The MUN Summit 2024

Brought to you by MUNers Across Borders and The World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA), the MUN Summit 2024 will be held in the heart of New York City! Get ready to immerse yourself in the worlds of diplomacy, international cooperation, and global issues.

The Model UN Summit is a hybrid event. Participants wishing to participate in the online version may do so by reserving their tickets through Airmeet: http://bit.ly/munsummit24online

Date: Monday, March 18, 2024

Time: 09:00 AM (15:00 CET)

Location: New York Hilton Midtown

At MUN Summit 2024, you'll have the opportunity to contribute to shaping a future where today's youth are upfront and at the center of the discussions regarding global issues. Whether you're a MUN enthusiast, young professional, or new to the scene of diplomacy, this event promises an unforgettable experience that is open to ANYONE.

Connect with like-minded individuals worldwide, expand your network, receive UN-MUN insights, and join our workshops to enhance various skills. Our expert panel of speakers and organizers will guide you throughout the event, ensuring a valuable and enriching experience.

Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to broaden your horizons, gain insights into international affairs, and make lifelong connections. Register now to secure your spot at the MUN Summit 2024!

What do we have in store:

• Panels
• Workshops
• Networking

Note: Unfortunately, we do not have the capability to provide visa letters. This decision is based on various logistical constraints and the intricate nature of visa-related documentation.

The ticket cost does not incorporate flight and accommodation expenses due to several factors, including the diverse preferences of participants in selecting accommodation and how these costs align with their budgetary considerations.

Confirmed Speakers

• Pre-Recorded Video from Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations
• Ambassador Brian Wallace, Jamaican Perm Rep to the UN
• Felipe Paullier, ASG for Youth of the United Nations
• Moderated by Philippe Lefevre, Director of MUNers Across Borders
• Philippe Lefevre, Director of MUNers Across Borders
• Bill Yotive, WFUNA MUN Coordinator
• Jonas Bruns, CEO of MyMUN
• Mr. Jorge Aranda, Deputy PR of Portugal to the UN
• Jayashri Wyatt Chief Outreach Section, UN Department of Global Communications
• Dr. Tina Zappile, NMUN Board Member
• Chase Mitchell DSG NMUN NY
• Kevin Chan, Founder and CEO of Best Delegate
• Audre Park, Founder of Global Minds LLC
• Nadine Khaouli, Youth Engagement Coordinator at UNDP HQ
• Wannes Lint, Intergovernmental Affairs Officer at the UNGA Secretariat
• Giulia Tariello, EU Youth Delegate to the UN
• Saahith Potluri - President of John Hopkins MUN Team
• Online, Laurabeth Goldsmith, Best Delegate
• Online, Tobias Dietrich, NMUN DSG
• Judith Cunningham, Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, MMUN
• Ose Ehianeta Arheghan, Youth Observer for UNA-USA
• Bianca Herzog, Associate Programme Management Officer at United Nations Youth Office
• Ali Mustafa, Advisor of UNDGC Youth Rep Steering Committee
• Ishaan Shah, Co-Coordinator for Youth and Gender, Summit for the Future
• Ronelle King - UN Youth Leader, Founder of Life in Leggings
• Moderated by Ana Williamson, Secretary General of NMUN DC
• Mojgan Khanjani, Bahai International CommunityAna 
• Online, Gosia Stadnicka, Youth Delegate of Poland to the UN
• Angus Rennie, Chief of Staff (Interim), UN Global Compact
• Matic Burkeljc, Attaché, Permanent Mission of Slovenia to the United Nations
• Video from Daniel Gindis and David Miles, Wisemee
• Caitlin Hopper, Global Board Affairs Manager, WRI & Sec Gen of NMUN New York 
• Vitorino Oliveira, First Secretary at the Portuguese Perm Rep to the UN
  Professional, IDIA Board Member
• Sharon Low, Advisor to MUNers Across Borders

Full Agenda

09:00 - 09:10: Welcome Words

09:10 - 09:45: Opening Ceremony

The welcoming words of the MUN Summit 2024 will be conveyed by a representative from WFUNA, the Director of MAB, and one of the prominent partners of MAB commencing the launch of the summit. The opening ceremony carries an air of solemnity and global significance. It will gather high-profile diplomats and representatives from the United Nations to inaugurate the beginning of the summit activities and share their hopes and aspirations for the participants and today’s youth.

