impacting over 15,000 students and engaging 700,000 youth digitally during the pandemic. He also chairs the External Advisory Board of the School of Education at the University of Nottingham Malaysia.

He began his career as a public school teacher with Teach For Malaysia before moving into management consulting, leading engagements in strategy, operations, public policy, and sustainability across industries like aviation, education, and consumer products. He also led analytics and product management in automotive and mental health tech startups, driving innovation and business growth.
Kelvin is an Obama Leader, where he represented the Asia-Pacific region in a panel discussion with President Obama on leadership and social impact. He is also an Acumen Fellow and a Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Professional Fellow with the U.S. State Department. Additionally, he has contributed to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) on research related to child protection and global health security.
Kelvin was recognized as a Gen.T honoree by Tatler Asia, highlighting his impact in education and social innovation. He has spoken at several education forums, including the Teach For All Global Conference, International Conference on The Future of Education (IConFEd 2020), and UKFIET - The Education and Development Forum, moderated by Financial Times Global Education Editor Andrew Jack.
He is a two-time recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award from Monash University, an honor recognizing esteemed alumni who are leaders in their field and have made significant contributions to their industries.
Currently, Kelvin is pursuing his Master in Public Administration at Harvard Kennedy School.

Kholoud Aldabal is a policy leader from Saudi Arabia and a Master in Public Administration candidate at Harvard Kennedy School. With over 14 years of experience in strategy, policymaking, and investments, she serves as an Advisor to the Minister of Transport and Logistics Services, leading the Decision Support division to drive strategy and data-driven policy initiatives.

Kholoud holds an MBA from Stanford University and a B.Sc. from Simmons University in Boston. Her career spans pivotal roles at NEOM, Saudi Arabia’s futuristic city, where she helped structure multi-billion-dollar strategic partnerships, and Aramco Ventures, where she led high-impact investments in cutting-edge energy technologies. She also worked in Silicon Valley, investing in early-stage technologies and fostering innovation ecosystems.
Beyond her professional career, Kholoud is deeply engaged in leadership and global policy initiatives. As a G20 Youth Delegate, she participated in high-level discussions with global leaders at the World Economic Forum, contributing to key dialogues on innovation, digitalization, and the future of work. She previously served as a board member in the regional Chamber of Commerce and currently serves as a board member of the Stanford University Alumni Club in Saudi Arabia. Passionate about innovation and the future of mobility, she is committed to shaping policies that drive sustainable and transformative change.

Laura Wegner is a German Rhodes Scholar and serial entrepreneur with a strong passion for healthcare technology. Originally from Walsrode, Germany, she is currently pursuing degrees in Economics and Computer Science at Harvard University.

As the co-founder of Mii, a digital healthcare passport, Laura is working to transform how patients manage their medical records. Mii enables individuals to take control of their health data, ensuring it remains secure and globally accessible.
Beyond Mii, Laura’s entrepreneurial journey reflects her broader commitment to leveraging technology for meaningful impact. She founded two EdTech startups and the Global Tech Innovations Society during high school.
In recognition of her academic and entrepreneurial achievements, Laura was awarded a 2025 Rhodes Scholarship, becoming one of two German recipients and marking Harvard’s first Rhodes Scholar from Germany in a decade. At Oxford, she plans to deepen her expertise in machine learning and apply these skills to digital health, furthering her mission to develop ethical and effective technological solutions for the healthcare industry.

Lily Kang is an MPA/MBA dual degree candidate at the Harvard Kennedy School and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. At Harvard, she is a Belfer Young Leader and actively contributes to programming for AI governance in emerging technologies.

Formerly a consultant at Boston Consulting Group and a tech product manager at Microsoft, Lily's interests center around sustainability, health, and economic development. She co-founded ReGoods, a platform enabling young adults to buy and sell secondhand furniture. Lily is dedicated to helping others realize their full potential and fostering connections across differences. To this end, she aims to leverage scalable technologies to build cultural and national bridges.

Mark Dennis Y.C. Joven is a distinguished international finance expert and climate change advocate currently serving on the Inaugural Board of the UN's Fund Responding to Loss and Damage. His expertise spans climate finance, development finance, and innovative financing schemes to support climate action.

