Niel Swanepoel is an MSFS candidate in the Science, Technology, and International Affairs (STIA) concentration. His interests lie in the geopolitical implications and development potential of emerging technologies. Niel was born and raised in Namibia and completed his undergraduate degree in Economics and English Literature at the University of Cape Town, South Africa.

Before Georgetown, Niel was the Projects and Strategy Manager at Impact Tank Namibia, where he helped design and implement economic development projects in the technology and energy sectors. Prior to that, he gained experience as a research analyst at a South African development consultancy and as an intern at the UN Mission in Windhoek.

Niel is also a passionate advocate for youth involvement in policymaking, serving on the EU-Namibia Youth Advisory Board and previously as a South African G20 Youth Delegate and IMF Youth Fellow.
At Georgetown, Niel hopes to deepen his understanding of technology governance tradecraft, China’s science and technology grand strategy, and the role of Big Tech in geopolitics.