Peacebuilding is the guiding principle of international intervention with the objective of conflict prevention and/or resolution activities performed by either the UN, other international organisations, or groups and individuals at a community level. It aims to establish a self-sustaining peace that encompasses more than just an absence of violence or a return to armed conflict. It is a multifaceted project that involves implementing a range of reconstruction and reform efforts in countries with some of the most fragile, fluid, and unpredictable political environments.
Peacebuilding requires effort from political, legal, economic, social and cultural institutions and security practices which are complementary and mutually reinforcing. However, the transition from armed violence to lasting peace for all is neither easy nor the aim of all local groups.
Australia has been actively involved in peacebuilding for over 75 years, through NGO programs, managing contractor activity and military and police support of multilateral peace and security operations, including to the Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste and Bougainville, Papua New Guinea and Commonwealth missions in Zimbabwe, Uganda and Afghanistan.
Hear from speakers with first-hand experience in Peacebuilding at our May networking events and bring a colleague to find out more about what working in this challenging and life-changing area of the development sector entails.
Speaker
Jennifer Scott
Jennifer Scott AM is a lawyer and mediator focusing on environmental law, ecological sustainability, and conflict resolution. She holds an LLM specialising in environmental law and a Masters of Dispute Resolution, specialising in Peace and Conflict Studies. As the world trainer for Rotary International, Jennifer has taught people from 160 different countries about peace, mediation, arbitration, and resolving disputes. She has worked extensively within peacebuilding as a Representative at Kyoto Peace Cadre for Rotary International.
Jennifer is involved in several not-for-profit boards, including Sustainable Cambodia, Varuna, the National Writers’ House and the Upper Blue Mountains Bendigo Bank. Jennifer has led teams of project volunteers to train community leaders in peacebuilding in Cambodia, and a Vocational Training Team in Mongolia upskilling judges and social workers in family mediation and conflict management skills.
She is a member and former president of the Women's Club Sydney, which was started by suffragists in 1901. Jennifer served as District Governor of the Blue Mountains Rotary in 2007-08 and is a member of "Women in Rotary" which is dedicated to achieving equality for women around the world. She has been a member of the Hamburg Convention Committee, Rotary International Election Review Committee, and chair of the Rotary International Leadership Development and Training Committee. She is currently the chair of the 2024 Singapore International Convention Committee and Chair of the Rotary International Constitution and By-law Committee.
Jennifer has been awarded the Rotary Foundation’s Citation for Meritorious Service and recently received her AM as part of the Australia Day 2023 Honours list. She was awarded for significant service to the community through a range of organisations.