Asma Awan
Asma is a mid-career civil servant from Pakistan. She belongs to the Pakistan Administrative Service and brings twelve years of experience in policy administration, HR management, and social welfare. She is currently an MGA student at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy. Her professional career has always been in line with her passion for global affairs, sustainability studies, and innovative policy formulation. In past years, she has worked for the uplift of marginalized communities—an experience that she is keen to utilize at the Arctic 360.
Asma also served as the Community Welfare Attache at the Consulate General of Pakistan, Dubai, UAE. During that tenure, she came across immigrant labour communities having poor access to health facilities, adequate living conditions, and quality food. There, she realized the importance of global sustainable development goals in sectors of health, infrastructure, water and food that can ensure equality for all. She also served the Irrigation department and was sensitized regarding the effects of climate change and the dire need of innovative policies in this domain—a situation that is equally relevant to the Arctic region too.
Mishal Khan
Mishal Khan is a Master of Global Affairs candidate at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. She holds an undergraduate degree in Social Development and Policy from Habib University in Karachi, Pakistan. During her academic tenure, Mishal served as the Head of Youth at the United Nations Association of Pakistan, where she engaged with students nationwide and spearheaded initiatives aligned with the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Following her graduation, she joined The Citizens Foundation as an Assistant Manager for Organizational Excellence. She also worked as a Research Assistant at the University of Karachi, where she contributed to a research project focused on the Thar Desert in Pakistan, analyzing the intersections of climate change, local economies, and sustainable development. With diverse experience across the development sector, Mishal is eager and excited to leverage her experience and insights in her work at Arctic360.
Alexandra Paul
Master of International Security, Sciences Po Paris
Alexandra Paul is a graduate student at Sciences Po Paris, pursuing a Master of International Security with concentrations in Global Risks and Environment and Sustainability. She also holds a BAH in History and Political Studies from Queen’s University. Through her coursework, Alexandra developed a deep interest in the Arctic as a unique intersection of security, climate change, industry, and human rights. During her time at Queen’s, she held editorial roles with several undergraduate publications – at Arctic360, she is excited to return to media through her work on the Breaking the Ice podcast series and to explore how Arctic issues connect global security relationships, innovation, and sustainability.
Sofie Poggendorf
Dual Master of International and Global Affairs candidate at the Hertie School and the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy
Sofie Poggendorf is a dual degree student pursuing a Master of Global and International Affairs at the Hertie School and Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. She completed a Bachelor of Science in Geography International at the University of Hamburg in 2024. Previously, Sofie held the position of a research assistant at the Centre for International Security at the Hertie School. She also completed an internship with BUKO Pharma-Kampagne in Germany and participated in a research project at Mount Royal University in Calgary, analyzing the impact of climate change on indigenous communities. During her studies, Sofie brought together her interests in geography and international security—two closely connected disciplines that she looks forward to further exploring and developing at Arctic360.
Jaiden Stevens
Podcast Intern, Arctic360
Jaiden Stevens is a podcast intern at Arctic360, based in Norman Wells in the Sahtú region. He is the founder of his own startup digital media company, which focuses on community storytelling. Born in Winnipeg and a member of the Cree First Nation, Jaiden graduated from high school in Norman Wells and furthered his education through the Indigenous Leadership Opportunity Year (ILOY) at the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario. During ILOY, he engaged in both military training and academic courses, developing leadership skills tailored for Indigenous youth. Jaiden is advancing his professional skills through the Digital Marketing Institute Professional (DMI Pro) course at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT). At Arctic360, he is excited to apply his knowledge and passion for digital media to help produce engaging content that highlights the unique perspectives of Northern communities and the broader issues facing the Arctic region.
Past Interns
Leoni-Almaz Reusing
2023
Dual Master of International and Global Affairs candidate at the Hertie School and the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy
Leoni-Almaz Reusing is a dual degree student pursuing a Master of Global and International Affairs at the Hertie School and Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. She completed a Bachelor of Arts in Media and Communications at the University of Sussex in 2022. Previously, Leoni-Almaz worked as a student assistant at the Centre for Sustainability, a Communications Coordinator at Generation Climate Europe, and an Intern at the United Nations. With a focus on security in her studies, Leoni-Almaz is excited to co-host the 2023 series of the podcast on the Geopolitics of the Arctic.