As former chief currency diplomat of the Philippines and Vice Minister for International Finance, Joven demonstrated exceptional leadership in scaling up the country's borrowing operations for its flagship infrastructure program. He played a pivotal role as Chief Negotiator for international financing agreements and masterfully structured the Philippines' COVID-19 vaccine procurement program through the first syndicated multilateral vaccine loan facility with the World Bank, ADB and AIIB.
A Harvard Law School graduate and Senior Fellow at the Lee Kwan Yew School of Public Service, Joven's academic excellence is remarkable. He ranked first in the 2001 National Certified Public Accountant Exam and graduated cum laude from both the University of the Philippines College of Law and College of Business Administration.
His international expertise extends to executive positions at the AIIB, ADB, WB, Green Climate Fund, as well as the the ASEAN Infrastructure Fund and the Credit Guarantee Insurance Fund.
As a Senior Lecturer at the University of the Philippines College of Law, Joven continues to share his expertise in credit transactions and secured financing. He is licensed to practice law in both the Philippines and New York State and maintains memberships in the American Bar Association, Philippine Bar Association and International Fiscal Association.
His career pivot from a tax advisor at Ernst & Young to shaping international climate finance policy exemplifies his versatility and commitment to public service at the highest levels.

Mathias is a Master of Public Administration Candidate at the Harvard Kennedy School. His mission is to make cutting-edge innovations in technology and the delivery of development aid work for the world's poorest.

He has served as an advisor to the Government of Sierra Leone, helping to raise more than US$ 50 million for high-impact education initiatives and launching the world's largest outcomes fund for education.
He has co-founded the NGO Global Minimum (GMin) dedicated to creating a new generation of African change makers. GMin held innovation competitions in Kenya, Sierra Leone and South Africa, and program alumni have gone on to become Echoing Green Fellows, win the Global Student Prize and attend the African Leadership University and Harvard College.
He started his career working for Bain & Company and Voluntas Advisory where he was the head of the Tunis Office.

Naara Cancino is pursuing a dual degree in M.B.A./M.P.A.-ID at Harvard University. She is a Presidential Scholarship recipient and a fellow at the Center for Public Leadership. She graduated from Universidad del Pacífico with a bachelor's degree in Economics and from Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú with a Master's in Sociology with honors.

She has over six years of experience in consulting, research, and the Peruvian government, focusing on sustainable development and climate finance. She was responsible for designing Peru's first industrial policy at the Ministry of Production and for developing improvements in the environmental budget at the Ministry of Economy and Finance. She has also worked as a consultant for UNESCO, the IDB, the World Bank, and international mining operations.
Naara aims to help bridge the climate finance gap in developing countries by working at the intersection of government and the private sector.

Neeha Mujeeb is a public sector advisor currently pursuing her Masters in Public Administration at the Harvard Kennedy School. She has a Bachelors from NYU and an MBA from INSEAD, has previously worked in management consulting and most recently for the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development.

Her work has focused on developing strategies and implementing special projects for governments in the Middle East, ranging from topics such as affordable housing to economic development and ESG reporting.

Richard Dong is a Master of Public Policy candidate at Harvard Kennedy School's Class of 2025. He brings a sophisticated understanding of business and government policy shaped by experiences at different levels of public service. At the U.S. Department of State, Richard contributes to foreign economic policy development, while his role as Economic Advisor to the Prime Minister of Mongolia provided firsthand exposure to cabinet-level economic strategy and development planning.

A Brown University graduate and 2023 Class Marshal, Richard’s academic excellence is matched by his commitment to public service, evidenced through his work with Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights and former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao. His analytical skills were strengthened at Brown's Investment & Endowment Office, where he developed sophisticated financial models that influenced portfolio strategy.
Richard’s dedication to community impact is demonstrated through the establishment of multiple charitable endowments, supporting causes ranging from homeless services to educational advancement. These initiatives, funded through his accomplishments as a classical pianist and investment returns, provide ongoing support for students in arts, athletics, and academics.
His extraordinary achievements extend beyond the professional realm. As a globally top-ranked strategic game player, he achieved #1 world rankings across multiple competitive platforms. He continues to demonstrate athletic excellence as a member of both Harvard College Rugby and the Harvard Graduate Crew Team, recently earning a bronze medal at the 2024 International Elite Universities Water Sports Open. As a classical musician, his performances at Carnegie Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, and Disney Concert Hall showcase his artistic virtuosity.
Currently serving as the re-elected Vice President of Student Activities for the Kennedy School Student Government, Richard exemplifies leadership that bridges academic excellence, public service, and diverse personal achievements.

Ryland Pitts is a Pickering Fellow with the U.S. Department of State and will serve as a Foreign Service Officer (diplomat) after completing his master’s degree at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. At Fletcher, he focuses on international security and Russian and Eurasian affairs and works with the Fletcher Russia and Eurasia Program to bring experts and policymakers to campus.

