NAF Student Send-Off

In just a few weeks, a number of students will be starting internships in Washington DC, others will be returning to the United States after their Fulbright year, and others will return to the Netherlands from their studies in the US. Come join the NAF Alumni in the Netherlands to welcome those returning and toast those departing and celebrate their achievements!

We will also hear remarks from Laura Birkman, NAF-Fulbright 2010-2011 at Harvard University.

Biography: Laura Birkman is Senior Strategic Analyst at HCSS and is Head of the Climate and Security Program. She leads a range of projects focusing on the security implications of climate change and represents HCSS in Water, Peace and Security (), an partnership that looks to pioneer the development of innovative tools and services that help identify and address water-related security risks. She is also a member of the International Military Council on Climate and Security ().

Before joining HCSS, Laura worked as Principal and Senior Consultant at Ecorys, an international research and consulting firm, where she co-established the Security and Justice unit and focused on topics related to civil protection, disaster risk reduction, and crisis management. Prior to Ecorys, she worked for the Dutch government, where she focused on food security, biodiversity, and trade policy. During this time, she was a key negotiator at the UN CBD and the FAO, and served as Agricultural Attaché at the Netherlands Embassy in Moscow.

Laura holds an MPA from Harvard University (2012), an Executive Master International Relations and Management from the University of Amsterdam (2001), and a Joint M.A. (Honours) International Relations, Philosophy from the University of St. Andrews (2000). She is a former NAF-Fulbright Fellow and HSP Huygens Scholar and currently serves as a member of the Advisory Committee of the Netherland America Foundation.

Host or Publisher The Netherland-America Foundation