Elliot Simpson
2021-2022
Master of Global Affairs candidate at the University of Toronto’s
Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy
Elliott Simpson focused on facilitating conversations around strengthening the ties between Greenland and Canada. After completing his undergraduate degree at the University of Edinburgh and HEC Paris, Elliott spent three years in the consulting world on Deloitte Canada’s Public Sector Transformation Team in Toronto. Following a year spent launching Ritual Technologies in Montreal, Elliott joined the Master of Global Affairs Program at the Munk School, with a specific focus on international relations and security. Elliott is very passionate about the Arctic having spent many summers kayaking and climbing in Greenland and Nunavut – and he is very excited to bring his knowledge and expertise to the team during his internship.
Lisa Toi
2021-2022
BA student, Peace, Conflict, and Justice and Philosophy, University of Toronto’s
Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy
While interning at Arctic360, Lisa Toi was an undergraduate student studying Peace, Conflict, and Justice and Philosophy at the University of Toronto. In the past, she has worked with the Canadian Voice of Women for Peace as a Development and Youth Engagement Specialist. She was also active in student groups such as Students for Shelters and HanVoice in hopes of utilizing the concepts in her studies to real-world issues. She served as the Co-Vice President at Students for Shelters UTSG and as an editor for the Students for Shelters Illuminate Magazine. She is particularly passionate about issues relating to human rights and environmental degradation. With Arctic360, she is excited to explore how these issues in intersect in the North American Arctic.
David Okojie
2021-2022
During his internship at Arctic360, David Okojie was an undergraduate student completing a specialist in Peace Conflict and Justice studies at the University of Toronto’s Munk School. He is passionate about International Relations, Canada’s overall role on the global stage, and law. He was also an executive member of his campus’ Black Future Lawyers sect, a student group supporting black-identifying students wishing to enter the legal profession. At Arctic360, David is excited to discover the important role the artic plays in geopolitics and the legal steps that can be taken to protect both Canada and the Artic.
Paris Molokwu
2020-2022
BA student, Peace, Conflict, and Justice and Philosophy,
University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy
Paris Molokwu was an undergraduate scholar and playwright and artist while interning at Arctic360. He double majored in Peace Conflict and Justice, Studies at the University of Toronto’s Trudeau Centre, and in Theatre and Performance Studies. He is mainly interested in dramaturgical work and research in postcolonial theory, his work in Peace Conflict and Justice Studies serves as an anchor for his storytelling. Paris also brings experiences of sound production as an independent recording artist, having worked with an array of Toronto acts.
Connor Oke
2020-2022
Master of Global Affairs candidate at the University of Toronto’s
Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy
Connor Oke was a Master of Global Affairs candidate at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy during his internship at Arctic 360. In year two of this program, he pursued a dual concentration in innovation policy and international security. Connor also obtained a Bachelor of Journalism degree from Carleton University in 2019. Previously, his professional experiences have included periods as a communications advisor at Farm Radio International, an editorial assistant at the Cable Public Affairs Channel, a content development specialist at Ontario Parks, and an associate editor at Global Conversations. Connor is excited to be bringing these varied experiences to Arctic360 this summer to produce a podcast on innovation policy in Canada’s north.
Erica Wallis
2020
Erica is an MGA student at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy with a specialization in East Asia Policy. She draws on her background in Intersectional Media Studies at Western University to ensure that Uncharted is anchored in the experiences of people who live and work and help govern the Arctic. Erica is currently a contributing writer for Global Conversations, Women in Foreign Policy, and Digital Innovations. She was the Editor-in-Chief of Openwide, a Western University publication.
Rebecca Rogers
2018-2022
MA student UBC
During her time as an Arctic360 Intern, Rebecca Rogers was a graduate student pursuing her MA in Political Science at the University of British Columbia. Her research focused on the Arctic, specifically studying the role of non-state actors in the region and the development of international law. In addition to her studies, Rebecca worked as a Graduate Research Assistant where she supported ethical community-based research practices and advocated for knowledge mobilization. Rebecca is excited to be working with Arctic360 and looks forward to learning more about innovation in the Arctic.
Strengthening the
North American Arctic
Arctic360 is dedicated to educating and engaging with the public about the pressing issues and potential solutions for building a prosperous and sustainable Arctic region. Contact us if you have any questions about our activities or if you would like to be more involved.
