Axford Forum Coming to UMBC

On January 18, 2006, the Center will convene Ian Axford fellows and invited guests at UMBC for a one-day forum. Established in 1995, the Ian Axford Fellowships in Public Policy give outstanding American professionals opportunities to study, travel, and gain practical experience in public policy in New Zealand . Health care, the environment, taxes, ethnic diversity, and education are but a few of the topics that Axford fellows have investigated. The program has provided a unique opportunity to American policy professionals to engage in innovative thinking and explore diverse policy perspectives on a wide variety of topics.

This will be the first time that Axford fellows have come together. The agenda for the forum features presentations by the three 2005 Axford fellows who have recently returned to the United States.

• Dena Ringold of the World Bank examined how programs might be tailored to better address the range of disparities faced by indigenous peoples and other vulnerable populations, such as the 15 percent of New Zealanders who are also Maori.
• Nick Johnson of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities studied New Zealand ‘s Working for Families program. He explored the relationship between fiscal and tax policy in meeting the needs of low-income populations while promoting efficient labor markets.
• John O’Brien of the Center for Health Program Development and Management at UMBC investigated the complexities of measuring and rewarding performance in health care delivery systems.

Click here to visit the Center’s Axford Foum Page.

Reports by Axford fellows are available here.

Former Axford fellows will serve as responders, and the program will be placed in context with remarks by Robert Reischauer , President of The Urban Institute and former chair of the Ian Axford Fellowships selection committee; John Wood , New Zealand Ambassador to the United States; Annette Dixon , the World Bank’s Director of Strategy and Operations for Europe and Central Asia Region; and Peter Watson , CEO of the Dwight Group and current chair of the Axford selection committee. Discussion among forum participants is expected to generate fresh insights and novel approaches to public policy that otherwise might not be considered.

January 1, 2006