Our Team
Afeeya Akhand, Secretary WIIS-Australia
Afeeya Akhand is a researcher at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute focusing on South Korean foreign policy, Indo-Pacific security and climate change. She has previously worked in the Australian Department of Defence and a Canberra-based consultancy for government and defence industry clients.
Within the fields of national security and foreign policy, Afeeya is an advocate for culturally diverse, youth and intersectional inclusion with an emphasis on elevating the representation of women of colour in leadership. Afeeya sits on the ANU National Security College Youth Council and is involved with Careers in Colour, a not-for-profit focused on fostering dialogue about racial diversity in Australian workplaces.
Afeeya’s research has been featured in outlets including The Strategist, The Mandarin and SBS Australia. She is a regularly sought-after speaker for conferences and professional events, including for government, academic and corporate audiences.
Afeeya holds a Masters in International Security specialising in Korean language from the University of Sydney and Bachelors in Laws with Honours and Finance from the Australian National University. She was listed as a 2024 Young Woman to Watch in International Affairs by Young Australians in International Affairs.