With the conference tomorrow, we thought we’d introduce you to your brilliant committee leaders! Each committee will have one Main Chair, one or two Co-Chairs, and potentially an Assistant Director as well. The Main Chair will be your main point of contact and will be leading the Dais - here’s a few fun details about a few of them, so you can get to know them a little bit better before the conference!
AU: Ben Chambers (Main Chair)
Course: BA PPE, Third Year, Trinity College
If you could teleport anywhere in the world for a day, where would you go?
Johannesburg, South Africa - I lived there for a few years, and it would be great to revisit my favourite places.
If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be, and why?
Vasily Arkhipov - Soviet submarine officer in the Cold War, widely credited with avoiding nuclear war by refusing to sign off on use of a torpedo against the US. It would be interesting to get his side of the story and how he felt at the time!
Narnia Fantasy: Jan Chan (Main Chair)
Course: BA Portuguese and Linguistics, Fourth Year, St Anne's
Which fictional world would you most like to live in?
Doraemon's world! I would love to try out all the futuristic tools.
If you could teleport anywhere in the world for a day, where would you go?
Machu Picchu in Peru!
ICJ: Kokil Sehgal (Main Chair)
Course: Experimental Psychologist (MSc), Second Year, Queen’s College
Which fictional world would you most like to live in?
I would love to live in the fictional world of Spirited Away.
UNOOSA: Matilda Gray (Main Chair)
Course: BA Ancient and Modern History, Second Year, St Hilda’s
Which fictional world would you most like to live in?
Star Trek - it's basically Space United Nations.
If you could teleport anywhere in the world for a day, where would you go?
Rome – I am a massive history nerd! You can never see enough aqueducts.
What is your favourite memory from your time doing MUN?
I was in Year 8, it was my second conference and I was on the Security Council. Even though I was the youngest there, everyone listened to me and treated me with respect. It had a big impact on me and helped me be where I am today. (Or that time we voted to introduce gladiator duels between world leaders to settle all wars!)
CSW: Catrina McNamara (Main Chair)
Course: BA Law, Third year, Lincoln College
What’s a random talent or skill you have?
I can breakdance.
DISEC: Josh Askew (Main Chair)
Course: BA PPE, Third Year, Trinity College
If you could teleport anywhere in the world for a day, where would you go?
Toronto, Canada - I had the most magical time there with OG in April! Maybe Niagara Falls specifically.
CSW: Mariam Elantably (Co-Chair)
Course: Computer Science, 2nd year, University College
What’s your go-to karaoke song?
Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus.
ECOFIN: Derek Wong (Co-Chair)
Course: MSc by Research in Psychiatry, First Year, St. Anne's
Which fictional world would you most like to live in?
Unironically, the MCU, only because I think the news would go haywire every time something happens and I think it'd be somewhat entertaining (like oh no, space beings on a Tuesday!). I would not want to live in NYC in the MCU though.
If you could teleport anywhere in the world for a day, where would you go?
Antarctica (with proper clothing, of course).
What is your favourite memory from your time doing MUN?
I got to be in a Crisis Committee that re-enacted 1962 Cold War-era Congress pre-Cuban Missile Crisis – it was very fun trying to experience the style of debate Congresspeople would have taken part in back then, with the rise of McCarthyism and the general fears about the Soviet Union.
UNSC Ad-hoc: Jasmine (Co-Chair)
Course: BA PPE, Second Year, Jesus College
Which fictional world would you most like to live in?
Harry Potter! When I was younger, I was convinced that a Hogwarts letter would turn up on my 11th birthday, but sadly, it never did. Oxford is about the closest I'll get though, so no complaints!
ICJ: Isabella Craig (Co-Chair)
Course: BA Modern Languages (French and Spanish), Second Year, St Catherine's College
What’s a random talent or skill you have?
I can wiggle one ear while keeping the other one still!!
If you could teleport anywhere in the world for a day, where would you go?
Probably to Machu Picchu in Peru or the Salt flats in Bolivia.
If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be, and why?
Probably Princess Diana because she was so selfless, tolerant, and inspiring!!
Historical Crisis: Ming Peng (MP) Yap (Co-Chair)
Course: BA Jurisprudence, 2nd year, Queen's
What’s your go-to karaoke song?
My go-to song is Sofia by Clairo because it's about the capital of Bulgaria, and not because I'm performative…
Safe travels, and we’ll see you at the conference!