International Women's Day PGR Student Spotlight - Ann Bajo

Our Faculty of Business and Law Student Spotlight is Ann Bajo.

What is your research?

Regional cooperation amongst Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) states to prevent and manage conflict in Southeast Asia.

Tell us a bit more about your research.

Southeast Asia has long suffered from violence and armed conflict caused by insurgency in different parts of the region. Two of the most violent armed conflicts are in the Philippines with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and in Thailand with the Barisan Revolusi Nasional. Aside from the socio-economic costs these conflicts have brought about in the southern provinces, the violence has also implicated neighbouring countries, particularly Malaysia. Transnational security issues, such as illegal migration, refugee crisis, and terrorism have prompted Malaysia to intervene in the conflict. Malaysia played a crucial role in resolving and managing the conflict in the southern provinces of both the Philippines and Thailand. Analysing these two case studies allows a more focused and detailed examination of third party intervention in internal conflicts. Likewise, the study intends to determine the benefits and challenges of Malaysia’s actions in addressing internal conflicts and gather lessons that can be adopted by other countries with similar challenges. My research hopes to impact policy and practice of conflict resolution and management in Southeast Asia.

Tell us a bit about you.

I always dreamed of pursuing a PhD and studying abroad, so I am more than blessed to be living the dream. My PhD studies have been a very exciting journey and studying here at the University of Portsmouth has helped me grow as an empowered security specialist in a male-dominated industry.

My interest in defense and security began when I did an internship at the United Nations Department of Safety and Security. Before starting my PhD I was a Senior Defense Analyst in the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and a Division Chief at the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity under the Office of the President of the Philippines. In the military, I was part of a team of experts and planners that developed strategic assessments, capability development plans, and military doctrine. I also participated in military exercises with our key allies, such as the United States. Some of my biggest accomplishments in my 10-year career in government is when I was deployed to a war zone during an ISIS-inspired terrorist attack in the city of Marawi in the Philippines.

I documented the military operations of the Special Operations Forces that later became the basis for the activation of the AFP Special Operations Command. I also supported the Special Forces to implement the preventing and countering violent extremism program of the Philippine Army in Sulu. Furthermore, my team in the Office of the President facilitated a healing and reconciliation ritual to an indigenous community in Mindanao that led to the surrender of the last indigenous people communist leader and dismantling of a communist front in Talaingod, Davao del Norte. Working with the indigenous community has inspired me to open my own coffee business called Coffee Press Co. that supports the livelihood of the Tausugs in Sulu, Philippines.