Leah Schmidt is a PhD student at the University of Cambridge’s Department of Politics and International Studies, focussing on women, peace and security research, posthumanist theory, and feminist security studies. She previously earned has a Master of Philosophy in Gender Studies from the University of Cambridge, as the Canadian Chevening Scholar and Rotary Trust Global Grant Recipient; a Bachelor of Arts (First Class Honours) in Women’s Studies from the University of Calgary; a Bachelor of Arts (Distinction and Minor in Anthropology) in International Relations from the University of Calgary; and a graduate certificate from the London School of Economics and Politics in Law, War, and Human Rights. Originally from Calgary but now based in Ottawa, Canada, she is the previous Gender Lead for the Canadian G7/G20 diplomatic team, a Killam Fellow alumna with Fulbright Canada, and Alberta Top 30 Under 30, among other academic and leadership awards.