Negotiating Peace: Women as Bridge Builders in Conflict Zones

The WIIS-Queen's Annual Conference on March 7, 2025 marks a major milestone: the 10-year anniversary of the WIIS Queen's chapter. Hosted at the Smith School of Business, this year's conference,

"Negotiating Peace: Women as Bridge-Builders in Conflict Zones," will bring together scholars, practitioners, journalists, and students to reflect on a decade of advancing Women, Peace and Security at Queen's.

Through keynotes, panels, and workshops featuring leaders in defence, diplomacy, journalism, and peacebuilding, the event will celebrate WIIS Queen's legacy while looking ahead to the future of gender-inclusive peace processes. It's an opportunity to honour past leadership, recognize growing impact, and reaffirm our commitment to centring women's voices in international security.

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Program

9:30 - 10:00 - Check-In & Networking, Continental Breakfast

10:00 - 10:15 - Land Acknowledgement & Opening Remarks

10:15 - 11:05 - Opening Keynote: Jill Scott

11:10 - 12:00 - Panel 1: Women Who Broke Peace in the World's Most Complex Conflicts

12:00 - 12:30 - Break: Coffee & Networking

12:30 - 13:15 - Second Keynote: Maryam Monsef

13:15 - 14:15 - Lunch

14:15 - 15:15 - Workshop: Women in Political Movements, Real World Simulation

15:15 - 15:30 - Break: Coffee & Networking

15:30 - 16:10 - Panel 2: Borders, Belonging & Peace

16:15 - 17:10 - Panel 3: Bearing Witness, Journalism, Storytelling & Human Rights in Conflict

17:10 - 17:30 - Closing Remarks & Thank you

Dr Stephanie Von Hlatky

Dr. Stéfanie von Hlatky is the Canada Research Chair in Gender, Security and the Armed Forces and a Full Professor in the Department of Political Studies at Queen's University. She also serves as Associate Dean (Research) in the Faculty of Arts and Science and is a Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Fellow. She is the former Director of the Centre for International and Defence Policy (CIDP).

Teyha Blake

Tehya Blake is a PhD student in the Department of Political Studies at Queen's University, where she is supervised by Dr.Stéfanie von Hlatky. Her research focuses on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) and conflict related sexual violence (CRSV) within international and defence policy contexts.

Cindy Cruz

Cindy Cruz is a doctoral student in the Department of Political Studies at Queen's University. Her research examines the Canadian Armed Forces, with a focus on organizational dynamics, civil-military relations, security, and international relations.

Dr. Jill Scott

Dr. Jill Scott is a prominent Canadian academic leader serving as the Principal of the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) as of 2025. Previously, she was Provost and Vice-President Academic Affairs at the University of Ottawa (2019-2024), focusing on Indigenous affairs, equity, and mental health.