• Antonio Guterres (by pre-recorded video), 9th Secretary-General of the United Nations from 2017 and former Prime Minister of Portugal and UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
• H.E Mr. Brian Wallace, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the United Nations since September 2021
• Dr. Felipe Paullier, 1st United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs since October 2023 and former Director of the National Youth Institute of Uruguay.

09:45 - 10:00: Interactive Ice-Breaking Session (In-Person)

This session is designed to expedite the process of forming connections and breaking barriers between participants. By engaging them in meaningful interactions with each other, we hope to establish a sense of comfort for them and foster an environment conducive to productive dialogue and lasting professional relationships.

10:00 - 11:00: State of Play and Success Stories between Model UN and the United Nations

Our panel will seek to explore what the past 81 years of Model United Nations have achieved, and what the current state of play is between the UN and Model UN in the context of the recent resolution 77/336. Since 1943, thousands of conferences and millions of people have taken part in MUN, and in this panel we take a step back and recognise and discuss what that has meant for global politics.

• Video from Jonas Bruns, (Pre-Recorded Video), CEO of MyMUN
• Jorge Aranda: Mr. Jorge Aranda has been a Portuguese diplomat since 1998. He is currently the Deputy Permanent Representative of Portugal at the UN in New York. Previously he was Security Policy Director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Lisbon. 
• Jayashri Wyatt: Jayashri Wyatt is the Chief of Education Outreach, in the Outreach Division, Department of Global Communication. 
• Mr. William Yotive is currently the Model UN Coordinator for WFUNA. Prior to working at WFUNA, Mr. Yotive was Project Manager of the United Nations Global Teaching and Learning Project within the Outreach Division of the UN Department of Public Information for more than 14 years. 
• Dr. Tina Zappile, NMUN Board Member: Dr. Tina Zappile is the Chair and Associate Professor of Political Science at Stockton University, and has led the campus-wide Model UN program at Stockton since its inception in 2012. 
• Moderated by Chase Mitchell Deputy Secretary General of NMUN Session 2: Chase works as the Senior Cost & Pricing Manager at Creative Associates International, an international development organisation and USAID Implementing Partner. Chase has volunteered with National Model United Nations since 2015.

11:00 - 11:30: Coffee Break

11:30 - 12:15: Model United Nations - The Gaps that Remain and Visions for the Future Panel

The session "Model United Nations - The Gaps that Remain and Visions for the Future" aims to delve into the areas where Model UN can further evolve to bridge existing gaps and explore the aspirations for its future. With the landscape of global affairs continually evolving, this discussion is crucial for enhancing the effectiveness of Model UN initiatives worldwide and also exploring how the United Nations and the MUN Community can work closer together over the years to come.

• Kevin Chan: Kevin — also known by his initials “KFC” — is the Co-Founder and CEO of Best Delegate. Kevin has personally taught Model UN in 20 countries around the world and spoken twice at the United Nations. 
• Audre Park: Founder of Global Minds LLC, Audré is passionate about providing opportunities for children to learn about global issues. Prior to being an immigration attorney, she was a 9th grade English teacher. She founded Global Minds LLC with the hope of establishing a reliable, sustainable program. 
• Nadine Khaouli works at the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in New York as a Youth Engagement Coordinator for the Generation 17 initiative. 
• Wannes Lint: Intergovernmental Affairs Officer in the secretariat of the United Nations General Assembly, Lead in the GA secretariat for the Summit of the Future, the Global Digital Compact, the General Committee, the Ad Hoc Working Group on GA revitalization, the Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing and the 11th emergency special session (Ukraine). 
• Giulia Tariello (Italy) is an EU Youth Delegate for the UNGA 78th Session. Previously, she served as the Italian Youth Delegate to the United Nations, thanks to the Programme of the Italian Society for the International Organization (SIOI), where she focused on advancing the Sustainable Development Goal of quality education
• Moderated by Bill Yotive: Mr. William Yotive is currently the Model UN Coordinator for WFUNA. Prior to working at WFUNA, Mr. Yotive was Project Manager of the United Nations Global Teaching and Learning Project within the Outreach Division of the UN Department of Public Information for more than 14 years. 