Born in Knoxville, Tennessee, but raised in Belarus and Hungary, Ryland holds a B.A. in Political Science and Russian Studies from Davidson College. His research, which included fieldwork in Belarus and Lithuania, examined Russian political influence in Belarus through state-controlled media.
After graduation, Ryland moved to Kyrgyzstan, where he led a college English language department, before serving as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) in Uzbekistan. Traveling frequently across his region, he often found himself in remote classrooms as the first American his students had ever met. In these moments—fielding their questions and engaging in cultural exchange—he saw firsthand the power of citizen diplomacy, reinforcing his commitment to a career in international service.
Ryland has worked on Magnitsky sanctions as a State Department intern, surveyed corruption in Russia as a research assistant with Transparency International Russia, and helped lead an NSA-funded Russian language program at the University of Georgia (UGA). He also volunteers with a global parachurch organization, mentoring young people navigating international transitions in places like Costa Rica, Spain, Hungary, Ukraine, and Turkey.
Outside of his professional interests, Ryland enjoys mountaineering, jazz piano, film photography, and whitewater kayaking.

Sean is a junior at Harvard studying Neurobiology. He is interested in neural circuit perturbations underlying synaptic dysfunction in neurodegeneration and wants to develop predictive markers and interventions.

He is Co-President at the Harvard Undergraduate OpenBio Laboratory, Roberts Family Fellow at HBS/SEAS, Herchel Smith Undergraduate Research Fellow, Kempner Institute Undergraduate Research Fellow, and a Yun Family Fellow for Revolutionary Thinking.
Outside of school and the lab, you can find him looking up new recipes to cook, coffee-shop hopping around Boston, or yapping about the newest neuro-AI breakthroughs!

David has over 15 years of experience working at the intersection of international development, anti-corruption, and civic technology with a focus on the education sector. He is an MPA candidate from Paraguay at Harvard Kennedy School where he is a Gleitsman Fellow and a New World Social Innovation Fellow (Cheng Fellow) at the Center for Public Leadership.

David is the Founder and Executive Director of reAcción, an innovation and community-centered anti-corruption organization from Paraguay. The son of a former shoe-shine boy and a girl adopted from the streets, he founded reAcción at age 17 after leading a mass demonstration mobilizing over 3,000 students from public high schools for almost a month. He has a Master’s degree in Development Studies as a Chevening Scholar at The London School of Economics and is an ASAP Fellow at Yale’s Global Justice Program.
Before he was 22, David co-founded an international anti-corruption network incubated by the World Bank and presented at the World Economic Forum, the International Anti-Corruption Conference, and the WB-IMF Annual Meetings. He was distinguished as a Youth Ambassador by the U.S. State Department, a Global Changemaker by the British Council, and a Peace Ambassador by the European Commission. David is also an Ashoka Fellow, an European Union’s EUVP alumnus, and an international Open Contracting Champion. His projects have reformed national policies related to public procurement in education and contributed to a five-fold increase in the correct allocation of funds for school infrastructure in Paraguay’s richest city. His work has been featured by The Economist, The Financial Times, the BBC, Global Citizen, and El País.
David has consulted for the World Bank, USAID, Transparency International, and International IDEA. He is a former board member of the World Youth Movement for Democracy. He designed FOCO, an app that enables the real-time monitoring of the national investment in school infrastructure and meals and he led the development of Paraguay’s Healthcare Ministry’s open data mobile app.

Mr. Prosper Ahmed Amuquandoh is an accomplished energy, international trade, infrastructure development, and communications professional with extensive public- and private-sector experience. His formal academic training spans Theoretical Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, and Public Policy from the University of Ghana, the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (in Italy), and the University of Oxford.

He is currently a Mid–Career Master’s student and an Edward S. Mason Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School, specializing in Infrastructure Development, Energy Markets and Global Leadership. In addition, he serves as Co-Chair of Harvard’s Diplomacy and Multilateral Affairs Professional Interest Council, President of the World Energy Council’s Future Energy Leaders (Ghana), and Energy and Sustainability Advisor to Integrated Water & Agricultural Development Limited (IWAD–Ghana). He is also a professional journalist with the Ghana Journalist Association, and a Public Relations Professional with the Institute of Public Relations, Ghana.
Previously, he served as Senior Programs Officer at the Ghana Energy Commission, where he was instrumental in developing and implementing national energy-sector regulatory policies and projects. He has consulted for several international organizations, including the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves (GACC) and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
Mr. Amuquandoh’s professional achievement and impact have been widely recognized. He is a recipient of Harvard’s Kistefos African Public Service Fellowship Award for the year 20124, the Africa Initiative for Governance Award in 2018, the Rising Star of the Year Award at the 2018 Ghana Energy Awards, and the winner of the Energy Category of Ghana’s maiden Forty Under 40 Awards in 2017. He was also named a finalist for the Future Energy Leader Award in West Africa at the 2016 Power Industries Awards in Lagos, Nigeria. In 2016, he was the recipient of the Mandela Washington Fellowship Award from the U.S. Department of State and President Barack Obama.

