WIIS-Queen's
WIIS-Queen's Conference 2026
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Negotiating Peace:
Women as Bridge-Builders in Conflict Zones
This year's theme emphasizes the important role women play in peace-building and conflict resolution. Women have historically been at the forefront of grassroots movements, often serving as agents of change in their communities during times of conflict. Their unique perspectives and experiences enable them to approach peace-building in ways that address not just the political dimensions, but also the social and cultural contexts that are essential for sustainable peace. We recognize the critical need to amplify diverse voices in these dialogues. Meaningful inclusion involves recognizing and valuing the perspectives of diverse communities across cultures, ethnicities, and backgrounds.
Introducing our
Panels & Panellists
First Keynote Speaker:
Jill Scott
Panel Topic: Leading with Joy: Forgiveness, Culture, and the Making of Resilient Leaders.
Jill Scott is the Principal of the Royal Military College of Canada, where she leads the academic mission of Canada’s military university and works at the intersection of higher education, defence, and public service. Appointed by the Governor-in-Council, she is responsible for ensuring rigorous standards for RMC’s academic programmes and research while preparing future officers for the Canadian Armed Service in a complex global security environment.
Before joining RMC, Jill held senior academic leadership roles at the University of Ottawa and Queen’s University, where she worked on academic planning, governance, and initiatives connecting scholarship to public policy and societal impact. Across these roles, she was actively engaged in international education, Indigenous programming, and efforts to advance decolonization within universities, including work focused on reconciliation, inclusive curriculum design, and respectful partnerships with Indigenous communities.
Jill’s leadership emphasizes evidence-based decision-making, collaborative teamwork, and the importance of inclusive institutions in democratic societies. She is deeply committed to supporting women and equity-seeking groups pursuing careers in security, governance, diplomacy, and public policy, and to fostering academic environments where diverse perspectives are recognized as essential to effective leadership and long-term security.
Jill was born in Winnipeg, is the mother of two, and lives in Kingston with her partner, Stephen. In her spare time, she enjoys yoga, cycling, and playing the bagpipes. We are truly honoured to have her with us today.
Panel 1:
Women Who Broker Peace in the World's Most Complex Conflict
This panel examines the critical role women play in peacebuilding and conflict mediation across diverse geopolitical contexts. Drawing on both professional practice and lived experience, our panelists will explore how women contribute to negotiation processes, community reconciliation, and the development of sustainable peace, often in environments marked by instability and structural barriers.
Stéfanie Von Hlacky
Dr. Stéfanie von Hlatky, who is the Canada Research Chair in Gender, Security and the Armed Forces, a Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Fellow, and Associate Vice Principal for Research at Queen’s University, A Full Professor of Political Studies and former Director of the Centre for International and Defence Policy. She earned her PhD from Université de Montréal and is the Founder of Women in International Security Canada and the Honorary Colonel of the Princess of Wales’ Own Regiment.
Cindy Cruz
Cindy is a PhD candidate in the Department of Political Studies at Queen’s University, supervised by Dr. Stéfanie von Hlatky. Her research explores the organization and membership of the Canadian Armed Forces, with a focus on gender, international security, civil-military relations, organizational identity, and culture. She holds a multidisciplinary academic background, including a bachelor’s degree in Criminology and Sociology and a master’s degree in Sociology. Cindy previously served as Coordinator for Women in International Security Canada (WIIS-C) from 2023 to 2024 and is currently a Graduate Research Fellow at the Centre for International Defence and Policy (CIDP). We’re grateful to have you with us and look forward to learning from your experiences.
Tehya Blake (she/her) is a first year PhD student in the political science department at Queen's University and graduate researcher at the Centre for International and Defence Policy. She is currently developing her expertise in international relations, women, peace and security, and gender and politics. Her research interests include international feminist security studies and conflict-related sexual violence. Prior to beginning her doctorate, she’s held communications and policy positions at the Department of National Defence and Elections Canada.
Tehya Blake
Second Keynote Speaker:
Maryam Monsef
Maryam Monsef, Founder and CEO of ONWARD, is a sought-after international speaker, facilitator, and strategic advisor. She has dedicated her life to women’s empowerment and equity.
She is a dynamic speaker who designs her keynotes and workshops to uplift women and provide them with a toolkit to thrive in their personal and professional lives. Balancing her role as a dedicated mother with her professional commitments, Maryam draws daily inspiration from working moms everywhere. She held various social and economic development files in the government.
She was President of the Queen’s Privy Council and helped establish and lead Canada’s first full Department focused on Women and Gender Equality. In 2018 and 2019, A political named her one of the Top 20 global influencers on gender equality, alongside notable figures such as Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Michelle Obama, and Malala Yousafzai. Through her business and volunteer work, she strives to foster a world where women and their families are thriving.
Panel 2
Borders, Belonging & Peace:
Gender, Displacement, and Political Transformation in Conflict-Affected Regions.
This panel brings together critical perspectives on how conflict reshapes borders, identities, and political life and how gender deeply informs experiences of displacement, peacebuilding, and transformation. Our discussion will explore the ways women and marginalized communities navigate and challenge systems of power in contexts shaped by war, migration, and political instability.
Dr. Zainab Monisola Olaitan is a Post-Doctoral fellow at the Centre for International and Defence Policy and an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Political Studies, Queen’s University. Her research is on gender and politics, African politics, and international politics with a focus on peace and security. She holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of Pretoria, South Africa. In 2022, she was awarded the Margaret McNamara Education Grant for her impactful research on women. Dr. Olaitan is the author of Women’s Representation in African Politics: Beyond Numbers (Palgrave Macmillan, 2024) and the lead editor of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights of Women in Africa and the Caribbean: Linking the Two Regions (Palgrave Macmillan, 2025).
Dr. Zainab Olaitan
Admira Buzimkic
Admira Buzimkic is a Ph.D. candidate in Political Studies at Queen’s University, specializing in International Relations and Comparative Politics. Her research examines responses to irregular migration along the so-called Western Balkan and Central Mediterranean routes, focusing on Bosnia and Herzegovina, Libya, Italy, and Croatia. Drawing on fieldwork and interviews, she examines how interactions between migrant rights groups, humanitarian actors, and security authorities generate knowledge through everyday acts of collaboration and contestation, and how these processes are shaped by local social and political contexts, gendered dynamics and broader processes of globalization. She has presented her work at major conferences, including the International Studies Association, the Central and East European International Studies Association, and the European Consortium for Political Research. She has also contributed to invited panels on The Influence of War, Gender, and Religion on Iran’s Democratization and Designing Global Research.
Panel 3
“Bearing Witness: Journalism, Storytelling & Human Rights in Conflict.”
This panel explores the vital role of journalism and storytelling in documenting conflict, amplifying marginalized voices, and advancing human rights. In times of crisis and political upheaval, bearing witness is not only about reporting facts, but it is also about shaping global understanding, preserving truth, and challenging injustice.
Sally Armstrong
Sally Armstrong is a journalist, author, human rights activist and speaker. She works mostly in zones of conflict and what happens to women and girls in places like Afghanistan, Iraq, South Sudan and throughout Western Asia. She is a globally recognized expert in conflict reporting and women's rights advocacy. Renowned as "war correspondent for the world's women". She is a former member of the International Women's Commission at the United Nations and has received international recognition for her work on human rights and gender equality. Sally is an Officer of Canada, with 11 honorary doctorate degrees and was appointed the Massey Lecturer in 2019.
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Workshop Overview:
Women in Political Movements:
A Real-World Simulation
