Rotary Peace Centre - University of Bradford

Alex Ssebukalu is undertaking his Applied Field Experience placement with UNDP-Malawi, working as a Human Security Analyst within the Governance Portfolio unit. He is supporting the unit in implementing activities on various public reforms and to develop a new strategic plan for the Parliament of Malawi. He is also contributing to the organisation of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Africa Regional Conference. In addition, he is contributing to UNDP’s work specific to supporting the Parliament of Malawi to formulate their new strategic plan aligned with Malawi Vision 2063.

For his Applied Fieldwork Experience, Shakeel Ahmed has been working with the Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) in Croatia and the European Summer School for Internet Governance (EuroSSIG) in Germany. At EuroSSIG, the programme brought together participants from across the multistakeholder community, including government, academia, civil society, the private sector, and the technical community. They explored key issues shaping the future of internet governance, including AI, cybersecurity, digital rights, and the geopolitical implications of digital transformation.
Shakeel Ahmed actively participated in the programme, gaining valuable insights into Internet governance and digital policy.

This summer, Daniela Fernandez Campos has undertaken her Applied Fieldwork Experience at ECLAC (the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean) in Santiago, Chile. Daniela has worked on research supporting digital transformation and technology development policies across Latin America. Her team has been reviewing data from 13 countries across the region and developing tools to gather information on digital skills, the use of artificial intelligence, and other aspects of digital transformation. These tools will be shared with countries throughout the region in coordination with National Statistics Offices and regulatory agencies, helping to support future regional discussions and international cooperation on innovation. She has also participated in major regional events, including the Regional Conference on Public Investment, which brought together ministers and government representatives from across the region.

Fariah Laikipian is undertaking a 13-week Applied Field Experience with Islamic Relief Worldwide's External Relations and Advocacy Division based in Birmingham, United Kingdom. During the placement, she is contributing to research on gender-responsive climate adaptation in Iraq, exploring how women experience access to climate adaptation support and how institutional, community, and faith-based systems influence last-mile delivery. Alongside the research, she is supporting communications and advocacy initiatives by contributing to evidence generation, policy engagement, and impact storytelling that amplifies community voices and informs humanitarian advocacy. The placement provides practical experience in research, strategic communications, and global advocacy while contributing to Islamic Relief Worldwide's work to advance locally led adaptation, climate justice, and community resilience through evidence-informed programming and policy engagement.

For his Applied Fieldwork Experience, Raonak Barman has joined the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF) in Geneva, Switzerland, as an intern. GCERF is an international fund dedicated to preventing violent extremism by investing in community-level initiatives around the world.

Raonak works with the Western Balkans regional portfolio, which manages seven active grants with civil society organisations across Albania, Kosovo and North Macedonia. These projects address the online spread of extremist narratives and ethno-nationalist tensions, support the rehabilitation and reintegration of returnees and their families, strengthen co-operation between institutions and NGO's to counter far-right ideologies, and reinforce local mechanisms that protect children and young people from radicalisation.

Beyond deepening his understanding of the region's conflict and peacebuilding context, Raonak is gaining hands-on experience in multilateral grant management and contributing to the fund's grant-making process in that region.

As we continue to highlight the work our Peace Fellows have done during their Applied Field Experience this summer, Khadim Fayez joined the Institute for Economics and Peace in Sydney, Australia.

Working closely with the Director of Partnerships and colleagues in New York, Brussels, Mexico City and Nairobi, Khadim supported international collaboration through outreach efforts and strategic partnerships. He also assisted in the preparation of major events, conferences and training programmes, including presentations of the Global Peace Index, Global Terrorism Index and Mexico Peace Index, as well as Positive Peace workshops.

This summer our Rotary Peace Fellows have been busy undertaking their Applied Fieldwork Experience, gaining experience with NGO's, institutions, charities, and universities all over the world. As their work comes to a close, we'll be highlighting some of their experiences.

Andrea Ocampo is currently completing her Applied Fieldwork Experience at the University of Basel in Switzerland, working with the Sustainability Research Group and contributing to the EXPECT-AGRI research project.

During her stay, Andrea is supporting the development of an international company survey on sustainability regulations in global supply chains, with a particular focus on adapting research tools to different regional contexts.

She also recently participated in the Green Trade Lab, an international academic workshop exploring the intersections of trade and sustainability, where she chaired a session and engaged with researchers working on emerging challenges in sustainable global value chains.

Her experience brings together sustainable development, responsible business, and global supply chain governance, strengthening the connection between research and practice.

Registration is now open for the Bill Huntley Memorial Rotary Peace Seminar 2026! Titled ‘Opportunities for Everyday Peace: Embracing Differences, Promoting Harmony’, the seminar will take place on Saturday 31 October, in the Great Hall, Richmond building, University of Bradford. Ticket price includes refreshments and lunch, and registration will close on 15 October.

The seminar is delivered by our Class 24 Rotary Peace Fellows, who have the following to say about what you can expect -

'Peace is often imagined as something distant—signed in agreements, negotiated in conference rooms, or measured through global indicators. Yet peace also lives in the ordinary choices we make every day. It is found in how we communicate with ourselves and each other, how we respond to disagreement, how we interpret differences, and how we care for our communities.
The Rotary Peace Fellows at the University of Bradford are a range of professionals with diverse backgrounds from ten countries and five continents. Rather than being separated by these differences in background, they have brought us together.
In this year's Bill Huntley Memorial Rotary Peace Seminar, we will argue for peace as a possibility and a call to action; as a celebration and a responsibility. It is an invitation to build peace in our daily lives, to recognize that peace is not a destination to be reached but a continuous practice to be lived and actively worked toward.
Our globally interconnected world is moving fast, and we must adapt to this changing social environment. From physical communities to digital ones, from everyday moments to wider community connections, peace depends on seemingly small things that, in total, define the societal fabric that binds us. Through empathy, curiosity, and respect we can peacefully coexist; through everyday acts, accumulated over time, we lay the foundation for a peaceful world.
Join us in our seminar where we will explore the power of the everyday in developing peace, in our communities and in ourselves'.

We look forward to seeing you this October! Register here - https://estore.bradford.ac.uk/product-catalogue/faculty-of-management-sciences-and-engineering/school-of-law-and-social-sciences/bill-huntley-memorial-seminar/bill-huntley-memorial-rotary-peace-seminar-2026

Congratulations to our current Rotary Peace Fellow, Daniela, who was selected from among thousands of applicants across Latin America to participate in the Climate Reality Leadership Training (Cumbre de Líderes de Climate Reality), which took place in Santiago from 9–11 July.

The event brought together around 500 climate leaders from across the region, including scientists, policymakers, activists, business leaders, and government representatives. Attendees had the opportunity to hear from former U.S. Vice President and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Al Gore, former President of Chile and current UN Secretary Candidate Michelle Bachelet, the Governor of Santiago, and many other prominent climate and sustainability leaders from across Latin America.

Daniela said, “It was an inspiring experience that allowed me to learn from leading experts, engage with climate advocates from different countries, and strengthen my understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the region in the climate transition”.

We are delighted to share that one of our Rotary Peace Fellows, Shakeel Ahmed, has been selected for the 2026 cohort of the Asia 21 Next Generation Fellows! 👏

The Asia 21 Next Generation Fellows programme is an initiative of the Asia Society that brings together committed young people working to drive positive change in their communities and beyond. This year’s cohort comprises 40 exceptional individuals from 26 countries and regions across seven sectors. The 2026 Fellows will convene in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, from 16–18 October for the 20th annual Asia 21 Next Generation Fellows Summit.

Congratulations to Shakeel on this exciting achievement!