OUR FELLOWS

Max is completing his Master of Arts in International Relations at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), where he is a Ramsay Postgraduate Scholar. He spent his first year at SAIS Europe in Bologna before moving to the Washington, DC campus for his final year.

 

Originally from Perth, he graduated from the University of Western Australia with a Bachelor of Commerce in Economics and Finance. A semester abroad at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam strengthened his interest in international affairs and motivated further study.

Max recently interned at the Australian Embassy in Bangkok, gaining experience in the political
and economic sections at one of Australia’s largest overseas posts. His academic interests focus on the intersection of economics and strategy and how states respond to an evolving global landscape.

Through this Fellowship, he hopes to contribute to public debate on Australia’s foreign policy priorities, challenges, and long-term strategic choices.

I’m a 4th year student majoring in Finance and Chinese Studies at the University of Sydney, with an interest in how nurturing international ties can capitalise on the advantages of Australia’s multicultural society. My connection to China is rooted in my heritage and lifelong appreciation of Chinese language and culture, strengthened during a transformative year abroad at Peking University in Beijing sponsored by the Westpac Asian Exchange Scholarship.

 

In 2026, I will be working towards an Honours thesis in Chinese Studies centred around exploring the impact of Mandarin-English translation in cross-cultural interactions, working to bridge Australia’s
prominent gap in Asia-capability across numerous sectors.

 

I’m excited to contribute to YAIA as a fellow integrating my interests in finance, second language acquisition,
economic policy, history and culture into insightful pieces commenting on international interactions with China.

In high school, Tritian co-founded Australia's longest-running TEDxYouth event, volunteered with the Ethics Centre, interned with the Climate Council, was a freelance video editor, graphic designer, and helped mobilise +1.2 million Australians for School Strike 4 Climate. 

 

After graduation, she converted an Australian Postal van into a campervan and spent two years travelling a full loop of Australia. She worked as a deckhand, farmhand, kitchenhand, waitress, cleaner, intern for Greenpeace, media producer for the International Windsurfing Tour, and volunteer for the late Greg Quicke's Astronomy Tours.

 

Tritian then attended the Australian National University, earning an Advanced Masters of Applied Cybernetics. Her research and projects spanned data centres, governance, satelites, AI ethics, health services, and developing a machine learning cyber-physical system to address food insecurity.

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Tritian specialises in foresight, critical systems analysis, and technologies operating at the intersection of social and environmental systems. She is passionate about technology diplomacy and steering the technologies defining our futures toward outcomes that are safe, sustainable, and responsible."

Piper is a fourth-year Bachelor of Laws and International Relations student at Griffith University. She currently works as a Federal Electorate Officer in the Australian Parliament, where she undertakes policy research, drafts parliamentary correspondence, and supports constituents on a range of federal matters. She also has professional experience in the legal sector as a Legal Administrator.

Piper is actively engaged in leadership and public service. She is a Board Member of the Griffith University Student Guild, a Gold Coast Mayor’s Student Ambassador, and a mentor for Political Science and International Relations students at Griffith University. She has also been recognised with the Griffith Business Leadership Award.

 

Through this fellowship, Piper hopes to combine her strong interest in the Indo-Pacific region with her professional experience to explore how domestic
policy, diplomacy, and regional cooperation intersect in shaping Australia’s engagement with its nearest neighbours.

Numan Mousa is a multidisciplinary analyst working at the intersection of human rights, diplomacy, and technology governance. He holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from UNSW and the University of Sydney, where he also served as Vice President (Externals) of the University Diplomats’ Society.

 

Numan has applied his policy research and cyber governance expertise across the public and private sectors, including roles with the Australian Institute of International Affairs, as well as advisory positions with global firms such as Deloitte and EY in the Middle East and Indonesia. He is also an alumnus of the Global Student Fellowship, where he conducted human-rights-focused policy research in Southeast Asia.

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Having been raised in Jordan, Numan brings strong regional literacy and grounded lived experience across the Middle East, shaping his understanding of governance, security, and human-impact challenges. He is committed to elevating regional perspectives in global policy discussions, promoting integrity, empathy, and contextual insight, while supporting stronger Australia-Middle East diplomatic engagement.

