OUR FELLOWS

Sarah is an emerging voice in Australian international relations and public policy. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Economics and Political and International Studies at the University of Melbourne. A highly accomplished student, she has had her academic work published in peer-reviewed journals and was recently the winner of Queens College's Foreign Affairs Competition.

In early 2025, Sarah is working as an Economics and Public Policy Intern at the Department of Treasury and Finance Victoria, where she analyses projects with both local and global implications. In a previous role as an Electorate Officer in the NSW Parliament, she gained further exposure to the varied world of Australian policymaking, while her selection as a delegate at the Australian Institute of International Affairs’ National Conference developed her professional foreign policy knowledge.

Sarah is passionate about uplifting young Australian voices and looks forward to the opportunities of this fellowship. 

Oliver Hovenden holds a Bachelor of Arts and Laws (Honours) from the University of Tasmania, majoring in Politics and International Relations. Through his studies, he specialised in international and human rights law, completing an exchange at Tilburg University in the Netherlands and exploring the intersection of human rights and climate change for his Law Honours thesis.

Oliver currently works in legal policy and is completing a Master of Laws at the Australian National University. A human rights advocate, he was awarded Hobart Young Citizen of the Year in 2022.

Growing up in Tasmania, the importance of environmental conservation and climate action was never far from Oliver’s mind. As a Climate and Environment Fellow, Oliver is excited to use an environmental justice lens to explore the latest international developments in climate law and policy, the impact of climate activism, and Australia’s important role in the Antarctic and Indo-Pacific regions.

Lejla holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Adelaide, majoring in Politics and International Relations. Her passion for Europe and Eurasia is influenced by her Bosnian heritage. She is fluent in Bosnian, having earned two Awards of Excellence in the language during her senior school years.

During university, Lejla interned for Senator Marielle Smith, conducting research on women’s representation in parliament. As a volunteer at the Working Women’s Centre, a not-for-profit organisation, Lejla supported lawyers in providing legal advice to women and vulnerable workers on employment law matters.
 

Currently, Lejla works as a Member Support Officer at the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, where she continues to develop her understanding of the legal
system. As the Europe and Eurasia Fellow, Lejla is excited to leverage her knowledge to contribute to discussions on international aƯairs, human rights, and their implications
for the region.

Alexandra holds a Bachelor of Public Policy from the Australian National University, with minors in Development Studies and Spanish Language. Since graduating in 2022, she has worked in various non-government organisations focused on social policy, community development, and First Nations affairs.

Alexandra’s interest in Latin America is driven by her Peruvian heritage and experience living and working in the region. In 2024, she based herself in Cusco, Peru, where she worked with an international NGO facilitating sustainable development projects alongside local communities. This hands-on experience, along with her previous work in Indigenous governance, significantly deepened her understanding of how local challenges are interconnected on a global level.

As a fellow, Alexandra is eager to raise awareness of social, economic, and political developments in Latin America. She is particularly interested in fostering discussion on key issues such as migration, Indigenous rights, and the future of democracy in the region. 

Holly Otto is a recent Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Arts graduate from the University of Queensland, with majors in International Relations and History. Having completed her final semester at the National University of Singapore as a 2024 Westpac Asian Exchange Scholar, she looks forward to commencing work as a Judge’s Associate in 2025.

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After growing up in Vanuatu, Holly became passionate about fostering genuine change in the Pacific and understanding Australia’s role in regional development. This has underpinned her recent projects, including a commissioned research report for the Lord Chief Justice of the PNG Supreme Court, a placement with the Australian Embassy of Peru, and an internship with the Samoan Law Reform Commission funded by the New Colombo Plan.

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As a South Pacific Fellow, Holly is eager to continue engaging with this dynamic region, highlighting the importance of Pacific literacy in Australia, and exploring her interests in justice and human rights in plural legal systems.

Akua Nsiah is a final-year Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Global Studies student at the Australian Catholic University in North Sydney. From 2023 to 2024, she studied on exchange at the Université Catholique de Lyon, France, where her studies focused on EU law, international relations and international business law. She also visited the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg. Akua was a 2023 laureate of the Nicolas Baudin Travel Grant, awarded by the Embassy of France in Australia.

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Akua currently enjoys working in the mortgage and finance industry. Her diverse experience spans government, insurance and floristry. She actively serves her local community at Toongabbie Legal Centre and MBM Church.

Akua is Ghanaian Australian and her name means "born on Wednesday," in Akan.

She has spent extensive time in Ghana and Morocco and is particularly interested in the rapidly evolving region of Africa. Akua looks forward to contributing to dynamic discussions on African affairs as an Africa Fellow with YAIA.

Vijhai Grayan is a lawyer at a leading Australian technology company and an MBA candidate at the University of Sydney, where he received the Future Leaders Scholarship.

A frequent speaker on the future of technology, he has presented at prominent conference and events, including the University of Sydney Masters of Management program, the Law Society of NSW conferences, and EDGE UNSW.

Vijhai also serves as a pro bono lawyer at Redfern Legal Centre and is a former board member of the Western Sydney Migrant Resource Centre, demonstrating his dedication to community impact.

With expertise in law, cyber, and technology, he is passionate about the rapid evolution of technology, its profound impact on global society, and its transformative potential to reshape international affairs.

Damian recently completed a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of International Studies majoring in International Relations, Chinese Studies, and minoring in Politics at Macquarie University. Through his studies he had the opportunity to study abroad in Taiwan in 2023 for 6 months as a New Colombo Plan Mobility Grant recipient which drew his interest deeper into the Indo-Pacific region. 

Damian’s research areas of interest surround cross-strait relations, diaspora studies and developmental state models in the Indo-Pacific region, which he wishes to explore throughout his fellowship. 

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He currently involves himself in international affairs by volunteering at UN Youth NSW as the Director of Communications and Editor-in-Chief for ‘The Global Advocate Magazine’, which aims to engage school students in international affairs. 

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In his spare time, Damian is a creative at heart, undertaking dance, theatre and art, and hopes to channel this creative thinking constructively toward contributing knowledge on the Indo-Pacific region.

Olivia is a recent graduate from the University of Western Australia, holding a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Asian Studies. 

Growing up, Olivia lived in Brunei and Qatar, due to her parents work, returning to Australia for high school. This early experience sparked what would become a major passion for fostering cross cultural understanding, specifically regarding the frequently misunderstood region of the Middle East. Olivia recently completed an internship at the Western Australian Department of Communities, researching and updating the Disability Justice Clinician Teams training modules on individuals with disability in the Criminal Justice System. 

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Currently, Olivia is undertaking a Policy Brief Specialist Internship with FORE Australia,  Australia's first Online Solutions Library which provides policy makers key insights into academic discourse on pertinent issues facing Australia. 

Olivia is excited to embrace this Fellowship as an opportunity to meet the intersection of her love and experience in research with her lived experience and passion for Middle East relations. 

Catherine holds a Bachelor of Arts, a Master of International Relations, and a Master of International Law from the University of Western Australia. Passionate about U.S. politics and international affairs, she recently completed the U.S. Foreign Policy Program at George Washington University, enhancing her knowledge of the dynamic hub of U.S. policy actors in Washington D.C.

In 2020, she gained valuable insight into American policymaking during an internship with a U.S. Congressman, deepening her passion for Australia-U.S. relations. Building on her understanding of government, she is currently the Media Adviser to the Leader of the WA Liberal Party, having also worked for a Federal Senator and a Member of the Australian House of Representatives.

With a strong background in policy and communication, Catherine is eager to contribute to discussions about the United States' evolving role on the global stage under the incoming administration, particularly its implications for security and trade.