Humanitarian Affairs Asia’s 5th Global Peace Summit

Two weeks ago, I had the privilege to attend Humanitarian Affairs Asia’s 5th Global Peace Summit at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok as a Peace Ambassador and delegate for UTS BUILD.

This opportunity marked the halfway point of my 2025 New Colombo Plan Scholarship Program in Vietnam. I found the summit gave me direction, insight and purpose as a young peacebuilder entering the humanitarian sector.

Being given the opportunity to connect with other UTS BUILD students but also many youth activists and peacemakers from all around the world was incredible. I would highly recommend future BUILD students to apply for future summits. There really is nothing like meeting with hundreds of other young people in the United Nations Conference centre to discuss and reflect on peacebuilding, especially in times like today. It is absolutely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I am so grateful that UTS BUILD made it possible for me and the other UTS delegates!

It was an eye-opening three days with a truly incredible lineup of speakers. My personal highlights were:

1. Dr Manal Omar and her discussions on what is missing in our current peace-building efforts:
My main takeaways from her talk are: “When you can’t go macro, go micro”, the world lacks political will, not political education, and we must be wary of the corruption of the humanitarian sector by Western and capitalist powers. As I enter the world of humanitarian work, I will endeavour to embody these learnings; I will start in my own communities, I will focus on action instead of rhetoric, and I will be reflexive about my role and intentions in my work.

2. Emtithal Mahmoud and her poetry about Darfur and peacebuilding:
Her talk really resonated with me when she said, “If you speak to people with politics, they will respond with politics, but if you speak with humanity, they will respond with humanity”. This was self-evident when her poems filled the UN conference centre with tears. I highly recommend you watch some of her slam poetry videos.

3. Ruben Mawick talking about his work in Ukraine as a volunteer war medic:
He showed us the raw and harsh realities of life in Ukraine right now, while showing us how anyone can assist in peacebuilding efforts in their own way, bringing their own skills to the table. As Ruben said, “freedom isn’t free”, and it is the responsibility of all of us living in peace to work towards the freedom of all our siblings in conflict.

I am excited to put my learnings into practice during the remainder of my New Colombo Plan Scholarship program in Vietnam and upon my return to Australia in July. As a Peace Ambassador, I will do everything I can to work towards peace both on a micro and macro scale.

Bridie Macken
Bachelor of of Communication (Social and Political Sciences) Bachelor of International Studies
BUILD – BUILD – Peace Summit of Emerging Leaders (Thailand)
New Colombo Plan Scholar

For more information about the UTS BUILD please visit: www.uts.edu.au/build

Find out more about the New Colombo Plan Scholarship Program!