Bryn McAuley graduated with distinction from Ryerson University in 2018 with an Honours Degree in Arts and Contemporary Studies. While pursuing her degree, Bryn served as Co-Director of the Peer Mentoring Committee for Ryerson’s Lifeline Syria Challenge. In this role, Bryn assisted more than 15 Syrian refugee families during their first year in Canada by managing one-on-one mentoring and facilitating employment and extra-curricular opportunities.

Bryn’s leadership with Lifeline Syria shaped her research interest in refugees and forced migrants, particularly in the context of conflict in the Middle East. Her undergraduate studies centered on U.S. foreign policy, colonialism, and democratic political theory. As a research assistant, Bryn provided French-language skills to Dr. Miriam Anderson’s research on women’s gains in political representation in Burundi.

Outside of academia, Bryn served for six years as an adjunct board member for ACTRA, Canada’s screen actor’s union. In this role, she lobbied all three levels of government to promote the interests of Canada’s screen performers. She simultaneously co-founded ACTRA Toronto’s youth committee in 2010 and grew the initiative to more than 500 members over six years.

Leveraging these experiences with new insights from the MAGG, Bryn hopes to further develop her skills as an advocate. Bryn has a strong interest in the global governance of refugees, specifically in the mechanisms that developed states use to limit their Refugee Convention obligations. Her diverse interests also include global environmental governance, Canadian cultural policies, and labour union advocacy and activism.