“I wanted to see the bigger picture,” says Gaelle, reflecting on her decision to apply for the Master of Public Policy (MPP) at the Blavatnik School of Government. “For six years, I worked in the field of influencing decision-making, but I always thought there is definitely more to learn – a broader perspective on things beyond the context in which I work.”
Raised in Beirut, Gaelle studied political science at the University of Saint Joseph, completing both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Politics. Her early professional experiences took her to the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the UN Development Programme, and the Office of the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon. She then spent six years at a Beirut-based consulting firm, focusing mainly on public sector and security sector reform.
After several years in the field, Gaelle decided she wanted a broader lens.
“I always wanted to work in policymaking, and six years into my career I felt it was the right time to apply for a master’s in public policy that would allow me to take a step to deepen my impact and build on what I learned so far in the Lebanese context,” she explains.
Gaelle arrived in Oxford expecting a strong curriculum and high-calibre teaching, but it was the people and pedagogical style that left the strongest impression on her. “The experience exceeded my expectations in terms of the people I met… the discussions we used to have in class with peers and professors. The group sessions with seminar leaders are critical for nourishing critical thinking and exploring ideas in depth,” she says.
She also valued the access to senior policymakers and human rights leaders, recalling a discussion with international lawyer Amal Clooney, now a professor at the School, and a conversation with former UK Foreign Secretary William Hague, now the University’s Chancellor: “It was a very remarkable and insightful exchange on recent developments in the Middle East.”
Gaelle adds that the course broadened her intellectual horizons in unexpected ways. “I recall particularly the courses on sustainable and unsustainable economies in our Economics for Public Policy class. The course offered thought provoking insights and inspired me to learn more about the topic.” Studying alongside a globally diverse cohort also revealed common threads. “Most of us share similar struggles, often at different levels, but some struggles are global,” she reflects. “When I spoke to other female colleagues, from the global north or the global south… the topic of gender was always at the centre.”
Outside the Blavatnik School, Gaelle embraced Oxford’s collegiate life. “Your college is a great opportunity to meet like-minded people. You can attend formal dinners and balls but also immerse yourself in the community life. At St. Antony’s, my college, I ran the Arabic group at the weekly Language Exchange night, offering people the opportunity to practice Arabic, and at times French. Outside my college, I had the opportunity to give a talk at Pembroke College, presenting work from my previous job on Women, Peace and Security”, she says.
The Oxford Lebanon Scholarship made her year possible.
“Without a scholarship, I would not have been able to come to Oxford. It covered my tuition fees and living expenses. It made it happen,” she says.
In Lebanon’s current economic crisis, many graduates turn to the private sector or seek jobs abroad, Gaelle explains. Her experience at Oxford had the opposite effect: “The MPP renewed my drive to work in public service,” she says.
“While many are drawn away from the public sector in Lebanon, I felt compelled to take the opposite direction, as the MPP strengthened my belief that applying solid knowledge in the public sphere can indeed bring about real change.”
Gaelle recently completed her policy report placement at Lebanon’s Institute of Finance, contributing to preparatory work for an IMF programme and focusing on a governance and corruption diagnostic. Now, she’s committed to applying her expertise to drive meaningful policy change in Lebanon and the wider Middle East.
Her advice to future applications from Lebanon: apply, stay open to every learning opportunity, and embrace both School and college life to grow your networks and perspectives – even if you can’t immediately see how it all applies at home, the insights will prove invaluable.
August 2025