Every student’s path to Harvard Kennedy School is unique. What our alumni go on to do after graduating is equally varied.
We asked several of our alumni to tell us about their experiences before, during, and after HKS and how their time at Harvard shaped their careers and lives.
With a background in law and work experience around the globe, Naresh Perinpanayagam MC/MPA 2018 came to HKS in hopes of gaining a better understanding of public policy. As an immigration lawyer working in New Zealand, he still uses the knowledge gained at HKS today.
Here’s what he shared.
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“My time at HKS was life changing. The professors were passionate about their subjects and generous with their time and feedback. Most of all, they encouraged me—through their own inspiring examples—to see a larger vision of what I thought possible.”
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2022Returns home to New Zealand
After 17 years overseas, Naresh was very happy to move back to his native New Zealand. With a four-year-old child, family life became his priority. Since the move, he has worked as an immigration lawyer and writer of academic articles.
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Authors an article that is published in the Columbia Human Rights Law Review
His article, “Extraditing Citizens and Permanent Residents to China: a New Zealand Case Study,” is published by the Columbia Human Rights Law Review.
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Applies and is accepted as a Wasserstein Fellow at Harvard Law School
Naresh became the first-ever New Zealand citizen to be selected as a Wasserstein Fellow.
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Returns to work at the United Nations
Naresh returned to his job in New York City in the Office of the United Nations Secretary-General. He was assigned to the secretary-general’s political team with a focus on the Asia-Pacific region. In this role, he attended the secretary-general’s meetings and phone calls with world leaders—including Chinese President Xi Jinping, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and numerous foreign ministers—and he reviewed and edited the secretary-general's public positions.
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Graduates from HKS
Following graduation, Naresh studied for and passed the New York Bar Exam and was admitted to law practice in the United States.
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2017Begins MC/MPA Program
During the required five-week MC/MPA Summer Program, Naresh enhanced his knowledge in economics and statistics. “HKS was an incredible opportunity to study public policy, thanks to the support of many people and a full HKS scholarship. I learned more about economics and politics, which is knowledge I still use in my work today.”
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Works on the transition team of the new United Nations Secretary General, former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres
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2016
“I applied to the MC/MPA Program to better understand national and international public policy challenges, especially in the area of economic policy. I was also interested in developing my leadership skills at HKS.”
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2005Begins working at the United Nations
Naresh’s career at the United Nations took him around the globe—he worked in Switzerland, Nepal, Sudan, South Sudan, and New York.“The highlight was working as a United Nations peacekeeper in war zones in Sudan and South Sudan.”
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Graduates from Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand with a bachelor’s degree in law
