Outbound Peace Fellow – Sarah Agnew

Outbound Peace Fellow – Sarah Agnew

District 9940 is pleased to be sponsoring Sarah Agnew as a 2013 Rotary Peace Fellow to Uppsala University in Sweden.  Sarah has provide a brief bio below.  We wish Sarah all the best for here studies.

DG Graeme

My name is Sarah Agnew and I am the 2013-15 Rotary Peace Fellow from District 9940, sponsored by the Port Nicholson Rotary Club.

From August 2013, I will be undertaking a Masters in Peace and Conflict Studies at Uppsala University in Sweden.

My area of expertise is in human rights law.  I currently work as a solicitor at John Miller Law, specialising in Accident Compensation work, Criminal and Civil law.  I previously worked at the Ministry of Justice in the Human Rights Team.

Outside of my vocational interests I enjoy salsa dancing, learning Spanish and Japanese and learning about other cultures, travelling, reading and playing the guitar.

While in Sweden I intend to become involved with my host Rotary Club as well as other community and volunteer activities.  I am looking forward to flying the kiwi flag and promoting the work of New Zealand Rotarians. 

On completion of my scholarship, I cannot wait to see what opportunities will arise and what doors will open. I aim to use the skills and education I have gained to help in whatever way I can to implement human rights standards, both in times of peace and conflict, in developing countries.  My career aspirations are also to work in a Non-Governmental Organisation (such as the International Committee of the Red Cross), at the United Nations, or in an international tribunal or criminal court.  

I cannot express how happy and grateful I am to the Rotary Foundation and Rotarians for this life changing opportunity.