The University of Toronto Model Parliament is governed by an executive board comprised of undergraduate students from the University of Toronto. Find a short biography of each member of the board below below.
Office of the Chairs
Michael Motala, Founder, Chairman
Bedour Alagraa, Executive Director
Simon Bredin, Associate Executive Director
Directors
James McCarten, Founding Director of Finance
Jesse Beatson, Founding Director of Communications, Outreach & Development
Jonathan Scott, Founding Director of Educational Programming
Ian Sutcliffe, Founding Director of Registration
Kira Dorward, Director of Publications
Victoria Chu, Director of Events
Aberdeen Berry, Director of Research
Patrick Baud, Director of Research
Salahuddin Rafiquddin, Director of Infrastructure
Alessia Bellisario, Technical Director
Ariel Garneau, Director of Media Engagement
Alex Sewell, Associate Director of Registration
Michael Sarty, Associate Director of Registration
Melissa Beauregard, Associate Director of Media Outreach and Events
Natalie Wright, Associate Director of Events
Michael Motala is a third year undergraduate specializing in international relations at Trinity College, University of Toronto. Michael founded Connecting Minds in 2008; as Chairman, he has assumed a critical role in shaping the vision and strategy of the organization, administering the organization’s subsidiary initiatives, and developing relationships with other organizations, prominent academics, and government. Outside of the Connecting Minds, he is Chairman of the The Policy Exchange’s Editorial Board, Chairman of the University of Toronto Model Parliament, Co-President of the International Relations Society, and Director of Communications for the North Korea Research Group. He is also involved with the Arts & Science Students’ Union and the University of Toronto Rowing Team. Michael is currently a Research Assistant at the Mowat Centre for Policy Innovation in the School of Public Policy & Governance. His research interests, broadly speaking, lie in identity, institutions and organizational culture.
E-Mail Michael: Click here. Telephone: (647) 291-8057
Bedour Alagraa is a third year undergraduate student majoring in the study of International Relations, and minoring in Political Science and History. A native of the small nation of Qatar, Bedour is responsible for facilitating the flow of ideas and information within the UTMP, along with acting as a liaison between the executive team and administrative personnel. Outside of the UTMP, Bedour is the Vice President of Internal Affairs for the International Relations Society, Assistant Publisher for the Toronto Globalist Magazine for International Affairs, a Youth Ambassador for the Toronto Sudanese Cultural Center, and sits on the Board of Directors for a small NGO called the Zanele Poverty Relief Effort. Bedour’s interests include geopolitics, early modern European history, and identity politics.
E-Mail Bedour: Click here.
Simon Bredin is a second year student at Trinity College in the University of Toronto, where he is working towards a double major in English and International Relations. His academic interests include contemporary British fiction, Baroque sculpture, espionage, and hydro-politics. Beyond the classroom, Simon is a competitive fencer and plays the violin. His philanthropic work continues this year as the Chair of the Trinity College Saints Charity Ball 2009.
E-Mail Simon: Click here.
James McCarten is a third year undergraduate studying History and Ethics, Society, and Law at Trinity College, University of Toronto. Having returned to his homeland of Canada after graduating from St. Albans School in Washington, DC, he hopes to bring international flair to the UTMP Exec. As UTMP’s Chief Financial Officer, he is excited to take on the challenges of financing its first simulation parliament. James is also a member of the Trinity College Literary Institute’s Competitive Debating Team and the Trinity College Chapel Choir. His interests include cross-country running, cinema, and politics.
Jesse Beatson is a third year international relations undergraduate student at Trinity College, University of Toronto. In addition to his role with University of Toronto Model Parliament, he is the Director of Communications for the IR Society, President of WUSC Trinity’s student refugee program, and President of the Trinity College chess club. In his spare time, Jesse scuba dives with the Hart House Underwater Club and is training for a marathon. Jesse would like to pursue a career in international law.
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Jonathan Scott is a second year student at Trinity College, studying towards a joint specialist in philosophy and literature. Jonathan brings a strong background in educational and pedagogical research, with a joint focus on fostering student engagement through ownership in education and broadening the parameters of citizenship education, drawing on his work as a former director of the Ontario Student Trustees’ Association. He currently serves as a consultant to the Minister of Education. His essays on pedagogy have been featured in publications and academic journals across North America. Jonathan is also the Associate Vice-President for Communications with the International Relations Society. A former distinguished scholar of the Global Young Leaders’ Conference and winner of the TD Canada Trust Scholarship for Community Leadership, Jonathan works as auditor for the Trinity College Meeting and treasurer for the Trinity College Competitive Debating Institute, while also employed by TD Bank Financial Group.
