Prior to proceeding with your application, please take a moment to read through this page:

 

 

IMPORTANT DATES

May 15 (11:59pm ET) application deadline

June notification of selected Fellows

October 27 Fellowship begins

November 21-23 2025 Halifax International Security Forum

November 24 Fellowship concludes

 

OVERVIEW

HFX launched the Peace With Women Fellowship in 2018 because women’s participation and leadership in international and security affairs leads directly to more peaceful and equitable outcomes.

With an opportunity to live, work and learn together during a four-week executive study tour of Canada and the United States and to attend the annual Halifax International Security Forum as full participants, the Peace With Women Fellowship is designed to fully equip senior female military officers from NATO and NATO-partner countries for their future leadership positions.

HFX is proud to shape the future with this unmatched program that advances women’s leadership and builds a dynamic network of senior military officers from around the world. 

 

ELIGIBILITY

  • Active-duty female military officers from NATO and NATO-partner countries
  • Rank equivalent to army colonel or naval captain (NATO rank OF-05) or above
  • Oral and written proficiency in English (program will be conducted in English)
  • HFX will consider up to five applications from each eligible country

 

SELECTION COMMITTEE

Experienced international professionals serve on the Peace With Women Fellowship Selection Committee and will be responsible for reviewing candidate applications and making recommendations for the 2025 Fellowship class.

 

FUNDING BY RESPECTIVE GOVERNMENT

The $30,600 USD program fee (to be paid by the government of the selected officer) is all inclusive of travel, accommodation and meals October 27 - November 24.

 

PROGRAM

The Fellowship itinerary is designed to broaden the officers’ understanding of security. The 2025 program will include informal meetings with senior military, political, business, technology and thought leaders in Canada and the United States and will conclude at Halifax International Security Forum where the Fellows will participate alongside ministers, general officers, legislators, industry leaders and experts from the world’s democracies.

 

The 2025 Fellowship program will include meetings with:

  • Canada’s Office of the Prime Minister
  • Canada’s Department of National Defence
  • Global Affairs Canada
  • Canada’s Parliament
  • The White House
  • U.S. Department of Defense
  • U.S. State Department
  • Capitol Hill
  • High-level representatives from Canadian and U.S. academia, industry, media and civil society

 

SELECT MEETINGS 2018-2024

Individuals  

  • Madeleine Albright, Former United States Secretary of State
  • Frances Allen, Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, Canadian Armed Forces
  • Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence, Canada
  • James Baker, Director of Net Assessment, United States Department of Defense
  • Rob Bauer, Chair of the NATO Military Committee
  • Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, Canada
  • Charles Q. Brown Jr., United States Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
  • Jennie Carignan Chief of the Defence Staff, Canadian Armed Forces
  • Michael Carpenter, Special Assistant to the President; Senior Director for Europe, National Security Council, United States
  • Wayne Eyre, Chief of the Defence Staff, Canadian Armed Forces
  • Linda Fagan, Commandant, United States Coast Guard
  • Sharon Feist, Director for Women, Peace and Security, United States Indo-Pacific Command
  • Irene Fellin, NATO Secretary General's Representative for Women, Peace and Security
  • Lisa Franchetti, Vice Chief of Naval Operations, United States Navy
  • Kirsten Gillibrand, United States Senator, New York
  • Bonnie Jenkins, Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, United States Department of State
  • Mara Karlin, Assistant Secretary of Defense Strategy, Plans and Capabilities, United States Department of Defense
  • Jennifer Klein, Assistant to the President, United States
  • Peter MacKay, Former Minister of National Defence, Canada
  • Bill Matthews, Deputy Minister of National Defence, Canada
  • H.R. McMaster, Former United States National Security Advisor
  • Samuel Paparo, Commander, United States Indo-Pacific Command
  • Colin Powell, Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Former Secretary of State, United States
  • James Risch, United States Senator, Idaho
  • Jacky Rosen, United States Senator, Nevada
  • B. Chance Saltzman, Deputy Chief of Space Operations, Cyber and Nuclear, United States Space Force
  • Jeanne Shaheen, United States Senator, New Hampshire
  • Richard V. Spencer, United States Secretary of the Navy
  • Jody Thomas, National Security and Intelligence Advisor, Office of the Prime Minister, Canada
  • Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
  • Peter Welch, United States Senator, Vermont
  • Heather Wilson, Secretary of the United States Air Force

 

Institutions and Organizations

  • Amazon Web Services
  • Brookings Institution
  • Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries
  • Canadian Forces College
  • Canadian Global Affairs lnstitute
  • Canadian Red Cross
  • CAE
  • CBC News
  • Center for Justice and Accountability
  • Center for Strategic and International Studies
  • Council on Canadian Innovators
  • Council on Strategic Risks (CSR)
  • Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies
  • Deloitte
  • DLA Piper
  • East-West Center
  • Facebook
  • Fox News
  • Google
  • The Hill Times
  • HFX
  • International Republican Institute
  • IPSOS
  • Macdonald-Laurier lnstitute
  • McCain Institute
  • Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto
  • National Democratic lnstitute
  • National Endowment for Democracy
  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
  • North American Aerospace Defense Command
  • Pacific Forum
  • Palantir
  • Peterson Space Force Base
  • United States Air Force Academy
  • United States Coast Guard District 14
  • United States lnstitute of Peace
  • United States Northern Command
  • The Washington Post
  • Women in Defence and Security

 

APPLICATION

Before beginning the online application, please have the following documents ready to upload as one PDF attachment:

  1. Letter of Affirmation: to be written by the applicant’s commanding officer and answering the following questions: Why should this officer be selected for the Peace With Women Fellowship? What value will the Peace With Women Fellowship add to the candidate’s career growth?
  2. CV or Resume: to be written in list form and detailing achievements and responsibilities in the applicant’s military career.
  3. Professional Biography: 250 words or less.
  4. Essay Questions: to be written by the applicant using 300 words or less per question.
    1. Describe your current responsibilities and the scope of your accountability/authority (budget, personnel, etc.).
    2. What has been your most pressing leadership challenge and how did you address and/or resolve it?
    3. What are your short-term and long-term career goals?
    4. How do you think the Peace With Women Fellowship will help you progress to and excel in the next stages of your career?

 

 

HFX will consider up to five applications from each eligible country.

 

If you have any questions prior to beginning your application, please email the Fellowship team on fellowship@halifaxtheforum.org.