Hi, I'm Gwen.

I am a policy analyst based in the Bay Area of California.

I am passionate about the future of our planet and about improving the quality of life for people the world over. I am seeking a new challenge that will help me further that aim.

Work Experience

Quantitative analysis, fact-checking, writing for publication, supervising and training, website and database management, curating online mailing lists, reporting on indicators: I wore a lot of hats at the Human Security Report Project, where I worked from 2009 until 2012.

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Education

In 2013, I graduated with a MA in International Affairs from the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, based at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. I also have a BA in International Relations (minor in Computer Science), and a Certificate in International Development.

See where I studied

Life Experience

Since 2012, I have moved cross-continent twice, planned a wedding from afar, immigrated to the US to be with the love of my life after 8 years of long-distance, taken up rock climbing, and learned how to crochet amigurumi dolls. I bring my time management skills home with me.

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Areas of Expertise

My greatest strengths are my attention to detail and my drive to ensure policy is informed by evidence.

International Development

This has been my focus since 2009, when I worked with some friends to found Eyes on Education and to launch its first project, a fundraising effort to buy screen-reading software for a school for the blind in Togo. Since then I have engaged with indicators, logical frameworks, and reporting to funders while at work, and while in the classroom developed project proposals, theories of change, budgets, risk management plans, and of course more logical frameworks. I have also learned to anticipate and mitigate many of the challenges we faced with Eyes on Education.

  • Creating and using logical frameworks.
  • Proposing and evaluating metrics.
  • Drafting theories of change.

Research and Analysis

  • Writing and fact-checking reports. I drafted Chapter 5 of the Human Security Report 2012, researching a focused analysis on internationalized intrastate armed conflict, and collaborated with three other writers on the other chapters.
  • Analyzing data in Microsoft Excel - including with macros, pivot tables, VBA, and templates.
  • Currently improving my skills with R via online courses.

Leadership

  • Co-managed a team of 14 student volunteers to produce a fundraising gala dinner with 140 attendees, raising $4,000 for the Michaelle Jean Foundation.
  • Trained and supervised two research assistants and two work study students at the Human Security Report Project, managing both short- and long-term priorities.

Employment History

For details, view my LinkedIn profile

Dublin Senior Center

Volunteer Greeter and Administrative Assistant - November 2013 to present

Carleton University

Research and Teaching Assistant - September 2012 to August 2013

NPSIA Soiree Committee

Co-president (Volunteer) - September 2012 to August 2013

Fulbright Canada

Student Intern (Volunteer) - January 2013 to April 2013

Human Security Report Project

Senior Research Assistant - February 2011 to June 2012
Research Assistant, E-Resources - August 2009 to January 2011

Eyes on Education

Co-Founder (Volunteer) - September 2008 to August 2009

Computer Science Department, University of British Columbia

Undergraduate Teaching Assistant - May 2008 to May 2009

Education

Master of Arts in International Affairs

Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada
2013

Certificate in International Development

University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
2012

Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs
Minor in Computer Science

University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
2009

Gwen Takagawa: Data. Passion. Innovation.

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© 2014-2015 Gwen Takagawa ·

I built this page using Twitter Bootstrap, php, html, and CSS. Background textures are modified from Subtle Patterns. My title font is Raleway, and I chose it because I love the w. My favourite part about building this page was discovering that icons are now available in font format, so they can be treated as text in terms of colour and size - just thinking about this still makes me so happy!