Elzanne Bester is a recipient of the Freyberg Scholarship and is currently completing a Master of Strategic Studies at Victoria University of Wellington | Te Herenga Waka. Her research interests focus on gendered approaches to peace and security in the Pacific, the Women, Peace and Security Agenda, and local approaches to peacebuilding in the Asia Pacific region.

Elzanne Bester holds a Master of Conflict and Terrorism and a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Political Science and International Relations from the University of Auckland | Waipapa Taumata Rau. As a recipient of the Prime Minister’s Scholarship for Latin America, Elzanne completed the War and Peacebuilding in Colombia Course offered through the Master in Peacebuilding at Universidad de Los Andes. She has also participated in the Caux Scholars Programme – Asia Plateau in India.