Maxine Forder is an intern in the Public Health and Social Policy team at Harm Reduction International.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Maastricht University, with a major in psychology and public health, where she developed a strong interest in substance use and addiction. She later completed a Master’s degree in Governance and Leadership in European Public Health, during which she explored the drug policy and harm reduction landscape across Europe. She was able to take part in projects advocating for harm reduction services for ethnic minority women in Eastern Europe, and the importance of needle exchange programs in addressing the spread of hepatitis C.

Over the past two years, Maxine completed an internship in European public affairs in Bruxelles, working on advocacy and consulting projects and engaging with EU-level health policy processes. She also completed a research internship at the GHU Paris, a psychiatric research centre, where she worked on a cohort study examining biomarkers influencing remission in anorexia nervosa.

Maxine is currently completing a second Master’s degree in Global Health at the Sorbonne University in Paris. She is deeply committed to advancing evidence-based drug policies globally, and is a strong advocate for equitable access to both physical and mental health care