Mastering Public Policy

This article by is extracted from the 2023 issue of Observatory magazine

Since the foundation of the Blavatnik School of Government and the advent of the Master of Public Policy (MPP) course in 2012, Green Templeton has welcomed close to 100 students on this programme from across the globe. For this year’s Observatory, we asked a few of our MPP alumni to reflect on what they’re doing now, what brought them to Oxford and the role that Green Templeton played in their development.

Rhea Fernandes (2012)

I am currently an attorney in the Office of the White House Counsel, where I have the privilege of working at the intersection of public policy and law. Before joining the Counsel’s Office, I served as Counsel to the Solicitor at the US Department of Labor, working on civil rights and equity issues and, prior to that, an attorney on the Biden–Harris transition.

In 2012, when I joined the inaugural cohort of the Master of Public Policy degree at Oxford, I was drawn to the distinctive pedagogical approach the programme offered, the incredible faculty and practitioners, and the international lens that shaped the curriculum. The academic knowledge and professional skills that I gained from the MPP as well as my remarkable and diverse classmates informed the overall trajectory of my career thereafter. As a student at Green Templeton, I had the pleasure of sharing my year at Oxford with other graduate students engaged in similar academic pursuits that were interdisciplinary in nature.

These experiences enriched my own journey at Oxford, ultimately allowing me to refine my own course of study and crystallise my next steps. I knew that I wanted to pursue a career that blended law and policy, with a focus on civil rights. This led me to Washington, DC and then to pursue a Juris Doctor (JD) at Yale Law School. Since then, I’ve been fortunate to serve in a number of roles where I’ve been able to put my MPP training to use, including at present with the Biden administration.

Jenna Hand (2019)

By the time I went to Oxford, I’d been a journalist, diplomat and speechwriter. I hadn’t planned on returning to the classroom, but working as a public servant andseeing the complexity of policy challenges whet my appetite for graduate studies. The Master of Public Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government gave me new frameworks and systems for thinking and offered electives related to my chosen speciality of technology policy. I went on to work at Meta in a role that called on all the skills and knowledge I’d absorbed inside and outside the lecture theatre to consider hard questions around safety and freedom of expression online. Green Templeton is the site of some of my favourite Oxford memories.

Conversations in the Observatory with people whose paths to Oxford were vastly different from my own reinforced the value of bringing a variety of perspectives to global problems. The gardens were a favourite spot to reflect quietly – and, after the COVID lockdowns, a place for the togetherness we’d been missing.

Returning two years later with my baby daughter was a real joy. We sat on the bench opposite the Observatory and I told her that if she came here, she could bet I’d be making good use of her guest bed.

Sven Jungmann (2013)

Embarking on an entrepreneurial journey after a few years in clinical medicine, I recently founded and now lead a start-up that seeks to bring transformative changes to the medical diagnostics realm. Our technology, Halitus, merges photonics-based breath analysis with machine learning to swiftly and non-invasively detect diseases ranging from infectious ones to conditions like cancer. We envision Halitus becoming a digital nexus in medicine, somewhat akin to the App Store, but with a diverse array of diagnostic algorithms.

Medicine has always been a passion, but I was resolute about transcending clinical confines to effect broader systemic changes. There was an innate desire to understand policy formulation and leverage my clinical experiences to usher in impactful shifts at a systemic scale. Green Templeton, with its unique Management in Medicine programme and a robust emphasis on public health, was the piece of the puzzle I felt I was missing during my medical academic pursuits.

At Green Templeton, I underwent a transformation. It wasn’t just about the academic rigour, but also the values, ethos and perspectives it instilled in me. The diverse milieu helped me think more holistically, data-driven, always with an analytical lens and yet empathetically. Surrounded by smart minds from nearly 75 countries, I not only embraced various cultural nuances but also was continually inspired to aim higher. This nurturing environment, combined with the college’s interdisciplinary approach, fortified my resolve to innovate in healthcare. My time at Oxford, particularly at Green Templeton, continues to be a cherished sanctuary, guiding my steps and vision even today.

Alexandra Nastase (2015)

I’m the Chief Technical Director with Abt Associates – a global leader in research and implementation of international development programmes, working alongside local organisations to address the world’s most pressing issues.

Before Oxford, I worked on public administration reform, regional security policy, European Union accession and post-accession agenda, anti-corruption with nongovernmental organisations, the UN and the World Bank. I was drawn to this type of workby my commitment to public service and the intellectual challenge – at least in the first years of my career, working on such complex problems seemed like solving a puzzle every time I went to work. That’s also why I chose Oxford. The MPP’s vision is to bring together global leaderswho want to contribute to a world better served, led, and governed. What could be more exciting than being part of that vision and sharing the intellectual and emotional journey with people from 50 different countries? What better way to challenge and expand my Euro-centric vision of the world and find answers to improving governments to benefit the people?

Oxford was a rewarding and humbling experience. It helped me reframe the public policy issues I had been working on from purely technocratic to more politically informed approaches. Most importantly, it has sharpened my leadership skills – I met brilliant, committed and inspiring people, generous in sharing their ideas, questions, values and journeys. These people are Oxford to me, and meeting them brought me closer to my values and a better understanding of my place in the world and where I can add the most value.

