Mandana Jamshidian is a 22-year-old student in the Master of Arts in Global Governance (MAGG) program, and her interests lie in conflict and security as well as human rights and social justice. She received her undergraduate degree from McMaster in sociology, which heavily influenced her desire to apply for the Master of Arts in Global
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Isaac Van Pelt is a graduate student in the Master of International Public Policy program at the Balsillie School of International Affairs. He holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Politics and International Relations and Philosophy from Redeemer University. During his undergraduate studies, Isaac served as a Teaching and Research Assistant for Dr. Robert Joustra,
Adheesha Perera is a mid career professional from Sri Lanka with over 15 years of experience in policy and practice in Sustainability and Sustainable Finance domains. Over the past decade, he has served in expert committees appointed by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Banks’ Association’s Sustainable Banking Initiative and The Ceylon Chamber
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Milka Milicevic completed George Brown Polytechnic’s interdisciplinary Honours Bachelor of Food Studies program and graduated with Honours in 2026. In that program, she gained a comprehensive understanding of the complexities of contemporary food system issues, while also having the opportunity to critically examine food systems and their impact on society, health, and the environment. Previously
Natasha graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University in June of 2025, earning her Honours Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies with high distinction. Throughout her degree, she also pursued a minor in Anthropology, which has fuelled her focus on a humanistic approach to international studies. In her final undergraduate year, Natasha worked as an Instructional Assistant
Olivia Waller is a current graduate student at the Balsillie School of International Affairs, pursuing a Master of Global Governance. Prior to joining the Balsillie School, Olivia graduated from the University of Guelph with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Political Science and a minor in International Development Studies. Throughout her undergraduate studies, she developed
Lina Belbouche is a Master of Arts in Global Governance student at the Balsillie School of International Affairs and holds a Combined Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) in Business Technology Management and Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Calgary. Her academic interests lie at the intersection of global governance, political economy, corporate governance,
Emily Kalmin is a current student in the Master of Arts in Global Governance at the Balsillie School of International Affairs. She completed an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, with a specialization in Global Citizenship and a minor in Social Problems, Policy and the Law, at McMaster University in 2026. Seeking to better
Sadeen Kalbouna is a graduate student in the Master of Arts in Global Governance program at the Balsillie School of International Affairs. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Brock University. Her research interests lie at the intersection of conflict, security, identity, and mobility. More specifically, she is interested in exploring
Fares is a PhD candidate at the Balsillie School of International Affairs. His research examines how Islamic devotion shapes the way that Muslim humanitarians apply Islamic principles. These principles can diverge as both Muslims and secular humanitarians often prioritize different values in humanitarian work. Fares specifically investigate how Muslim humanitarians rationalize their work within a
Sadia demonstrates resilience. After a seven-year break from school, she returns to pursue MDP. Ten years ago, in 2016 she was one of fourteen University of Toronto students to represent Canada at the 2030 Sustainable Development Youth Assembly, supported by Global Youth Impact (Inaugural Cohort). As a first-generation Canadian, she is committed to advancing sustainable
Manel Miaadi is a PhD candidate (ABD) at Wilfrid Laurier University. Her dissertation investigates the lived experience of borders as tools of control and delay, focusing on how migration policies create waiting, invisibility, and exclusion as techniques of governance. She is currently writing on temporal bordering, gendered displacement, and the erasure of migrant testimony in
