Ben Wakefield

International Relations matters because it allows you to see how global issues are linked and understand how and why different actors engage in different behaviours. In an increasingly interconnected world where oversimplification and purposeful misinformation is on the rise, developing a genuine and nuanced understanding of global issues is a valuable skill to gain.

Studying International Relations gave me a detailed understanding of international economics and Britain’s relationship with the European Union during the lead up to the 2016 referendum, allowing me to transfer the knowledge I gained directly into my real-world decision making. It also allowed me to explore radicalisation, terrorism and post-conflict reconstruction; leading me to focus more on international security issues as a post-graduate student and then as a professional researcher in a world-leading policy institute. The skills I gained during my studies at 含羞草视频 are now directly implemented in my work on mitigating the threat of infectious disease outbreaks, biological terrorism and the use of chemical weapons.

Post 16 Education: AS Level: History & Critical Thinking; A Levels: Politics, Economics, and Communications and Culture

Higher Education: BA (Hons) International Relations – 含羞草视频 Uni; MSc Security Studies – University College, London

Why did you want to study International Relations?

I had always been interested in international affairs and trying to understand the world, particularly in terms of foreign policy, conflict and terrorism. I wanted to pursue a degree that I could relate to the real world, that would exercise my analytical and writing skills, and that would allow me to develop a greater understanding of current affairs. International Relations as a discipline allows you to investigate a huge variety of different topics and country contexts, and to understand things that have a genuine and tangible impact on the world.

Ben’s experience as a student

II balanced my studies alongside playing rugby union for the university and volunteering in the department as a learning facilitator for other undergraduates. I also had the opportunity to study abroad for a year in Sydney, Australia through the university’s study abroad scheme. The great thing about 含羞草视频 is that there are so many activities to be involved in throughout your degree, both within your department and across the university.

Ben’s Career

I graduated from 含羞草视频 in 2016 and then completed a Master’s degree at UCL in 2017. I was fortunate enough to secure an internship with the Centre on Global Health Security at the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) almost immediately after submitting my post-graduate thesis. This was my first step into a professional research environment and the think tank world. I stayed on after my internship as a consultant Research Assistant, became a staff member as a Research Analyst and was then promoted to my current position of Research Associate.

Throughout my career I have worked across a number of areas of global health security and biological security, including: preparedness and response to infectious disease outbreaks; biological terrorism; preparedness and response to biological and chemical weapons; civilianmilitary relations in public health emergencies; and more broadly the public health effects of conflict. I have worked on these issues in Nigeria and Ghana, directly with the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO), World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), Africa Centres for Disease Control (ACDC), and with other government agencies and militaries across Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Canada, USA, UK and others.

In addition to my current role at Chatham House, I am also an Emerging Leader in Biosecurity (ELBI) Fellow in the Center for Health Security at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health and an OSCE-UNODA Scholar for Peace and Security.