Melinda Wood

Adjunct Fellow

Expertise – international relations, diplomacy, international political economy, U.S. politics and congressional affairs.

Melinda Wood is a former international representative of the New Zealand and British governments, based in Washington, DC. Most recently, she led the New Zealand Embassy’s outreach to the U.S. Congress, lobbying in support of the nation’s trade, foreign policy and immigration interests. She was previously a political advisor to the British Embassy in New Zealand, and has also served New Zealand’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York. She began her career as an international tax policy advisor, participating in tax treaty negotiations, including between the United States and New Zealand.

Melinda holds a Master’s degree in International Relations, speaks French, and is qualified as an attorney in New Zealand. She publishes on international trade, Asia-Pacific security, and U.S. politics.