Waterloo – Clint Abbott has been awarded the prestigious 2009-10 Cadieux-Léger Fellowship by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) to further his studies in the field of Canadian foreign policy.

Mr. Abbott is a senior researcher at The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) and part of the first wave of Balsillie Fellows at the Balsillie School of International Affairs. He is completing his PhD in Global Governance with research focused on improving our understanding of networked international governance as a component of summit diplomacy by national leaders.

“Networked governance is an emerging concept and process which deserves attention and research to better understand its significance and potential,” explains Mr. Abbott. “I want to become involved with and contribute to the ongoing process of summit evolution and reform, including the newly formed G20 leaders fora and the G8 summit of leaders to be hosted by Canada in 2010.”

Annually DFAIT appoints one Cadieux-Léger fellow on the basis of innovative research and stellar academic achievement, along with exceptional promise for continued accomplishment.

As a Cadieux-Léger fellow, Mr. Abbott will take up residence in the Policy Research Division at DFAIT in Ottawa from October 2009 to June 2010. There, he will undertake a research project on a topic relevant to Canadian foreign policy, while contributing to the work of the division and furthering his studies.

The fellowship, which is open to graduate students worldwide, is named after Canadian diplomats Marcel Cadieux and Jules Léger, staunch supporters of biculturalism and multiculturalism respectively.

Previous Cadieux-Léger fellowship winners include Andrew F. Cooper, associate director and distinguished fellow at The Centre for International Governance Innovation, and CIGI Senior Fellow Mark Sedra.

For more information about the Cadieux-Léger Fellowship Program, please visit: www.international.gc.ca/cip-pic/fellowship-bourse/cadieux-leger.aspx