Rotary Peace Scholarship
Mar 01, 2022 7:00 AM
Anna-Marie Robertson
Rotary Peace Scholarship

Global Grant Scholar, Anna-Marie Robertson

Anna-Marie has achieved a Rotary Global Grant Scholarship to attend Georgetown University in Washington DC to pursue her Masters law degree. Her interest in peace building and reconciliation developed early in life, spurred on by experiencing a presentation by Dr Knight her mother was attending. As a youth, she made a vow to make the world a better place. Attending a Rotary Youth Exchange information night led to an exchange to the Netherlands in 2012-13. She embraced the chance to experience a new culture, learn a new language and especially the opportunity to often visit the library in the Hague. The materials on humanitarianism, the rules of war and other legal issues were the most interesting to her. She is still in contact with her host parents and family. The exchange increased her interest in Rotary leading to participating in RYLA, ROTEX and starting an Interact Club at her high school. Looking to expand her experience she undertook the third year of her undergraduate degree in France.

Following graduation, she worked for the Canadian Red Cross dealing with the impact of disasters in British Columbia and Fort McMurray. While attaining her law degree at Cambridge she was drawn to the rise of cyber warfare – killer robots, cyber spying, etc., and its lack of oversight by the rules of war. As a Senior Advisor, Government Relations for the Canadian Red Cross she realized she needed stronger credentials to spur attention and change in the approach to cyber warfare. The Geneva Convention lacks relevancy to current developments in warfare, has gaps in its application and needs enhancements or replacement with more relevant legislation.

Anna-Marie has been accepted into the International Security Law program at Georgetown University this year. She is immensely thankful for the support of Rotary Clubs, Rotarians, District and Foundation making this possible. The Rotary Club of Capitol Hill, Washington DC will be her host club while there.

It is obvious that Anna-Marie is a great ambassador for Rotary and she exemplifies giving back and contributing to community at home and around the world through her peace building efforts.