Benjamin is a senior at Harvard studying Chemical and Physical Biology and Computer Science. He is interested in developing gene circuits for therapeutics and using machine learning for biology to help people and the planet.

Outside of lab, you can find him racing the M2 bus on his skateboard, sleeping in the observatory, or thinking about giant pumpkins.

I am a Master in Public Policy student at the Harvard Kennedy School. For the last three years I have worked for the World Bank at the intersection of poverty reduction and evidence-based policymaking, after graduating with a degree in History from the University of Oxford.

My work has focused on a range of digital development issues, such as regulating emerging technologies and applying them for public good. I am currently undertaking research at Harvard Law School into AI applications for urban datasets the city of Boston, with a view to balance privacy, innovation, and public service delivery in our world of abundant data generation. During my time at the World Bank, I worked primarily on a data-driven governance program, focused on improving government statistical capacity and poverty reduction efforts across the five Central Asian states.
I am also passionate about understanding risk and uncertainty, particularly around designing future mechanisms for financing adaptive disaster responses, particularly concerning climate change. At the World Bank, I worked on various adaptive social protection strategies, while at Harvard I am a teaching fellow for a course on analytic frameworks for public policy,
Before moving to the World Bank in Kazakhstan, I played professional sport in the United Kingdom. Alongside staying active, I love coding, reading, and playing the piano.

Chetan Aggarwal is a candidate for a Master in Public Administration at the Harvard Kennedy School, currently on a Public Service Fellowship. Originating from India, he brings over six years of experience in governance, policy, and politics, along with three years of entrepreneurial insight.

He was educated at the prestigious The Doon School and Shri Ram College of Commerce, University of Delhi, and an MBA from the Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies.
Chetan chose to leave a career in investment banking and entrepreneurship for public service. He has played a leading role in advancing India’s digital engagement for civic participation and the expanded reach of public programs at MyGov India, an entity of the Government of India. Additionally, he served as a Policy and Communication Advisor to Minister Piyush Goyal within the Government of India, contributing to a variety of ministries including Trade, Industry, Railways, and Energy.
His commitment to public service has been characterised by efforts to drive change through the power of technology, citizen engagement, and entrepreneurship. This includes initiatives to secure universal access to clean electricity, facilitate last-mile vaccine distribution, and foster vibrant start-up ecosystems. His work has also involved facilitating the conversion of citizen feedback into tangible policy inputs, notably for the National Budget and Drone Policy.
Chetan’s current focus is on promoting innovation and technology to ensure equitable access to public goods, with a particular emphasis on reaching the most underserved individuals at the bottom of the pyramid.

Emil Bender Lassen is the 2023 Crown Prince Frederik Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School pursuing a Master in Public Policy. His interests focus on exploring systemic solutions to climate change and economic inequality, particularly within urban development.

Prior to HKS, he spent six years in the realm of social entrepreneurship. First, as the CEO of Project Access International, a charity he co-founded in 2016 to increase access to top universities for less privileged students. He stepped back to chair its Board of Trustees in 2020.
After a brief stint at McKinsey & Company, he co-founded Home.Earth in 2021, a real estate investor and developer established to address growing urban inequality and climate change, where he still functions as a shareholder and advisor. Home.Earth is backed by a group of leading investors including the Danish sovereign wealth fund (EIFO) and some of Denmark's most impact-driven family offices.
Emil serves on the board of Teach First Denmark, as the Chair of Trustees for Project Access International, as a Goalkeeper with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, as a WEF Global Shaper, and as an advisor to the Open Social Value Bank.
Originally from Middelfart, Denmark, he holds a BSc in Philosophy, Politics & Economics from King’s College London with visiting undergraduate studies at the National University of Singapore and Yale-NUS College, where he focused on the political economy of inequality, development economics, and ethics in public policy.

Husband to Becki and Father to Emma. Amateur marathoner, beginner hiker. Passionate about Japanese culture and Economic development policy.
DISTRIBUIDORA MODELO. Principal. May. 2019- Present. Beverage wholesale distribution company.