Isabelle Powell is a graduate of the University of Sydney, where she earned a degree in Politics and International Relations. Her global perspective has been shaped by living, studying and working across Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

She has worked in immigration centres in Sydney and Portland, USA, supporting refugees and survivors of human trafficking and gender-based violence. Isabelle is the director of Stories of America, a documentary currently in post-production that draws on field research interviews across Oregon to explore migration, national identity and political polarisation in the United States.

In January, she will join the Office of Senator Bernie Sanders in Washington D.C., as a Press and Digital Communications Intern. With a particular interest in democracy and political economy, Isabelle looks forward to contributing thoughtful, globally informed analysis of American domestic and foreign policy during the Fellowship.

Johan van der Merwe is in his final year at the University of Sydney, completing a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts with a major in Economics.

Born in Australia to South African parents, Johan has always had an interest in Africa’s intricate socio-political landscapes, liberation movements, and economic challenges. This fascination deepened during his years at Hilton College, a boarding school in South Africa. His connection to the continent endures today as a director of De Aap Private Nature Reserve.

 

Johan has studied in Scotland and the Netherlands and undertook research at the European Commission in Brussels, which shaped his passion for international policy. Johan also brings legal expertise from his time at Norton White and his current role at K&L Gates LLP. 

 

His intellectual interests lie at the intersection of law, religion and development economics, underpinned by a passion for political philosophy and individual liberty.

Mikey is a recent graduate of the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of
Science. He has a strong interest in climate governance, international environmental law, and
Australia’s role in shaping cooperative responses to transnational environmental challenges.

His academic work has focused on international environmental frameworks, including plastics
regulation, water governance, and global climate litigation. As a research assistant with the
Australian Centre for Climate and Environmental Law, he investigated how legal and non-legal
mechanisms can protect and restore natural ecosystems.

Mikey also studied in Shanghai at the East China University of Political Science and Law,
deepening his interest in China’s climate transition and the implications for Australia–China
environmental cooperation.

Through this fellowship, Mikey hopes to further explore how environmental diplomacy and
governance can support a resilient, sustainable, and equitable Asia-Pacific.​

Ollie Taylor is the 2026 Europe and Eurasia Fellow for Young Australians in International Affairs (YAIA). He studies Commerce and Biomedical Science at the University of Queensland and has lived across Europe, Asia, and Australia. As a 2025 Westpac Asian Exchange Scholar, he studied cancer biology at the National University of Singapore, undertook Mandarin language training while working in Singapore, and led healthcare-promotion volunteer teams in rural Thailand through Challenges Abroad. He has also backpacked widely across Asia to deepen his regional literacy and cross-cultural understanding.

 

Ollie previously studied International Relations at the London School of Economics, informing his interest in global governance, health resilience, and cross-regional cooperation.

As YAIA’s Europe and Eurasia Fellow, he is committed to strengthening Australia’s engagement with the region and advancing more resilient health systems in less-economically developed rural communities, where development and security challenges intersect most sharply.

Javier is currently completing a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts (History) at Monash University, alongside a Diploma in Spanish and Latin American Studies. He has experience as an elected student representative, and as an Electorate Officer for a member of the Victorian Parliament.

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Javier’s regional perspective was formed by a semester at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, where he studied international law, legal theory, and Chilean legal history. Beyond the classroom this exchange also offered the chance to become acquainted with a large extended family in Santiago. He has also completed a study tour at the Indiant Institute of Technology Bombay. 

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Through the Fellowship, Javier aims to integrate historical and cultural insights into the study of modern Latin American to convey the region’s diversity and dynamism.

Born on Ngunnawal–Ngambri Country and raised in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, Mijica Lus is a young Pacific-Australian advocate passionate about storytelling, regional diplomacy, and elevating the voices of the Pasifika diaspora. She is the Founder of the Aurosokwo Project, an initiative creating digital storytelling pathways for young people across PNG and the Pacific to share their experiences, shape narratives, and influence decision-making.

 

Mijica’s work focuses on youth empowerment, climate justice, gender equality, and strengthening people-to-people connections between Australia and the Pacific. She has collaborated with community organisations, youth networks, and policy stakeholders, and has represented diaspora communities in national dialogues, including engagements at Parliament House. She is a council member with the Australian Red Cross and President of the United Nationals Young Professionals, ACT Chapter.

 

With a commitment to bridging cultures and amplifying Pacific perspectives, Mijica hopes to contribute thoughtful analysis and lived-experience storytelling to YAIA’s South Pacific portfolio.