With Harkness Fellows Doug Jones and Donna Provoost set to embark for the United States to start their fellowships and the Ian Axford Fellows about to return home to the US, a Wellington gathering saw the fellows catch up before going their separate ways.

The Harkness and Axford fellowships have always shared a close relationship focussed as they both are on US-New Zealand research and collaboration. While Harkness fellowships allow emerging leaders to travel to the US to undertake research projects, Axford gives Americans the opportunity to undertake research in public policy here in New Zealand.

This year’s Ian Axford Fellows in public Policy include Laura Berntsen, Nate Swinton, Alexa Daniels-Shpall and Paul Phifer. The Axford fellows will report back on their research findings at an event in Wellington, Tuesday July 30.

Harkness Fellow Donna Provoost with Harkness Fellowships Trust chairman Ross Tanner and Harkness Fellow Doug Jones

Axford Fellow Alexa Daniels-Shpall relating her time spent at the New Zealand Police and Independent Police Conduct Authority

Harkness Fellow Doug Jones talking about his upcoming research visit to the US, where he will look at approaches to introducing new technology in the environmental space

Harkness Fellow Joe Beagloehole who recently returned from New York, where he looked at the city’s approach to urban planning

Axford Fellow Nate Swinton explaining his research on New Zealand’s firearm laws