SENATE OF THE REPUBLIC. Senior Advisor to the Vice President of the Senate. May 2022- Present.
priti.mx. Principal. Jul. 2021- Present. Next day delivery Online One Stop Shop for Business-to-Business in the convenience industry.
FIDEL VELAZQUEZ TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY (6,000 students). Member of the Board of Trustees. Jan. 2022- Present.
GOVERNMENT OF THE STATE OF MEXICO. Sep. 2011- Sep 2017. Private Secretary to the Governor of the State of Mexico.

Frederik Braun is a Master in Public Policy candidate at the Harvard Kennedy School and scholar of the German Academic Exchange Service. At HKS, he studies how public management and digital government innovations can improve public service delivery.

Previously, Frederik worked at McKinsey & Company in Berlin, where he worked with European and German agencies on tackling challenges in digital transformation, performance management, and talent engagement. Upon graduation, he seeks to continue his work on Policy Evaluation units.
Frederik has worked for two Members of Parliament of the governing political party at the Bundestag and worked on digital participatory democracy and misinformation. Previously, he worked for the state's party headquarters on federal and state elections and has been an active campaigner.
In his spare time, he has been a member of the European Commission's working group against youth radicalization (RAN Young), where he formulated recommendations for EU policymakers on combatting violent extremism. As part of the UK Counter-Terrorism Policing's youth advisory group, he further represented victims and survivors of terrorism.
Originally from Germany, Frederik holds a BSc from the London School of Economics as the Harold Laski Prize Scholar and an MPhil from the University of Cambridge. He has been a scholar of the German Academic Scholarship Foundation.

Fahad is a candidate for the Mid-Career Master of Public Administration and Edward S. Mason Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School. He holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture and Building Science from King Saud University and a Master of Business Administration from the MIT Sloan School of Management, where he earned the Business Analytics Certificate.

During his time at MIT and Harvard, Fahad focused his studies on urban policy, infrastructure, analytics, and finance. He also served as the Vice President of the Arab Student Business Association and the Sponsorship Chair of the first MIT Sloan Gaming Industry Conference.
With a specialization in real estate and infrastructure development and investment, Fahad served as a Senior Development Manager at SEVEN, a company owned by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, where he contributed to multiple cutting-edge projects in numerous cities aiming to transform Saudi Arabia’s entertainment landscape. He has also served in governmental roles, where he promoted private sector growth and fostered bilateral cooperation between Saudi Arabia and partner nations.
Fahad is passionate about youth advocacy, and over the years, he represented Saudi Arabian youth in prestigious forums such as the UN Economic Social Council, the G20 Youth Summit, and the bilateral Saudi Youth Dialogue Forums.
On a personal level, Fahad is a curious traveler and enjoys exploring new cultures, street and landscape photography, and is an avid snowboarder.
Looking forward, Fahad aspires to return to Saudi Arabia and engage in projects and that harness future technologies, contributing to an enhanced quality of life through human-centered developments that target resident and tourist needs with a futuristic mindset.

Jason Hsu currently is an Edward Mason Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School. From 2016 to 2020 Hsu served as Legislator At-Large in Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan (the national parliament) where he focused on defense, technology, trade and foreign policy.

Among the crucial legislative bills that he initiated and sponsored include FinTech Regulatory Sandbox Act, Autonomous Vehicles Management Act, Amendment on Anti-Money Laundering Law, Cybersecurity Management Act and Virtual Currency Guidelines (Security Token Offerings), Artificial Intelligence Development Act, Digital Economy Principal Act. Hsu is also prominent advocator for socially progressive legislation. He co-led the effort to pass Same Sex Marriage Act and championed for End-of-Life Dignity Act (Voluntary Euthanasia).
As a senior research fellow at Harvard Kennedy School, Jason conducts research on semiconductor policy and geopolitics and has taught seminars and gives lectures on Taiwan and geopolitical risks of semiconductor, export control, Outbound Investment. Previously, Hsu was a visiting scholar at Paul Tsai China Center at Yale Law School where he led a research team to design a war game on Taiwan blockade contingency in collaboration with MIT’s Center of International Security.
Hsu has published and is widely quoted and interviewed by media for his views on tech and geopolitics including the Project Syndicate, Wilson Center, Brookings Institution, New York Times, Financial Times, BBC, Bloomberg, Harvard Korea Security Summit, Aspen Institute Cyber Working Group, MIT Technology Review, Fast Company, and etc. Hsu has lectured at University of Toronto, UCSD, IE University, Naval War College, Yale University, Columbia University SIPA, UC Berkeley and Stanford University.
Hsu is a recipient of Eisenhower Fellowship in 2022 and a Draper Hills Summer Fellow at Stanford University’s Center for Democracy Development and Rule of Law (CDDRL) and also selected as an IVLP (International Visitor Leadership Program) fellow by U.S. State Department in 2019.