12:30 - 13:30 - Workshop on Best Practices in Model United Nations

Participants will partake in an instructive workshop thoughtfully co-organized by Model UN Societies and NGOs. This workshop promises to convey a comprehensive understanding of the best practices that can elevate the Model United Nations experience to new heights of excellence. We will explore topics ranging from Access to MUN, diversity, and inclusion, to forming partnerships for MUN.

Joining us for facilitation we are glad to be having:

• Saahith Potluri - President of John Hopkins MUN Team
• Kevin Chan - Co-Founder and CEO of Best Delegate.
• Laurabeth Goldsmith (online), Executive Director of Partnerships at Best Delegate
• Tobias Dietrich (online), NMUN New York DSG 2023, NMUN Advisory Group Member
• Chase Mitchell, NMUN New York DSG 2024
• Ana Williamson, NMUN DC Secretary General 2023

13:30 - 14:30 - Lunch

14:30 - 15:30: Working with Youth as Global Citizens - The Role of the Summit of the Future

The session "Working with Youth as Global Citizens - The Role of the Summit of the Future" aims to explore the significance of engaging youth in global governance exercises like Summit for the Future and how they can be empowered to make changes and differences in their local, national, and international contexts. With a focus on empowering youth from diverse backgrounds and regions, this discussion seeks to identify strategies for fostering their active involvement in global affairs.

• Judith Cunningham, Founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Montessori Model UN. Experienced Strategic Director with a demonstrated history of working with students and teachers in global citizenship and peace education. 
• Ose Ehianeta Arheghan (they/them) is the Youth Observer for UNA-USA a journalist and community organiser with a passion for LGBTQ+ rights, focusing on queer and trans youth of colour. A Truman Scholar with bachelor’s degrees in Chinese and Political Science, they have received numerous accolades, including being named a GLAAD 20 under 20 Rising Star and a Matthew Shepard Foundation Spirit of Matthew awardee. 
• Bianca Herzog is Associate Programme Management Officer at United Nations Youth Office, working on coordination, strategic planning & leading programmatic work on education, skills, & employment.
• Ali Mustafa, is Advisor of UNDGC Youth Rep Steering Committee and a youth development professional with over 13 years of experience as a human rights advocate and a youth mobilising force.
• Ishaan Shah, Co-Coordinator for Youth and Gender, Summit for the Future. Ishaan Shah is a 20-year-old international human rights, gender equality and climate action young leader. He is the Founding Director of Stolen Dreams, and Co-Founder of the Youth for Freedom collective, two international youth-led collectives working with stakeholders to counter contemporary forms of slavery and trafficking in persons through education, advocacy, and policy. 
• From Barbados, Ronelle King is a multi-award-winning Gender Justice Activist and the Founder of Life In Leggings, a Caribbean Alliance against gender-based violence. In acknowledgement of her dedication to reducing gender inequality in her country and region, Ronelle was awarded the 2017 Youth Hero Award, the 2018 Queen’s Young Leader Award by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace, the 2022 Future Island Leader Award and the 2022 Ignite Caribbean 30 under 30 Changemaker Award. 
• Bill Yotive, WFUNA Model UN Coordinator: Mr. William Yotive is currently the Model UN Coordinator for WFUNA. Prior to working at WFUNA, Mr. Yotive was Project Manager of the United Nations Global Teaching and Learning Project within the Outreach Division of the UN Department of Public Information for more than 14 years. 
• Moderated by Ana Williamson, Secretary General of NMUN DC: Ana works as a government contractor within the U.S. Department of Defense space, mostly for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.She currently lives in Bethesda, Maryland where she is an active volunteer for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the Danish Club of Washington, D.C. Ana volunteered at NMUN•DC for eight years.

15:30 - 16:30: Workshop on Better Ways to Empower Youth Voices in the International System

This workshop serves as a platform for the exploration of innovative strategies to empower and amplify the voices of youth in the complex realm of global decision-making. The facilitators will provide insights on the chapter on youth projected to be introduced at the United Nations “Summit of the Future”, and attendees will be expected to make use of these insights to help form and catalyse substantial change in the youth participation is regarded on global forums.

