[ASK-Y] Participants of 2023 Asia Society Korea Youth
2023 ASK-Y Cohorts
I am hoping to collaborate with stakeholders to meaningfully incorporate youth voices into participatory processes and policymaking, assisting youth to become the present as much as they are the future.
Alissa Yanik-Woods (Australia), 1st Place
Alissa is studying a dual bachelor of Laws and International Relations in Australia, specializing in foreign policy and international law. With experience living in South Korea, France, and Thailand, Alissa has worked with overseas firms in corporate law and has collaborated with universities in countries such as Japan on climate action. She has also worked with the United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs in peace and security in Southeast Asia.
Passionate about peace, security, and institutional integrity in the Indo-Pacific, Alissa is focusing on applying her experience to encourage youth engagement in foreign policy and international relations. She is looking forward to a career in law and diplomacy, where she hopes to focus on developing and advocating for peacebuilding strategies and dialogues in conflict situations with special consideration of minorities. Outside of her studies, Alissa is an elite athlete in equestrian and works in law.
Bond University, Bachelor of Laws and International Relations (Specialization in Foreign Policy and International Law)
I aim to highlight issues relating to education and advocate for equity in quality education. I want to collaborate with future leaders to raise awareness on issues in Asia-Pacific.
Edwyna Kurniawan (Indonesia)
Edwyna is a master’s student (MIS) studying Development Cooperation in Ewha Womans University as an Ewha Global Partnership Program (EGPP) scholar. She has just graduated with a bachelor’s degree (BA) from the same university with a double major in International Studies and International Development Cooperation and a minor in Global Korean Studies.
Having lived and studied in four different countries (Indonesia, Singapore, South Korea, and Australia), Edwyna strives to leverage her international experiences to influence policy changes in developing countries, especially in her home country, Indonesia. She is especially interested in the issues of education, women empowerment, and south-south triangular cooperation within the region of Asia-Pacific.
She has also consistently championed education and women empowerment through her participation in international conferences such as the 2022 Nobel Prize Dialogue and her self-initiated project, The Kartinis. She is currently interning at the Journal of Territorial and Maritime Studies (JTMS).
Ewha Womans University, BA in International Studies and International Development Cooperation and Minor in Global Korean Studies (Master’s Candidate - Development Cooperation)
From this program, I hope to extend my understanding of Asia beyond China and to understand the challenges faced by young generations on this continent.
François de Navacelle (France)
François is a French national, currently studying economics at the Yenching Academy of Peking University. He previously studied Law at the University of Paris Pantheon Assas and Politics, Philosophy, and Economics at King's College London. He decided to pursue his education in China in order to study development theory from the perspective of a developing country.
Currently working for the French Chamber of Commerce in Beijing, his long-term goal is to contribute to a better dialogue between East and West and create more exchange opportunities for young people.
King's College London, BA in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics
University of Paris II Panthéon Assas, BA in French Law
Peking University, Master's Candidate - Chinese Economics
Not only do I seek to expand my knowledge through the shared discussion with the other participants, but also the professional mentorship this program can offer to me.
Ignacio Barroso Gómez (Spain), Runner-up
Ignacio recently graduated from Rey Juan Carlos University in Madrid, Spain, with a Bachelor’s in International Relations. Part of this academic training was at the National Chengchi University and National Chenggong University, Taiwan, gaining valuable insight into East-Asian geopolitics and culture.
His academic interests center around the geopolitical and humanitarian field. His thesis has just been published in the academic magazine, El Foco. Moreover, he is actively involved in international forums, like the European Forum Alpbach, which has allowed him to strengthen his interpersonal skills.
Regarding work experience, Ignacio was an intern at the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation doing high-quality research, both sectoral and cultural, on the Japanese market.
Currently, he is focused on the process of applying for a Master’s degree, focusing on International Relations or the Asia Pacific Region.
Rey Juan Carlos University, BA in International Relations
Through this program, I aspire to broaden my global perspective, collaborate with diverse young leaders, and contribute fresh ideas in order to co-create innovative solutions to tackle global issues.
Jevon Dixon (Jamaica)
Jevon, also known as Jaewon Tan, is a Ph.D. student in International Relations at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, South Korea. He holds a BSc and MSc in Politics and International Cooperation from the University of the West Indies in Jamaica, a BA in Political Science from the Université des Antilles in France, and an MA in International Politics from the Bordeaux Institute of Political Studies in France. His primary research focuses on maritime piracy in Southeast Asia, particularly in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore.
Jevon is particularly interested in leveraging machine learning to predict maritime piracy. His other key areas of interest include the impact of private maritime security companies (PMSCs) on maritime piracy, maritime security governance, security in East Asia, illicit trafficking, and cyber-vulnerabilities in the maritime shipping industry. He aims to continue bridging academia and practical applications to address pressing security challenges in East Asia.
Bordeaux Institute of Political Studies, MA in International Politics
University of the West Indies, MS in Politics and International Cooperation
University of the West Indies, BS in Politics and International Cooperation
Université des Antilles, BA in Political Science
Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Doctoral Candidate - International Relations
I aspire to gain intensive diplomatic training, professional experience, and collaborative work with experts on pressing global issues.
Zumaro Zumaro (Indonesia)
Zumaro is a PhD candidate in Advanced Nuclear Engineering at Pohang University of Science and Technology. His expertise encompasses Nuclear Physics, Nuclear Thermodynamics, and Video Editing. Proficient in English, Indonesian, Malay, Polish, and Korean, he is also avidly learning French and Russian.
Zumaro possesses a multicultural perspective, having explored 32 countries, fostering adaptability and cross-cultural communication skills.
Warsaw University of Technology, MS in Nuclear Power Engineering
Polytechnic Institute of Nuclear Technology, BS in Nuclear Physics
Pohang University of Science and Technology, Doctoral Candidate - Advanced Nuclear Engineering
