External Research Associate
The Business School, Centennial College
Research Keywords:
International development assistance policy; gender; Indo-Pacific
Research Region(s):
Research Diaspora(s):
Dr Zeng has over 20 years of experience of working in international development sector with PhD in International Development Policy and Administration from University of Florida. She has worked as technical advisor, program manager and professor for various academic, government and non-governmental organizations in Canada and overseas including Asian region.
Currently Dr Zeng works as Grants Program Manager for World Renew, an international development and humanitarian organization, working since 1962 to address the root causes and impacts of extreme global poverty, disaster, and injustice. Prior to that she had worked for a number of Canadian and international organizations including: The Fund for Innovation and Transformation (FIT)—a program of the Inter-Council Network of Provincial and Regional Councils (ICN) funded by Global Affairs Canada and administered by the Manitoba Council for International Cooperation (MCIC), Children Believe (Formerly Christian Children’s Fund of Canada—member of ChildFund Alliance), Canadian government (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Canadian International Development Agency), Parliamentary Centre, Oxfam, York University. In her role as Grans Program Manager for a number of organizations, she has led successful proposal submissions to Global Affairs Canada including a recent call—Strengthening Civil Society and Democratic Spaces in the Indo-Pacific 2024–2028.
Dr Zeng is part-time faculty at The Business School of Centennial College teaching courses for International Development Post-graduate Program. She frequently speaks on international development issues including gender equality, child rights and child protection, diversity, equity and inclusion, localization at various international conferences, seminars and workshops, such as recent Indo-Pacific Strategy Dialogue with Global Affairs Canada, organized by Ontario Council for International Cooperation.
Dr Zeng has served as board director, organizational representative, technical advisor and volunteer for a number of Canadian and international networks including: Board Director of Ontario Council for International Cooperation (with over 100 organizational and individual members), organizational representative for Program Committee and Grants Support Committee of ChildFund Alliance—a global network of 11 child-focused development organizations, Steering Committee, Policy Committee, Child Participation Committee of International Child Protection Network Canada (ICPNC)—a network with leading international child-centred organizations and academic institutions in Canada, organizational representative for Cooperation Canada, Canadian Partnership for Women and Children s Health (CanWaCH), member of The Canadian Association of International Development Professionals (CAIDP).