Lili Vessereau is a Dias and Fulbright Fellow, a Teaching Fellow for Capital Markets, Political Economy of Trade and Behavioral science. She is also a Research Scholar at the Center for International Development, as well as a Master in Public Policy candidate at the Harvard Kennedy School.

She previously worked for the French Government on public policy advisory and at the United Nations. She graduated from Sciences Po Paris, La Sorbonne, and in the top 1% of HEC Paris. She is a Global Shaper of the World Economic Forum, where she founded an initiative for better social mobility for youth in France.

My name is Navneet Kumar, and I am pursuing a Master's in Public Administration in International Development from Harvard Kennedy School. My experience is rooted in public financial management within the Indian Ministry of Finance.

I have led pivotal projects, including digitizing government platforms, managing extensive projects, and introducing innovative technological solutions. My efforts have significantly enhanced financial transparency, operational efficiency, and digital integration in government systems. My expertise in data analytics, digital payments, and strategic planning makes me a forward-thinking figure in governmental financial reforms. I have a bachelor's in technology from the Indian Institute of Technology.

Nazmul Haque has over 20 years of experience in structuring and financing infrastructure, renewable energy, and PPP projects in Bangladesh. As the Chief Investment Officer of IDCOL, the largest development financial institution in Bangladesh, he managed a loan portfolio of USD $1+ billion, played an important role in negotiating sovereign debts, and supported the government on various policy matters.

In addition to conventional infrastructure projects, Mr. Haque played a lead role in designing and implementing several ‘Access to Energy’ programs in the country that provided clean energy, water, and cooking solutions to millions of rural people and reduced indoor air pollution and respiratory diseases among women and children. In recent years, he worked on promoting energy efficiency across multiple sectors and mobilized US$ 500m+ to support industries and buildings in adopting clean technologies and reducing their CO2 footprints.
Mr. Haque is an international coach on project and climate finance and has consultancy experiences in several developing countries in Asia and Africa. He delivered speeches and presented papers at many seminars/conferences across Asia, Europe, Africa, and North America.
Mr. Haque is an Edward S. Mason Fellow in Public Policy and Management and an MC/MPA candidate at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. A Summa Cum Laude in his class, Mr. Haque also has an MBA from North South University, Bangladesh.
He loves traveling, cooking, pottery-making and is a proud father of two beautiful children – Zayed and Zubi.

Pat Boland is a U.S. Diplomat with the Department of State who is currently a Mid Career Master's in Public Administration candidate at the Harvard Kennedy School.

He has been a Foreign Service Officer since 2010. In June 2023, he completed a four year assignment in Taipei, Taiwan, where he served as an Economic Officer responsible for promoting U.S.-Taiwan economic ties, with a focus on the semiconductor industry, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies. In Washington, Pat worked at the Office of Taiwan Coordination and completed an excursion practicum at GE’s office in Washington, DC. Overseas, Pat managed governance and stabilization assistance programs on the Syria Transition Assistance Response Team at U.S. Consulate General Istanbul (2015-2017), served as a consular officer at U.S. Consulate General Shanghai, China (2013-2015), and supported civil society assistance programs as a political officer at U.S. Embassy Cairo (2010-2012).
A native of Falls Church, VA, Pat is a graduate of the University of Virginia, where he studied Foreign Affairs and Middle East Studies. He is married to Monica Liau, a freelance writer, and is the father of a two year old son. When back in his native Virginia, he and several close friends help manage a farm and AirBnB operation in central Virginia.

Rafael, a Costa Rican Economist and a Mid-Career Master's in Public Administration student at Harvard Kennedy School, exemplifies a unique blend of academic rigor and real-world impact.

