A conversation with Hannah Fenn-Tye, the 2023-24 Fiona Watson Scholar

Every year, the Fiona Watson Foundation sends one lucky Heriot-Watt University languages student to New York City, where they work for the United Nations as an intern.

The Prize was founded in 2004 in honour of Fiona Watson, a Heriot-Watt student who was tragically killed the year before while working for the UN in Iraq. Fiona’s family, who form the core of the Foundation, work diligently to keep the memory and legacy of Fiona alive, supported by the wider Heriot-Watt community.

We had the chance to sit down with Hannah Fenn-Tye, the latest Fiona Watson scholar, who is only recently back from New York. Here’s what she had to say about the experience…

Please introduce yourself.

Hello! I’m Hannah. I’m from Dunblane, Scotland, and I studied Modern Languages (Interpreting and Translating) at Heriot-Watt University, with a focus on French and Spanish. I graduated in 2023 and have just finished my six-month internship at the United Nations in New York.

What kind of work have you been doing as an intern at the UN? Did it correspond with your degree subject at Heriot-Watt?

I was an intern for the Policy, Evaluation and Training (DPET) division within the Department of Peace Operations (DPO). A lot of my work had to do with the Special Committee for Peacekeeping (C34), which produces a report each year with recommendations for international peacekeeping measures.

A few other things I worked on: an internal newsletter on peacekeeping, the collation of member state reactions to new policies, and notetaking for meetings and Committee sessions. The work wasn’t always directly linked to my degree but, on a few occasions, I used my language skills when reading statements from French- and Spanish-speaking member states.

What was the highlight of your time at the UN?

Probably working on the Special Committee for Peacekeeping (C34) file, as I was able to be there for the whole process. It was so interesting to see how progress was made in the most important aspects of peacekeeping, such as the protection of civilians, peacebuilding, and issues related to women in peacekeeping. It was likewise fascinating to gain an understanding of the UN’s peacekeeping priorities going forward.

What was the biggest challenge?

The acronyms! As you can see from the name of the team I worked in, there are acronyms everywhere at the UN. The organisation as a whole can be difficult to navigate, but I was fortunate to work with many wonderful colleagues and several other interns who were in the same boat.

How would you describe the difference the Fiona Watson Memorial Fund has made in your life?

The impact of the Fiona Watson Memorial Fund is hard to put into words. The list of benefits is endless: the things I’ve learned professionally, the people I’ve met, and the skills and experiences I’ve gained living and working in New York…

Let me give you some examples: I have developed my organisational skills by getting to grips with the structure, processes, and timelines of a complex international organisation and worked with a diverse range of people from a huge variety of backgrounds. Then there’s New York: even things like navigating the subway and adapting to American English provided some interesting experiences!

The long-term impact on the trajectory of my life is impossible to know, but having an internship at the UN as my first career step is priceless. Before the Fiona Watson experience, I never would have dreamt that I would work in New York for the United Nations after uni.

Something else I have taken away from this, as cheesy as it may sound, is to think beyond the limits I have unconsciously placed on my sense of what is possible. You never know what opportunity may be around the corner.

What would you say to any would-be donors considering giving to the Fiona Watson Memorial Fund?

By donating to the Fiona Watson Memorial Fund, you would provide so much more than you may realise. The UN Secretariat only offers unpaid internships, and it is rare to hear of people getting financial support. While I am certainly aware that I come from a privileged country, I never would have been able to do this internship without the support of this incredible fund. I am so grateful to everyone who has contributed over the years and thereby allowed me, and so many before and after me, to experience such a unique and valuable opportunity.

What’s next for you?

I have just arrived home from New York. At the UN, I was exposed to so many interesting people with diverse, complex careers and unconventional career paths, and so the future feels a lot more open now – there are so many different options or paths I could take. While this is very exciting, it means I have a lot to think about! I am so excited to see where this experience will lead and what my journey will be from here.

Thanks, Hannah!

To discuss the Fiona Watson Memorial Fund, please email Development Executive, Amanda Donaldson at a.donaldson@hw.ac.uk, and learn more about Heriot-Watt's campaign for global impact, Shaping Futures.

This piece originally appeared in the HW Donor Impact Report 2023/2024. To get your copy, contact Stewardship Officer, Frederick Johnson - f.johnson@hw.ac.uk.