Jennifer Bilec

Jennifer first became interested in conflict transformation and resolution in 2001 when she served as an Executive Officer and Student Ombudsperson for the Student's Society of McGill University. In this capacity, she became part of a team to negotiate rising tensions between Arab, Israeli, and American youth organizations within the Montreal community as a result of the events of 9/11. With the aid of the Quebec Human Rights Commission, she created a week long event entitled “Days of Diversity” which focused on themes of tolerance and acceptance. She also wrote policy for the lobby group on academic and equity issues.

While at McGill University Jennifer also served as spokesperson for the Academic Policy and Planning Committee and Youth Advisory Forum on the Arts and Sciences for the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada. In 2000, she served as International Student Affairs Commissioner, lobbying on behalf of international students at McGill and throughout Quebec. For her efforts to the McGill Community, she received the Scarlet Key Award.

Recently, Jennifer has served as Project Coordinator for Right to Play in Accra, Ghana. In this position, she was involved in developing and running programs using the medium of sports to educate children, parents and teachers about HIV, malaria and the six childhood killer diseases. Amongst the social mobilization campaigns she organized was the GAVI (Global Alliance for Vaccinations and Immunizations) Sports Cup, reaching over 6000 individuals in the Greater Accra Region.

Jennifer received her B.A. International Development Studies from McGill University in Montreal, Canada and is currently working on her MSc International Conflict at Kingston University located in London. Her thesis work is on conflict transformation techniques in humanitarian intervention operations.

She was the ACT Forums Coordinator during . Jenniefer currently serves as an ACT Forums Consultant and can be reached at jennifer.bilec(at)mail.mcgill.ca