Afeeya Akhand is a researcher at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute where she focuses on a diverse range of topics including South Korean foreign policy, Indo-Pacific security, climate change and anti-racism. Afeeya has also worked in the Australian Department of Defence and a Canberra-based consultancy for government and defence industry clients. Her work has been featured in The Strategist, The Mandarin, SBS Australia and more. 

Afeeya is an advocate for cultural diversity, youth inclusion and intersectionality in foreign policy and national security. She sits on the ANU National Security College Youth Council and attended the 2022 IMF and World Bank Group Annual Meetings in Washington DC as a member of Australia’s only youth delegation. 

Afeeya holds a Master's degree in International Security specialising in Korean language from the University of Sydney and Bachelors in Laws with Honours and Finance from ANU. She was recognised as a 2024 Young Woman to Watch in International Affairs by Young Australians in International Affairs.