UPCOMING EVENT

President

Natalia Hermida

Natalia was born and raised in Barranquilla – Colombia. She studied International Relations and has been participating actively in Model United Nations since 2003, both as Delegate and Chair in conferences around the world. Natalia did an internship in the Department of International Affairs at the Organization of American States in Washington D.C., working with Civil Society and the Member States of the Organization.

In 2010 she moved to the Egypt, where she worked  with AIESEC (NGO) in childhood education. After 4 years, she moved to Beirut – Lebanon to pursue her dream of working in Diplomacy, where she currently works as a Consular Officer and acts a Secretary of Rotaract Club of Sahel Metn. For two consecutive years she had the opportunity to be Head of International Understanding Committee and represented her club as a Chair in Rotaract Global MUN 2015 in Belgrade – Serbia and in Rotaract Global MUN at Change the World MUN 2016 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York – USA.

Balkans and E/Europe, including Russia Rep

Mina Vasovic

Mina is a graduate of the University of Belgrade Medical School and currently employed as a medical doctor – with ongoing specialization in Radiology at The National Cancer Center in Belgrade. Currently, a certified International Soft Skill Trainer, Mina intensely supports nonformal education. Being a member of Rotaract club Beograd since 2009 affords her the opportunity to constantly interact with Rotaractors throughout the Balkans. She has also served as Club President in 2014, and a year later, District Rotaract Representative, RID 2483.

Mina possesses exemplary leadership skills and was hugely instrumental in the success of the 3rd Edition of Rotaract Global Model United Nations Youth Conference, held in Belgrade Serbia; August 2015. Mina served as the Project Manager of the conference, that saw Rotaractors from across the globe descending on the city of Belgrade, to simulate the UN councils.

Mina strongly believes that young people should have a voice that is loud enough to be heard by the highest body. Her sincere opinion is that the Rotaract Global Model United Nations is the right place and a great powerful platform for encouraging youth diplomacy and decision making. Mina is the representative of the Balkans and Eastern European region, on the International Youth Decision Making Body. Mina hopes to continue to use her influence across the region, to foster closer relations amongst every young individual, with whom she come in contact.

Latin America & the Caribbean Rep

Mariana Rodriguez Hernandez

Mariana Rodríguez Hernández is a student of last semester of International Relations at National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).

Interested in Cultural Diplomacy, Art History, ballet and Arabic dance. Founder member of Club Rotaract Ciudad Universitaria serving as Director of International Service for two years and Vice-president at the moment as well as Director of International Service of District 4170 2016-2017.

The representative for Latin America and the Caribbean in the Board of Rotaract International Youth Decision Making Body.

Head of PR (Sabbatical)

Paula Sopoian

Paula Sopoian (25 years old), Past President 2015-2016 of Rotaract Club Baia Mare Team in Romania, has been part of the Rotary family since 2010. Believing in the Rotary motto – Service above Self – Paula is trying to bring a change around her by volunteering in Rotaract Clubs from Romania and other countries.

Graduating from the Babes- Bolyai University in Cluj -Napoca, Romania, from the Faculty of European Studies, she is current a final year student at the Faculty of Law at the same university. Paula is aiming for a career in diplomacy and international relations, being passionate about the field of international relations and global politics. In 2014, Paula together with 3 students from the Faculty of Law were the first team to take part in an international law moot court competition on behalf of their University, since then her appetite for international competitions and Model United Nations conferences opened.

With cheerful and sociable personality, eager for adventure, Paula likes to travel, to meet people who are open to discussions, to experience new cultures and situations that would help her to grow personally and intellectually. Rotaract combines all these elements, being an organization that offers the opportunity to visit different countries, to build relationships with beautiful people and that feeds her passion for volunteering.

Paula is currently involved in promoting the project initiated by her club in 2013, Rotaract Global Model United Nations, which unites young people from around the world at a conference for 5 days. In the debate, participants try to propose solutions to the main problems facing the world today.