With a rich professional background spanning over 9 years at Costa Rica's Ministry of Environment and Energy, Rafael has been a driving force behind the implementation of science-based environmental policies. His tenure as the director of the National Center of Geoenvironmental Information of Costa Rica was marked by significant achievements, including leading the development of the groundbreaking National Land Use, Land Cover, and Ecosystems Monitoring System (SIMOCUTE). His efforts were pivotal in facilitating Costa Rica's accession to the OECD and in crafting the reporting of environmental indicators for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
Rafael's dedication to environmental stewardship extends beyond national borders. He has represented Costa Rica in various international forums, including the OECD, the United Nations Environment Program, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the Group on Earth Observations, displaying his commitment to global environmental dialogue and cooperation.
At Harvard, Rafael is channeling his passion for sustainability into exploring how innovative technologies including AI and remote sensing data can revolutionize decision-making in the Global South. This pursuit aligns with his broader ambition of addressing the pressing challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and sustainability on a global scale.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Rafael is deeply passionate about politics and societal well-being. He aspires to leverage his expertise to positively impact individuals' lives across diverse nationalities and identities. His goal is to contribute significantly to the welfare of Costa Rican citizens, the preservation of the country's unique ecosystems, and the promotion of sustainable practices and policies globally.

Santiago Creuheras served as deputy minister for the Environment and Sustainable Energy in Mexico. Recently, he was a senior consultant on sustainable infrastructure and energy at the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB). He was also a senior consultant for energy policy at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and a member of the Group of Expert Advisers on Sustainability and the Environment of the Chamber of Deputies of Mexico (Mexican Congress).

Internationally, he has worked with the United Nations Organization (UN-Environment, UN-Industrial Development and UN-Sustainable Energy for All), World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, International Energy Agency, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Foundation, David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies, Embassy from Mexico in Washington, Mexico-United States Chamber of Commerce; and in the Office of Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy II (MA) in the United States Congress, among others.
Santiago was recently appointed as Graduate School Director for the Board of Directors of the Harvard Alumni Association (HAA). He completed his term as an HAA Elected Director with endorsements from the Coalition for a Diverse Harvard, Harvard Forward, and more than 20 other Harvard organizations.
He is also a member of the Mexican Council for Foreign Affairs, the Academy of Political Science, Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs, the Leading Change Network, and the Cambridge Sustainability Network, co-president of Harvard Alumni for Climate and the Environment, and Vice-President of the Cambridge Alumni Society in Mexico.
Santiago completed his bachelor's degree in Economics at the University of the Americas in Puebla, Mexico, and he obtained two master's degrees: in Government and Economic History from Harvard University, U.S.A. He was also awarded a Master's degree in Sustainability Leadership from the University of Cambridge, U.K.

Sara Bin Mahfooz is currently a mid-career Masters in Public Administration student at the Harvard Kennedy School. Sara's career in international development started in 2007 with the World Bank, where she served as an Operations Analyst focusing on Human Development in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Her passion for education led her to join UNESCO's Young Professional Programme in 2011, where she focused on various educational areas, such as education policy, applying data to inform better policies, and highlighting the vital importance of happiness and well-being in improving learning outcomes. While at Harvard, she worked closely with the Center for International Development, striving to connect the dots between research, academia, and real-world policy and practice.

I'm Sebastian Song, an eighteen-year-old freshman at Harvard University with a passion for mathematics and a dream of becoming a professor in the field. When I'm not buried in books, you can find me indulging in my other interests like reading, listening to music, watching films, hitting the slopes for some skiing, or enjoying a serene horseback ride.

But what really sets my heart racing is the allure of Japan – its rich literary traditions, exquisite cuisine, and vibrant culture have always fascinated me. Last summer, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the International Congress on Industrial and Applied Mathematics (ICIAM) at Waseda University, leaving me with a lasting impression of the country and its academic prowess. Since then, I've been eagerly awaiting the chance to return and delve deeper into the intricacies of Japanese life and learning.
Imagine my excitement when I received an invitation from the Yamauchi family to join a group of fellow students on a thrilling study tour of Japan! It's a chance of a lifetime, and I'm beyond grateful for the opportunity to explore Japan's landscapes, immerse myself in its customs, and perhaps even uncover new mathematical insights along the way.I can't wait to embark on this journey, forging new friendships, expanding my horizons, and creating memories that will last a lifetime. Here's to embracing the unknown and embracing the adventure ahead!

Shan Sherwan Hussein stands out as a leader in gender-based violence programming, women’s economic empowerment, and humanitarian initiatives. With her advanced education from Harvard University, the University of Southern Indiana, and the University of Sulaymaniyah, she has honed a keen expertise in developing and executing programs that address critical issues in challenging environments.

