Zoe Neill heads to Paris

After a competitive submission process, Bachelor of International Global Studies student, Zoe Neill has been named a 2018 Global Voices delegate to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Forum in Paris.

Zoe will join five other student representatives to form the Australian delegation and attend the forum in Paris, France from 29 May - 1 June. University of Sydney academics Professor Colm Harmon, Associate Professor Adam Kamradt-Scott and Associate Professor Stefanie Schurer will also be in attendance.

“I cannot express how much this means to me. To talk about these organisations in class is one thing, but to be in the same room as heads of state and CEO's is incredible. I am graduating in two months—this opportunity will open a lot of doors for me in the future”, says Zoe.

As part of the scholarship, Zoe and the other student delegates will work closely with international leaders and experts, gaining insights into economic trends and development programs. Over the course of the three-day forum, they will participate in workshops, discovery labs, bilateral meetings, institutional visits and meet-the-author sessions.

“I hope to gain a better understanding of where international policy making is going in the future, especially considering many nations at present are leaning away from multilateral institutions. The OECD also has a focus on evidenced based international policy which is a huge attraction for me.”

The student delegation will also complete a research fellowship related to the conference theme, What Brings Us Together, investigating issues surrounding international cooperation, inclusive growth solutions and challenges relating to policy designed before the era of digitalisation.

Zoe, who is taking majors in Government and International Relations and International Business, is particularly passionate about humanitarian and development policy, and will investigate methods to “restore confidence in markets and institutions” through the use of social enterprises.

“My research is focusing on social impact bonds and connecting research with practice with regards to social impact measurement. Social enterprises are both an innovative and sustainable solution to a lot of complex social issues. They also align well with this year’s theme as they are 100% community driven and community focused.”

Zoe will attend the forum as an experienced representative. In 2016, she was named an Australian Youth delegate at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit (APEC) and the Voices of the Future Summit in Lima, Peru.

After graduating, Zoe plans to pursue a career in international policy. “For the next few years I hope to further develop my understanding of Australia's role in the Asia-Pacific by moving overseas once I graduate. I especially want to continue my Chinese language studies and will likely continue to work in the China-Australia space.”

The forum also presents a unique networking opportunity, with students of the Sciences Po dual degree program set to meet Zoe, the University of Sydney academic contingent and Australia’s Ambassador to the OECD, Brian Pontifex.

Global Voices was founded in February 2011 and is now funded through partnerships with Australia’s leading universities. Zoe’s participation is fully funded by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

To learn more about the Global Voices Exchange, click here.