Middle East Rep

Antoine Abou Moussa

Antoine was born in Saudi Arabia and raised in Lebanon. He holds a B.Sc in Chemistry and an M.Sc in Agricultural Engineering – major in Environmental Science. Through his professional experience, Antoine has worked as a consultant in the environmental field, specialized in Waste Management, working with Governmental offices as well as International Organizations such as The United Nations, specifically UNHCR, UN-Habitat and the Norwegian Refugee Council.

Antoine has been a member of Rotaract Club of Sahel Metn since 2011, Past President of the club for the year 2014-2015 and Vice-District Rotaract Representative for Lebanon for the year 2015-2016. He has proved his strong commitment not only to the Lebanese community but the International Community as well. His leadership has taught us the importance of commitment and teamwork in order to make this world a sustainable one.

Executive Chairman/ Africa Rep

Maxton R. R. Scotland

“Good habit formed at youth makes the difference.” [Aristotle]. I have, from a very young age, developed an immense passion for youth development and gender equality. This passion championed my desire to become actively involved with Rotaract and Global MUN. Over the years, I have helped in developing programs and strategies, directed towards youth empowerment.

There are many unexploited avenues through which young people can express themselves, find their identity and belonging. However, there are also many communication barriers that prevent this. I enlisted in the UK Armed Forces and served for almost 6 years. It was through this medium that I sought to harness the requisite training and skill(s) to understand young adults across cultural barriers. Such experience instilled within me a greater appreciation of both differences and commonalities, in addition to the challenges presented by promoting a culture of peace and mutual understanding.

My educational background includes an MSc. in Security Studies from London Metropolitan University, United Kingdom, and undergraduate studies at the University of the West Indies and also at Westminster University. There I pursued studies in Politics, International Relations, Journalism, and Linguistics respectively.

Like many others, I would like to see the world humanized. Active involvement in combating gender inequality, marginalization, and radicalisation amongst our youth is needed, as well as urgent action to correct education disparity. The International Decision Making Body, under the guidance of Rotaract Global MUN, provides a platform through which young people can engage in erudite discussions on these important issues, as well as Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This, therefore, places 21st-century youth in a unique position to capitalize on whatever limited resources are at their disposal, to engineer change. I am extremely proud to be part of this process.

UK & N/Ireland Rep

Luke Addison

My name is Luke Addison, I am currently the Chair of Rotaract in Great Britain and Ireland for 2016/2017. My background and introduction into the world of MUN’s began during University, whilst studying English and Drama and hoping to become a teacher, I became involved in Winchester Rotary; aiding local events and raising funds for various charities, it was through this that myself and other established a Rotaract Club for Winchester, following my position as President of the club I remained active within the club and was invited to a peace conference in Monaco held by PeaceJam – an international organisation which works alongside Nobel Peace prizes laureates and young people – where I was able to work alongside Desmond Tutu and a great number of young people. Inspired by the core values of the organisation, myself and many others established a PeaceJam centre at the University of Winchester, in 2015 we had an amazing first conference with Nobel Laureate Jody Williams, then a second in March 2016 with Guatemalan Indigenous Rights Activist Rigoberta Menchu Tum (there are great videos of these on Youtube!) PeaceJam has found its place in the University and we are set for many more annual conferences.

It was here that my interests in peace, conflict resolution, and international relations developed and allowed me to work further with PeaceJam globally and also extend my Rotaract connections; traveling to Uganda, India and over Europe to meet Rotaractors and Rotarians. I was invited to Rotaract’s third MUN in Serbia and accepted, I was assigned ‘Cuba’ and had the most incredible time portraying Cuba and learning more about other countries being represented – I was hooked; MUN in New York as ‘Canada’, then in Thessaloniki as ‘Brazil’ and recently ‘France’ in Rotaract Bulgaria’s MUN.

Alongside MUNs, I am working as the Chair of UK Rotaract, an incoming member of the council of the International Peace Bureau, establishing a Junior Chamber International in Winchester and working within and alongside many national and international charities and organizations.

It is a pleasure to be serving on this board and working with such talented and hard-working individuals.