Her time at Harvard Kennedy School is particularly notable for deepening her understanding of policy design and analysis, emphasizing organizational behavior, diversity, and equity, preparing her to tackle complex problems with nuanced solutions.
Fluent in Kurdish, English, Arabic, and possessing basic Ukrainian, Shan’s linguistic skills enhance her ability to navigate and thrive in diverse cultural settings, fostering meaningful collaborations. Her work, deeply rooted in a commitment to improving women's rights and economic positions in conflict and post-conflict affected regions, showcases her dedication to making a tangible difference.
Serving as a Civil 7 advisor during the Japan G7 presidency, Shan provided invaluable insights into international policy debates. Her academic pursuits, including a significant thesis on women's employment in Japan, reflect her strong analytical skills and commitment to advancing gender equity. Shan's career is a testament to her relentless pursuit of justice and equality, positioning her as a key contributor to global discussions on gender and development.

Sheila is an oral and signing Deaf woman pursuing MPP and MBA degrees at Harvard University and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and has earned her Bachelor of Science in Humanities and Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Her goal is to become an impact investor, entrepreneur, and policymaker breaking down barriers for people with disabilities. Her areas of interest are at the intersection of space, policy, technology, and business, which includes developing and investing in accessible space technology and advocating for policy changes to open up aerospace and aviation traditionally closed to people with disabilities.
Sheila’s mission is the culmination of her past endeavors: interning for NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory; backpacking solo around the world for a year; moving to Italy to teach American Sign Language at a university; and being awarded a Fulbright grant on deaf Italian entrepreneurs based on her MIT thesis. She is currently a Deputy Director of Development for AstroAccess, a non-profit organization advancing disability inclusion in the space sector. In November 2022, Sheila made history as one of the first deaf individuals to participate in an analog astronaut training program in Arizona. Following this, she conducted scientific experiments aboard a parabolic zero-gravity flight in December 2022. These efforts were part of AstroAccess’ initiative to demonstrate the potential and feasibility of deaf astronauts.
She is also the first deaf Asian female pilot after completing her pilot training through a partnership between Able Flight and Purdue University. Her call sign is “Cool" after surviving an emergency plane landing.

Tushar is an Aga Khan & Tata Scholar at Harvard Kennedy School, currently enrolled in the 2-Year MPA. He was also a Summer Investor at Voyager Ventures (www.voyagervc.com) and is currently exploring writing a book on ‘Frontier Technologies & Innovstion - Lessons from Japan, China, & India’.

He co-hosts a series of high-profile talks at Harvard called ‘The Frontier State’ & writes on Frontier Tech & Policy on Substack at: thefrontierstate.substack.com
Concentrations:
- Urban Policy & Energy-Climate Transition at HKS
- Mobility Tech, Human Augmentation at MIT/Media Lab
- Outer Space Law & Private Equity at Harvard Law School
- Future of Work, GTM & Space Economics at Harvard Business School
From 2019 to 2022, Tushar served Virgin Hyperloop as 'Public Policy Advisor - India', overlooking its public policy initiatives and negotiations with various State governments in the country, as well as the Government of India. He has also represented the company at various public speaking platforms and has authored original economics research on prospective hyperloop-based regions of the future. Previously, he was a Special Advisor - Hyperloop to the Govt. of Maharashtra, and a 2017-18 Chief Minister's Fellow at the Chief Minister's Office of the Govt. of Maharashtra where he initiated and led the Mumbai-Pune Hyperloop route's strategic engagement and researched the bus network makeover of Mumbai's bus transit entity, B.E.S.T. Throughout a collegiate debating career spanning 5+ years, 10+ cities, 150+ debates & 2 continents, he has represented India as a Speaker at the World Universities Debating Championships in 2013 (held in India) and in 2015 (held in Greece); also selected to/as a Judge in 2016 (held in The Netherlands). Tushar completed his PGD in Economics from the Meghnad Desai Academy of Economics, University of Mumbai, on an Adam Smith Scholarship, and his Bachelor of Commerce (Honors) from NMIMS.
From 2014-2019, he secured admits to numerous full-time Masters programs including:
(1) 2022-24 Harvard MPA (Aga Khan & Tata Scholar)
(2) 2018-19 Oxford MBA (Chevening Scholar)
(3) 2018-20 Rotman MBA (Joseph L. Rotman Scholar)
(4) 2019-20 PGP (MBA) at the Indian School of Business
He was also selected for the following prestigious scholarships:
(1) 2022-23 J. N. Tata Endowment Scholarship
(2) 2022-24 Aga Khan Foundation International Scholar
(3) 2019-20 Chevening Scholar, among the top 2% globally
(4) 2018-19 British Chevening Scholarship Reserve Candidate
(5) 3rd Joseph L. Rotman Scholar at the University of Toronto (Full Scholarship)
(6) 2017-18 Young India Fellow at Ashoka University (Full Tuition)