Ariel STENEK is a doctoral student in the GRIPS Global Governance Program (Security and International Studies) at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) in Tokyo. Previously she was director of the Young Leaders Program at Pacific Forum, and co-lead investigator of its Women, Peace and Security program. Past positions include at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies and UNESCO's Silk Roads Programme. She holds an MA in International Relations from Queen Mary, University of London (Paris campus) and a BA in Global Politics and Societies with a minor in European Studies from the University of San Francisco. Her research interests include maritime security, Southeast Asia, and U.S.-Japan relations.