Queen's Foreign Policy Conference 2006

Currently in its second year, the Queen's Foreign Policy Conference (QFPC) is a fully student-run conference which aims to engage university students in a dialogue on our nation's international policy. This year's focus is on the rising activism of Canadians, at the government, NGO, and citizen level - we will explore why Canadians are more active in the world today than ever before.

Set for February 8th -10th in our nation's capital, QFPC will bring together around 150 university students from across Ontario and Québec. Sessions will include keynote speakers, panel discussions, student-lead sessions, informal time, and lots of dialogue among presenters and participants. Specific themes will look at how the 3Ds (diplomacy, defence, and development) of our international policy are working around the world. Additionally, we will host many foreign dignitaries to present the perspective of how Canada's actions are viewed in other countries.

This conference is set at a time when many areas of Canada's external relations require increased public engagement. The goal of QFPC is not only to engage students during the conference, but to create a lasting debate and to have influence on how Canada's international priorities and actions are devised. Findings and discussion of QFPC will be outputted into a conference report which will be distributed to major policy-makers in Ottawa, and among the Queen's community.

Conference Staff

chairs: Andrew Schrumm and Paige Witmer

delegate liaison: Maria Pontikis

sponsors liaison: Joanna Hruskoci

programming assistant: Nicole Waintraub

conference staff: Jason Vella, Eileen Cheung, Siobhan Gibney

About the Organizers

The Queen's International Affairs Association (QIAA) is a fully student-run, not-for-profit organization devoted to the study and dialogue of international affairs. We attempt to provide our members practical outlets in which they can explore their interest in the international system. We attend and host conferences, run speakers series, publish this magazine, promote initiatives and are active in Model United Nations conferences.

Founded in 1987, the QIAA can trace its roots to the original international affairs club on Queen's campus of 1902.  Grounded by the principle that as Canadians, it is our responsibility to have a global consciousness, QIAA welcomes politically minded people from all stripes and opinions. QIAA attempts to be an impartial forum for debate on serious global issues, providing a balanced presentation of facts and opinions. For more information on QIAA, please visit our main website at; www.qiaa.org