Joining us for facilitation we are glad to be having:

• Mojgan Khanjani, Youth Delegate of the Baha'I International Community to the UN, Member of the Civil Society Youth Steering Committee, UN DGC
• Malgorzata Stadnicka (online), Youth Delegate of Poland to the UN 
• Tobias Dietrich (online), NMUN New York DSG 2023, NMUN Advisory Group Member
• Chase Mitchell, NMUN New York DSG 2024
• Ana Williamson, NMUN DC Secretary General 2023
• Caitlin Hopper, NMUN New York Secretary General

16:30 - 17:00: Closing Ceremony

The summit draws to a close with the closing ceremony which aims to reflect on the progress made between the UN and civil society and explore future steps to strengthen collaboration. As the Model UN Summit concludes, this session provides an opportunity to outline concrete actions for advancing mutual goals.

• Angus Rennie, Chief of Staff (Interim), UN Global Compact: Angus is passionate about bringing the United Nations and business together to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals – to leave the planet in better shape for future generations. Throughout his purpose-driven career, Angus has worked to create impact as a writer, a strategist, a relationship-builder and someone who strives to speak truth to power. This has included work as a political advisor and a Canadian lawyer, and more recently a career in service of the United Nations advocating for more responsible, ethical, and principled business practices.
• Matic Burkeljc, Attaché, Permanent Mission of Slovenia to the United Nations. With a strong background in multilateral diplomacy, he plays a crucial role in representing Slovenia's interests and contributing to the work of the United Nations on various global issues.
• Moderator, Philippe Lefevre: Founder and Director of MUNers Across Borders, young professional based in Brussels and London with over 50 conferences experience across 15 countries. 

17:05 - 17:15: Closing Words

The closing words offers a platform to reflect on the enduring impact of Model UN and its significance within the broader international system. It serves as a culmination of discussions held throughout the summit, emphasising the importance of sustaining and advancing the legacy of Model UN.

• Daniel Gindis and David Miles, Wisemee
• Philippe Lefevre: Founder and Director of MUNers Across Borders, young professional based in Brussels and London with over 50 conferences experience across 15 countries.
• Bill Yotive: Mr. William Yotive is currently the Model UN Coordinator for WFUNA. Prior to working at WFUNA, Mr. Yotive was Project Manager of the United Nations Global Teaching and Learning Project within the Outreach Division of the UN Department of Public Information for more than 14 years. 

17:30 - 19:30: Networking Drinks- Model UN and Careers

With a more relaxed atmosphere, summit participants, distinguished speakers, and event sponsors will converge for a networking session accompanied by refreshments. This informal gathering provides an invaluable opportunity to extend one's professional network, exchange ideas, and form enduring relationships within the global community of Model United Nations and diplomacy.

• Wannes Lint: Intergovernmental Affairs Officer in the secretariat of the United Nations General Assembly, Lead in the GA secretariat for the Summit of the Future, the Global Digital Compact, the General Committee, the Ad Hoc Working Group on GA revitalization, the Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing and the 11th emergency special session (Ukraine). 
• Caitlin Hopper, Secretary General of NMUN New York and Global Board Affairs Manager at World Resources Institute (WRI), overseeing governance activities for the distinguished Global Board of Directors. Caitlin works to standardise and streamline governance practices across WRI's global network of Boards and Committees. Prior to joining WRI, Caitlin worked on the Board Secretariat team at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). During her time at IFPRI, Caitlin worked on Board meeting and document preparation and served as the Secretary to IFPRI's Senior Management Team.
• Vitorino Oliveira, First Secretary at the Portuguese Perm Rep to the UN: Diplomat and Assistant Professor (Adjunct). Portuguese diplomat at the United Nations in New York. Former diplomatic advisor to the Portuguese Minister of State and Finance and President of the Eurogroup. PhD candidate in Economics and Finance. Assistant Professor (Adjunct) of Sustainable International Business, Geoeconomics and International Relations, The Global Impact Mindset: UN Sustainable Development Goals, and the Field Lab in Partnerships for Sustainable Development at Nova School of Business & Economics, with research and teaching projects in other institutions, including Columbia and INSEAD. Member of the Advisory Board at the Estoril Conferences.
• Professional, IDIA Board Member [Pending]
• Opened & Moderated by Sharon Low, Advisor to MUNers Across Borders: Sharon is a Master of Global Affairs graduate from the University of Toronto’s Munk School, and specialises in markets and innovation. She’s a Lupina fellow and Ontario graduate scholar, currently working at Deloitte in public sector consulting. Sharon’s MUN involvement spans over 25 conferences, and she enjoys coaching high school MUN and exploring farmer’s markets.