Ujunwa Ojemeni (2021)

I’m a Senior Policy Advisor in the fossil fuel transition team at E3G. My work is focused on supporting the Energy Transition Council (ETC), which was started by the UK government at COP26. The ETC is made up of about 40 countries and institutions (including multilateral development banks) that support partner countries to accelerate the energy transition – countries across Africa and Asia that have the greatest energy transition challenges.

I started working in the energy sector in 2014, across energy project development, and then felt the urge to move into the clean energy sector. I moved into impact investing, supporting companies that were providing electricity to low-income communities through solar panels and mini grids.

In 2019, I joined the public sector to support policies in the energy sector, specifically in the Lagos state government through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. It was useful to be able to be part of developing the Lagos state electricity policy that was published in 2021.

At that point, I wanted to formalise everything I was doing, and buttress my practical learning. And so when I read about the Master of Public Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government, I thought it was a brilliant opportunity, especially with a scholarship from the Africa Initiative for Governance.

When I started checking for colleges, I saw that Green Templeton is very diverse, family friendly, and is focused on sustainability. Those key factors really influenced my choice of college.

I’m now working on policy but am also very conscious of preserving and conserving the Earth, which is one of the big things that Green Templeton College focuses on.

Gabriel Silva (2015)

I am from Panama City. I have 12 years of professional experience working in the private sector, public sector, non-profit sector and academia, and am now one of the 71 Members of Parliament in Panama’s National Legislative Branch, elected for Panama City for the 2019–24 government term. I am a member of the Parliament’s National Budget Committee, the Credentials and Parliamentary Affairs Committee and the Commerce and Business Committee.

Thanks to the hard work and dedication of my team, I have over 60 proposed laws. Many have become laws: including in sexual education, conflict of interest, for benefit corporation and mental health. In my role as a government supervisor, we have exposed several corruption scandals, advocated for budget cuts in nonpriority areas, and obtained more funding for transparency, education, science and technology. We have created online platforms that allow citizens to participate in the creation of policies. We also host weekly town halls and do weekly walks in our community to maintain trust and support.

With another member of parliament we created a coalition of over 100 independent candidates nationwide for mayor, members of parliament and local governments. We are training them in public policy and leadership, and helping them create the necessary proposals to transform Panama. We seek to transform politics in Panama and make it more honest, transparent, less corrupt and provide better public services for all.

Undoubtedly, my experience in Oxford was a profound inspiration for my decision to pursue a career in Parliament. Interacting with my peers at the Blavatnik School of Government and Green Templeton College exposed me to various government systems and public policies, opening my eyes to the vast array of opportunities available to make a positive impact on the lives of my fellow Panamanians.

Annika Wythes (2016)

As the Regional Anti-Corruption Adviser for Southeast Asia and the Pacific with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) based in Bangkok, I support governments and increasingly civil society, the private sector, media and academia to address corruption and the illicit financial flows in the region. I enjoy the challenge of the work, including managing the regional portfolio for Southeast Asia with colleagues in seven countries and doing technical work myself.

I joined the MPP mid-career after having been with UNODC since 2009 and so three years on planes covering the Pacific. On the brink of a burn-out and needing a reset, I found that at Oxford, I was more than just a student number, but part of an inspiring MPP and the Green Templeton community. I loved going to random lectures and learning about things that I had never dreamt of and meeting people from all walks of life.

The year energised me and also, importantly, taught me always to be humble, teachable and keep learning. We are still a close MPP cohort and some friends are like family (my kids refer to them as uncles and aunties). Whenever I go back to Oxford, I always stay at Green Templeton as this is where I have always felt at home. Plus, how could I ever go past the porters’ lodge without a good chat?

Lisa Yasko (2016)

I’m a member of Ukraine’s Parliament and its Foreign Affairs Committee as a member of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s party, Servant of the People.

Being a politician in general has many difficulties, but it’s particularly challenging during wartime. I cannot imagine any other place that could prepare me better for politics than Oxford and the MPP and Green Templeton College.

I wanted to be in an international environment, which is one of the main reasons I chose Oxford. The MPP programme is very broad, which is what I wanted. I was exposed to different experiences, knowledge, skills, interactions and challenges, and learned about the world of politics, certain traditions, certain institutions and the role of policymaking. Though, of course, nothing has prepared me for the challenges that come with a war.

Before my studies in Oxford, I worked in governmental communications in Ukraine fighting Russian propaganda; and in presidential administration on strategic communication campaigns about Ukraine abroad. I felt I needed another master’s degree to give me new knowledge about foreign affairs and the world of politics.

I was lucky to get into Green Templeton College. It’s more liberal than most other colleges. The college – and the Principal – were very friendly, and there are lots of activities. Some sports activities were not as competitive as in other colleges, but it gave me a source of support and socialising. There was an opportunity to relax as well as to study.

And I enjoyed just sitting near the Observatory. My favourite bench is in front of it. I would often sit there and work or think or just make notes in my notebook. After I graduated, I came to Oxford a few times, and I always took time to sit on that bench and think about important things in my life.