Visiting Fellows

Uzma Rashid
University for Peace (San José, Costa Rica)

Theme:  Possibilities for Peace
July 2025

Dr. Uzma Rashid currently serves as Associate Professor, Department of Peace and Conflict Studies at the United Nations Mandated University for Peace, Costa Rica, in particular managing the Gender and Peacebuilding, and Religion, Culture, and Peace Studies Masters programs. Prior to joining UPeace, she worked as Chair at the Department of Sociology, and Associate Dean for Research of the School of Social Sciences and Humanities at the University of Management and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan.

Dr. Rashid has done her PhD as a Fulbright scholar from the interdisciplinary Language, Literacy, and Culture program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, USA, and has extensive teaching and research experience in a variety of contexts. Her current research interests lie at the intersections of gender, sexuality, religion, race, ethnicity, disability, and socioeconomic status, in particular focusing on intersectionality and inclusivity in peacebuilding efforts.

Source: https://www.kaiciid.org/

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John T. Holmes
Ambassador (ret.), Global Affairs Canada (Ottawa)

Theme:  Possibilities for Peace

Fall 2025

John T. Holmes brings years of experience working with war-affected countries. Throughout his career as a diplomat, Holmes served as Canada's Ambassador to nine countries, including Iraq, Timor Leste, Philippines, Georgia, and Azerbaijan. Holmes has held many leadership positions, where he participated in decision-making on issues relating to interstate conflict, international courts, and peacebuilding. Holmes served as Canada's Legal Advisor on the United Nations Security Council and the International Court, and chaired negotiations on the Agenda for War-Affected Children (2000).

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Masud Husain
Ambassador (ret.), Global Affairs Canada (Ottawa)

Theme:  Possibilities for Peace

Fall 2025

Masud Husain served as Canada's Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates and as Special Envoy to the Organization of Islamic Co-operation. A recognized expert in peace and conflict in the Middle East, Husain has held many leadership roles at Global Affairs Canada, include the role of Director General and Deputy Legal Advisor. Husain has extensive knowledge and experience in issues relating to geographical and environmental disputes, transnational organized crime, and peace and security..

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Sabine Nölke
Ambassador (ret.), Global Affairs Canada (Ottawa)

Theme:  Possibilities for Peace

Fall 2025

Sabine Nölke has had over 30 years of experience as a leading voice in matters of international peace and security, armed conflict, non-proliferation and disarmament, human rights, terrorism, and international and transnational crime.

She has provided legal and policy advice to the Government of Canada on issues ranging from international humanitarian law, to reparations, to genocide, and the threat and use of weapons of mass destruction, including serving as co-counsel for Canada before the International Court of Justice, on Legality of the Use of Force (Serbia v. Canada et al.). She has served as Director of the United Nations, Human Rights, and Economic Law division (2007) and as Canada's Ambassador to the Netherlands (2015-2019).

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