School of Public Health student Cerina Lee has been named Head Delegate by the Young Diplomats of Canada. She will represent Canada at the World Bank-International Monetary Fund meetings in Washington, D.C. (Photo credit: Han Lee)
This October, leaders from around the world will congregate in Washington, D.C. for the 2016 World Bank-International Monetary Fund Annual Meetings (WB-IMF). For the first time, a School of Public Health student will be one of them.
Cerina Lee, a master of public health (MPH) student specializing in health promotion, has been selected by the Young Diplomats of Canada (YDC) as one of five Canadian ambassadors at WB-IMF. Lee was chosen out of hundreds of applicants to serve as Head Delegate, and she is the only representative selected from western Canada.
"This opportunity will allow me to apply knowledge I've gained in my MPH program and my passion for public health advocacy into real-world practice," explains Lee. "It is truly humbling to have the opportunity to work with influential government leaders and decision makers from around the world."
The WB-IMF annual meetings bring together decision makers and professionals from various institutions and sectors to discuss global issues. During the conference, leaders will discuss the progress on the work of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group. The meeting provides important guidance for the executive boards of the two institutions moving forward.
The primary focus of the 2016 meeting is to discuss the goal to eradicate extreme poverty by 2030 and to promote shared prosperity. It is expected that approximately 13,000 people will attend this year's meetings.
The YDC delegates will bring a Canadian perspective to these issues in both the national and global context.
"Canadian delegates can influence policy outcomes surrounding long-term economic development and poverty reduction in low-income countries," explains Lee. "As delegates, we will strive to engage and collaborate on supporting the WB-IMF's goals towards a stable and prosperous economy. For a student, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
Over the course of three days, YDC delegates will attend and participate in panel presentations, seminars and meetings where they will engage with global policy leaders. This opportunity allows for the youth perspective to be shared at some of the highest levels of global governance.
Lee hopes that voicing the youth perspective will enable new experiences, openness to innovative ideas and discussion for new strategies to tackle health inequities and disparities.
"We are extremely proud that Cerina has been selected to serve as Head Delegate," comments Kue Young, dean of the School of Public Health. "This is another example of the quality of the students we attract, their passion for public health and their global outlook."
The World Bank-International Monetary Fund Annual Meetings takes place from October 7-9, 2016. Delegates will provide exclusive coverage directly from the Annual Meetings using the Young Diplomats of Canada social media platforms.