Dr Emma Leslie, an Australian–Cambodian, is the co-founder of the regional peacebuilding network Action Asia, the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, postgraduate programs in Applied Conflict Transformation Studies (ACTS), and the Cambodia Peace Museum. She has supported peace processes throughout the Asia region since 1993, particularly as a member of the International Contact Group (ICG) which supported the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). She was an international observer of various Myanmar talks and facilitated joint sessions of the Joint Monitoring Committee of the Philippines Government and National Democratic Front. She holds a MA in International Development, an honorary doctorate in International Education and the Order of Australia.

Emma Leslie is a member of Women Mediators across the Commonwealth (WMC), a network hosted by Conciliation Resources which connects women with a broad range of mediation knowledge and experience.