QUT students argue their way to awards at SydMUN

Events Coordinator Daniel McLindon was recognised as the 'most diplomatic delegate' of the General Assembly at SydMUN 2017's closing ceremony, whilst Competitions Coordinator Miranda Hickey and Treasurer Patrick Ellway were both awarded honourable mentions for their contributions.

In its 11th year, discussion at SydMUN, The University of Sydney’s Model United Nations Conference, got as heated as ever. University students from across the country were forced to consider some of the most topical issues currently facing the UN’s major bodies including the future impacts of the Paris Agreement, the effects of nuclear globalisation and South Sudan’s road to peace.

QUT students were out in force at the nation’s largest Model UN conference with the popular university society QUT United Nations Student Association sponsoring eight delegates, with the support of the QUT Guild, to make the voyage from Brisbane down to Sydney for the four-day event beginning November 30th. Whilst for some members of the group this marked their first time taking part in a major Model UN conference, for others these events have become an annual tradition.

QUT UNSA member Daniel McLindon, was tasked with representing Israel in the General Assembly and has been to a number of Model UN conferences in the past including BRISMUN, in Brisbane and NCMUN, held in Canberra. Daniel believes that these conferences have allowed him to meet interesting new people, have exciting travel experiences and gain a different perspective of the world and the issues it faces.

“The way it works is that you get given a country to represent in a certain UN committee and a list of topics that will be discussed in advance. You need to come prepared and know a wide enough variety of policy positions like in debating and be able to defend your country’s position,” Daniel said.

“I really enjoyed the group of people we went down with and the comradery of the whole thing and it's a really good thing to get involved in if you're interested in international affairs and debating,” he added.

With experienced “Munners” like Daniel it was no surprise that the QUT delegation picked up a number of awards, beating out other major universities for the prize of best small delegation. Individual members of the group were also recognised for their achievements with Jackson Barton receiving an award for best delegate, Daniel McLindon winning an award for most diplomatic delegate and Miranda Hickey and Padjo Ellway both receiving honourable mentions for their efforts.