Kathryn Bryk Friedman is the North American Arctic Policy Advisor at the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies and a Global Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (Canada Institute). Friedman is a recognized foreign policy expert on North America, specifically the US-Canada relationship, with experience in security, borders, trade, migration, and transboundary water governance. Her strategic advice to senior-level government officials includes advising the US Embassy Ottawa; US Consulate General Toronto; Embassy of Canada to the United States; Canadian Consulate Generals New York, Chicago and Seattle; the Government of Northern Ireland; and the Cabinet Office of the United Kingdom. She also has worked with The Nature Conservancy and the Alliance for the Great Lakes on strategies for strengthening water diplomacy and governance.
Kathryn is an experienced negotiator, mediator and conflict resolution specialist, who has designed processes and led Track 1.5-4.0 diplomatic efforts. She currently is leading a Water Diplomacy 4.0 initiative in collaboration with the German Foreign Ministry and the German-American Fulbright Foundation. Kathryn also has served as a Fulbright Fellow (Germany) and an Abshire Inamori Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, DC. Kathryn is approached frequently to provide guest commentary in the media, including PBS, NPR, The Hill, CBC and Bloomberg News. Kathryn clerked for two appellate judges and is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court. She is a Leadership Circle member of Foreign Policy 4 America. Kathryn has a Ph.D. with a concentration in international relations and J.D., magna cum laude, with a concentration in international law.
