Labour MP awarded prestigious US fellowship

The Labour Leader David Shearer has congratulated Dunedin North MP David Clark, who has been awarded an Eisenhower Fellowship to study in the United States.

Dr Clark will take up the seven week long fellowship at the end of March next year.  He will focus on constitutional reform and encouraging more widespread democratic participation, particularly from those groups that feel disengaged from politics.

“The Eisenhower Fellowship is a prestigious programme that attracts outstanding figures from politics, business, education and the voluntary sectors around the world,” says David Shearer.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for David Clark.  As an Eisenhower fellow he will get access to heavyweight thinkers and decision makers, and will make important contacts that will last a lifetime.

“In his first year as an MP, David has already marked himself out as one to watch.  This Fellowship will be of real benefit both to him personally and professionally, but also to Labour and our Parliament.  It is important that New Zealand parliamentarians take the time to develop their thinking about our democracy, and gain perspectives from beyond our shores,” says David Shearer.

David Clark says he is honoured to have been selected for the Fellowship.

The programme for his Fellowship is yet to be finalised, but Dr Clark says he hopes to meet with the US Chief Justice John Roberts, economist Joseph Stiglitz, former Special Advisor to the Secretary of the Treasury Elizabeth Warren and Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates, amongst others.

NOTE: David Clark will take up the Eisenhower Fellowship on 30 March 2012 and it runs until 16 May 2012.  He will take a leave of absence from Parliament for the duration of his Fellowship.