Description

This course critically interrogates historical and present-day gender and racial issues in Canada’s national security and intelligence (SI) community. By analyzing a series of counterterrorism, counterintelligence and insider threat case studies, participants will examine how diversity can enhance intelligence collection, analysis, and decision-making. You will probe underlying assumptions from dominant national security approaches and discuss tensions and conflicts faced by Canada’s equity-seeking groups within the SI community and those on the outside who are impacted by SI outcomes. Forward-looking, you will analyze specific efforts made with the intention of increasing diversity in recruitment, retainment, and advancement. Finally, you will explore how transparency and accountability can positively impact public trust and strengthen national security.

Learning Outcomes

  • Identify deliberate actions and strategies focused on creating a culture of inclusion and innovation in traditionally hierarchical bureaucratic organizations
  • Communicate the benefits of including equity, diversity, and inclusion in national security work
  • Address historical inequalities and social injustices with the intention of attracting diverse talent to the sector
  • Utilize lessons from the past to inform future SI approaches
  • Appreciate the impact of national security policy, decision-making, and action in underrepresented communities, Canadian foreign policy, and international security

Duration

6 hours

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Instructor

Huda Mukbil is a national security expert, having served as Senior Intelligence Officer with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS). Huda contributed to Five-Eye international investigations and received awards from the British Security Service MI5 for her contributions to investigating the 2005 London terrorist attacks. As a racialized woman, she is a leading voice on diversity and inclusion with deep insights. She holds an Honours B.A. in Law from Carleton University and an M.A. in Feminist and Gender Studies from the University of Ottawa. Huda is the author of Agent of Change: My Life Fighting Terrorists, Spies, and Institutional Racism.