Emma Leslie

Emma Leslie

Emma Leslie, an Australian - Cambodian, director of the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, supports peace processes across the Asia region. Since 1993 she has been committed to the field of conflict transformation, undertaking a range of initiatives in weapons reduction, landmine related disputes, community-based peacebuilding and interfaith dialogue. She developed the MA and PhD programs in Applied Conflict Transformation Studies together with Pannasastra University of Cambodia and two years ago launched the Cambodia Peace Museum. For the past nine years, she has served the Philippine Government – Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace talks as a member of the International Contact Group (ICG) culminating in the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) in 2014. Emma has also been actively engaged in the Myanmar and Korean Peninsula peace processes and since 2012 she has taught mediation and dialogue at the Folke Bernadotte Academy. She holds an MA in International Development, an honorary PhD in Education, and an Order of Australia. Emma was one of 1000 women nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005, and was recently profiled by KACIID as a ‘hero of dialogue'. She is also the co-founder director of the new initiative, Dialogue Australia.