Stewart is a critical reporter with a remarkable depth of understanding, and it is his ability to bring compassion and humanity to dire situations—while retaining his professionalism—that makes him one of our most celebrated journalists. Throughout his career, he has worked extensively in underdeveloped countries. Stewart was the first North American reporter to focus the world's attention on the Ethiopian famine of 1984. His report "Return To Ethiopia" chronicled his efforts to track down a girl that he had come across during the famine. The story received international coverage and led Stewart and the girl, now in college, to an appearance on Oprah.

Stewart has also covered many of the world's conflicts and has reported from nine war zones, from El Salvador to Beirut. In the Gulf War he was the first Canadian reporter to get into the liberated Kuwait City. During the Sudan Civil War his report on child slavery won the UNDA prize at the Monte Carlo Television Festival. His documentary "The Somalia Affair" won top prize for investigative reporting at the Canadian Association of Journalists Awards.

A leading reporter on The National since 1992 Stewart was also, for two years, host of its current affairs segment, "The Magazine." Prior to that, he was senior reporter for CBC's The Journal. In 1994 he received a "Best Information Segment" Gemini for "Rwanda: Autopsy of a Genocide," in which he uncovered advanced warnings of the mass murders. Two years later, he won the Gemini for "Best Overall Broadcast Journalist."

Stewart's new venture is CBC News: Our World, a weekly current affairs program that comprises international news features produced by CBC's award-winning foreign correspondents, as well as interviews with newsmakers, journalists and analysts to give background and context to the events shaping our world—the events that Stewart has spent his entire professional life covering.

Does Canadian foreign policy matter to Canadians? Brian Stewart feels strongly that it does, and that the choices the government makes on the international stage have a major impact on the lives of Canadians. When competition—for investment, markets, and labour—is conducted on an international scale, a country's brand in the global marketplace matters. What Stewart sees, in this regard, does not bode well for the future. The Canadian flag, he argues, is dimming, and we are being pushed aside by some new kids on the global block. We're now near the bottom of the ranks in peacekeeping, and have yet to find any new compelling role to take the place of this one. With Canadian diplomatic and humanitarian personnel thin on the ground, there are few voices out there making the case the Canada matters. In a talk that is provocative, compelling and full of surprising information, Brian Stewart outlines Canada's current place in the international community, and what must be done if the country is going to regain its place as a voice that matters.

Brian Stewart has seen the heart of darkness in its many forms. Yet despite having witnessed some of the worst humanitarian disasters of the past two decades, he remains convinced that the world is becoming a better place. He sees what he calls the "altruistic personality" as one of the great, untold stories of the past century. Sharing his experiences as a leading foreign correspondent, he talks about the moments of courage, compassion and selflessness that he has seen, tying these in with his central argument that a variety of major global developments—expanding ripples of connectedness and compassion—are coming together to improve the general welfare of people around the world. This talk will appeal to any audience that needs to broaden its perspective, understand the opportunities of a global village, and find renewed optimism in the future of the human race.

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