Dr. Ronya Foy Connor was selected as one of 20 global fellows to participate in the upcoming Sasakawa Young Leaders Fellowship Fund (Sylff) Leaders Workshop in Japan. She was chosen from among 114 applicants from 36 countries to contribute to discussions on the future role of state and non-state actors in the Sylff’s mission of “nurturing leadership transcending boundaries in addressing social issues.”
Dr. Foy Connor was recognised for her work in advancing policy studies/policymaking and experience in addressing social issues in civil society, academia, and government. Highlighted efforts include her work in the United States as a 2013-2014 Sasakawa Fellow at Howard University, research in East Africa on women social entrepreneurs and community sustainability and leadership in the Caribbean with Anguilla’s Gender Affairs development, assistance with the Domestic Violence Act 2015, and the extension of the United Nations Convention to Eliminate all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in 2016.
As part of the Sylff Leaders Workshop, she will participate in two 8-day programs in September 2018 and April 2019 in various cities in Japan including Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Sasayama. The 20 fellows, of multicultural backgrounds, will gather to discuss the “Potential of Trans-border Networking in 2030” through the application of scenario planning methodologies. They will also meet top-tier guest speakers and policy research experts at the Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research and have the opportunity to dialogue with Mr. Yohei Sasakawa, chairman of the Sylff Association and the Nippon Foundation. At the end of the programme, all participants will make presentations of their conclusions concerning the potential of networking for social problem alleviation by 2030.
Mr. Sasakawa notes that one of the aims of the Sylff is to “give renewed thought to what leadership qualities are required in today’s world to promote peaceful, sustainable, and socially inclusive development.” Sylff is committed to supporting outstanding graduate-level scholarship in the social sciences and humanities of those who have high potential for leadership and a commitment to exercising leadership in local, national, regional and international affairs, in public as well as in private endeavors. The goal is to nurture future leaders who will transcend geopolitical, religious, ethnic, cultural and other boundaries and will contribute to peace and the well-being of humankind. The Leaders have high integrity and drive to address issues unique to their respective countries and can make a real difference.
We congratulate Dr. Ronya Foy Connor as a representative of Anguilla at this global leadership conference.
