For three months this summer, I had the privilege of working with the Permanent Mission of Canada to the International Organizations in Vienna (VPERM). This internship was made possible by the work of the McGill Arts Internship Office and the generous donation of Garvin Brown through the Susan Casey Brown fund, to whom I am enormously grateful. These past months have been an incredible opportunity to learn the ins-and-outs of international diplomacy with Canada’s diplomatic team and have helped me see my path going forward.
VPERM is Canada’s diplomatic mission to the United Nations and other multilateral organizations in Vienna, Austria. These organizations include important international forums like the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) and the UN Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The diplomats of VPERM have the responsibility of representing Canada and Canadian interests across these organizations.
My interest in participating in the VPERM internship was fueled in large part by my background in history and political science at McGill. My studies in each have showed me the importance of diplomacy as an avenue for peace and finding multilateral solutions and thus have pushed me to consider a future career working in international diplomacy. Therefore, I was overjoyed to get hands on experience with multilateral diplomacy and see what I could contribute to Canada’s international efforts in this internship. This academic background in history and political science also proved to be a great help throughout this internship, as understanding some history of international relations and relevant organizations gave me much needed context that helped me to ease into an information dense environment.
My role at VPERM was to attend a wide variety of meetings, events, and conferences across each of the organizations in support of VPERMs initiatives and responsibilities. In some cases, this meant attending a conference to support the work of the diplomats of the Canadian mission or working with Canadian experts from Ottawa. Or, in other cases, I was sent as the sole representative. In nearly all instances, my role was to take notes, support wherever possible, and relay information back to the mission and to Ottawa.
One of the greatest highlights of my experience at VPERM was working with the Canadian delegation to the 32nd United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ). The conference was of particular importance, as Canada was working on passing a resolution. I had the privilege of participating in every aspect of the negotiations and conference attendance and got to contribute to the work of accomplished diplomats and members of Justice Canada. Though the hours were long, it was a very fulfilling experience and taught me invaluable lessons on multilateral diplomacy. Another event of particular significance for me was the 2023 United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS). At this conference, I was fortunate enough to meet and assist several members of the Canadian Space Agency, as well as experts from other space agencies. COPUOS opened my eyes to the pioneering work currently being done in the field of outer space affairs, and the intriguing way it is involved with international diplomacy.
Overall, the time I spent at VPERM has also helped me to realize some paths I want to pursue in my future. Through my practical experience with diplomatic work, I have come to realize that I enjoy working in multi- and bilateral relations. Participating in this year’s COPUOS conference and seeing first-hand the new concepts that are being explored has additionally inspired me to explore options in outer space law and international affairs.
Thank you to the McGill International Experience Awards founders, and Mr. Brown for making this experience possible.
