Conflict, Technology, and the Protection of Civilians
- Date
- November 21, 2024
- Time
- 12:00 PM EST - 1:30 PM EST
- Location
- POD-457 | Lunch will be provided
- Open To
- TMU Community
In this talk, Dr. Ann Fitz-Gerald, Director, Balsillie School of International Affairs, will discuss the contemporary technology-enabled conflict environment and the challenges this poses for the protection of civilians caught in warfare. She will provide a cursory review of the intersection of research on future conflict trends, the impact of technology-driven conflict on civilians, and technology-supported humanitarian responses assisting civilians in conflict-affected regions.
Dr. Fitz-Gerald will also explore the current levels of risk, the lack of clarity on accountability, and the governance issues associated with technology-driven applications used during conflicts, which bring additional challenges for humanitarian actors providing assistance to civilians. Following her presentation, Dr. Fitz-Gerald will engage in a discussion with Dr. James C. Simeon, Professor, School of Public Policy and Administration at York University and Dr. Sorpong Peou, Professor, Department of Politics and Public Administration at Toronto Metropolitan University.
Professor Ann Fitz-Gerald is the Director of the Balsillie School of International Affairs and a Professor in Wilfrid Laurier University’s Political Science Department. She has worked at both at King’s College, London University’s International Policy Institute, and at Cranfield University, where she was the Director, Defence and Security Leadership. During her time at Cranfield, Ann led the UK-Government funded Global Facilitation Network for Security Sector Reform and Cranfield’s Centre for Security Sector Management. She also designed and developed the Masters programme in Security Sector Management, which is delivered in both the UK and East Africa.
Ann is widely published on issues concerning conflict, national security and security sector governance. She holds Visiting Professor at other universities including Nkumba University (Uganda), Jimma University (Ethiopia), Njala University (Sierra Leone) and Queen’s University (Canada). Ann has advised, and has been seconded to work with, a number of countries on issues relating to national security policy/strategy issues including Ukraine, Lebanon, Canada, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Nepal, Botswana, Jamaica, Indonesia, Sierra Leone, Albania, Montenegro and Nigeria. She has also supported internationally sponsored peace talks including support to the AU High Implementation Panel during the post-referendum peace talks between North and South Sudan.
In 2018, Ann was appointed as a Senior Research Associate at the Royal United Services Institute in London. In 2013, she became a Senior Security and Justice Adviser for the UK Government and she was appointed Visiting Professor of Global Security Management at Queen’s University. In 2012, the Government of Canada awarded Ann the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for her contribution to post-conflict resolution and national policy dialogue. In 2011, Ann was invited to become the McNaughton-Vanier Visiting Professor at the Royal Military College of Canada.