RICHARD C. HOLBROOKE FELLOWS

Bhavani Fonseka is presently working as a Senior Researcher with the Centre for Policy Alternatives, a think tank in Sri Lanka, conducting research, documentation, national and international advocacy and litigation. She is a human rights lawyer and activist, with a focus on assisting victims and affected populations in various parts of Sri Lanka. She has worked on a range of issues including the rights of the displaced, women, children, minorities, HIV/AIDS, land and legal issues. She has been involved in and supported several key fundamental rights cases protecting the rights of victims in recent times in Sri Lanka. Bhavani has an LLB (Hons) (UK) and LLM (in international human rights law) (USA). In 2007, she was awarded 'The Young Outstanding Persons' (TOYP) in the category of human rights by the Junior Chamber International and HSBC Bank, and she is a 2010 Asia 21 Young Leader Fellow.

Aaron Maniam is currently Deputy Director at at the Strategic Policy Office of the Public Service Division, where he leads a team that analyzes long-term inter-agency issues. From May 2006 to January 2008, he served as First Secretary at Singapore's Embassy to Washington, DC. In his community work, Aaron has served as a resource person for Singapore's National Youth Council and a Member of the Executive Committee of Mendaki Club, a group of young Muslim professionals in Singapore. He was Director for Fundraising and Special Services with the Washington DC chapter of the Hugh O' Brian Youth Foundation, a501(c)(3) youth leadership body. As Vice President (2003-2005) and President (2005-July 2006) of the Debate Association (Singapore), Aaron was active in promoting debating among Singaporean youths. He continues to judge debating competitions and conduct workshops for schools. He will be one of the Chief Adjudicators at the 2008 World Schools Debating Championship, to be held in Washington, DC. Aaron won the First Prize for English Poetry in the 2003 National Arts Council-Singapore Press Holdings Golden Point Award. His first collection of poems, Morning at Memory's Border, was shortlisted for the biennial Singapore Literature Prize in 2007. Aaron is a 2008 Asia 21 Young Leader Fellow. He graduated from Oxford and Yale on a Singapore Public Service Commission scholarship.