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Ian Sutcliffe is a second year student at Trinity College pursuing a major in International Relations and History. His academic interests include second world war espionage, human security studies, and African Culture, particularly Kiswahili. In addition to being the founding director of registration for the University of Toronto Model Parliament, he manages the mentorship program within the IR Society, and is the second-year chair for the annual African Cultural Event Dunia Moja. Outside of the educational system Ian works for the Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture helping refugees establish successful networks within the Greater Toronto Area.
E-Mail Ian: Click here.
Kira Wronska Dorward is a third year undergraduate specializing in the discipline of History at Trinity College, University of Toronto. A native of Caledon, Ontario, Kira is the executive member charged with the publication of the Hansard and overseeing the research team. In addition to her involvement with the University of Toronto Model Parliament, her written work has been showcased in several publications. She is looking forward to working as a member of the editorial staff of the Trinity Review in the 2009-2010 academic year, and is awaiting her first major publication in a short story anthology through Giant Beaver Publications. Though her pursuits remain academic and literary in nature, Kira hopes to channel her interests into the publication of the Hansard and her contribution to the UTMP organization as a whole.
E-Mail Kira: Click here.
Victoria Chu is a third year undergraduate at Trinity College, University of Toronto, majoring in Political Science and Environmental Policy. As part of the UTMP executive she is responsible for the planning and presentation of the annual simulation. Beyond the UTMP, Victoria serves as Membership Director for the Hart House Singers, and Communications Associate for the International Relations Society. In addition, she conducts evaluation research for the University of Toronto Sustainability Office, and has taken part in several citywide campaigns for ecological awareness. Victoria aspires to the study of environmental law and a career in green development.
E-Mail Victoria: Click here.
Aberdeen Berry is a third year undergraduate student at Trinity College, specializing in Philosophy and Political Science and majoring in Asia-Pacific studies. Her interests in this area include, most significantly, the rise of China as a global power, and the relationship between the state and the individuals in it. Outside of class, Aberdeen is involved in the G8 Research group as an Extended Dialogue Analyst. Additionally, she holds several positions at Trinity College, namely, Deputy Chair of the Trinity College Meeting, and Treasurer of the Trinity College Literary Institute. Aberdeen is participating in Connecting Minds primarily through the Public Policy Research Initiative, where she will be coordinating a policy paper on the topic of improving government responses to pandemics.
E-Mail Aberdeen: Click here.
Patrick Baud is a second year undergraduate student at Victoria College, specializing in philosophy and politics. His research interests are in Canadian legislatures, constitutional theory, liberal and democratic theory and direct democracy. He is currently at work on a series of papers about the consequences of introducing voting rights for noncitizens as has been proposed in Toronto; nonpartisan legislatures in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and abroad; and on proposals for the provincial nomination of Supreme Court Justices. He and Luke Savage (of the Varsity) will be directing a research project for Connecting Minds on the future of parliamentary democracy in Canada. He is also research director of the Civics Education Network. He has worked for several change-making companies and organizations including the Centre for the Study of Democracy at Queen’s University, Ecojustice, Environics Institute, Environics Research and MASS LBP.
E-Mail Patrick: Click here.
Salahuddin Rafiquddin is a first year student with a tentative joint specialist in International Relations and Peace and Conflict Studies. He is currently active in numerous student run organizations ranging from the Policy Exchange, Hart House Debate, International Relations Society and Habitat for Humanity. In UTMP he is Director of Infrastructure and works closely with all members of the executive to accomplish any tasks left incomplete. In his spare time he volunteers at local homeless shelters in the GTA, enjoys wood working and any other do-it-yourself home improvement projects. He hopes to one day do development work in Africa.
E-Mail Salahuddin: Click here.
Alessia Bellisario is a first year undergraduate student at Trinity College, University of Toronto. She is currently enrolled in the Ethics, Society and Law stream of the Trinity One Program and is tentatively pursuing a double major in Political Science and International Relations. Her work at the University of Toronto Model Parliament stems from an interest in Canadian federal politics and foreign policy. Alessia also works for The Policy Exchange as Managing Editor. In her spare time, Alessia volunteers for her Member of Parliament and reads the New Yorker.
E-Mail Alessia: Click here.
Ariel Garneau is currently in her third year at Trinity College, University of Toronto, pursuing a double major in International Relations and Political Science. Her research interests include the military as an instrument of Foreign policy, Canada-US relations, native Canadian and American political issues, as well as sport policy as a political tool. She is actively involved in the International Relations Society, as well as various Athletic Associations. She is a Varsity Athlete with the Women’s Rugby team, as well as intramural team captain and athlete, and co-chair of the UofT Council of Athletics and Recreation. This spring, she will be interning as a researcher on the Agenda with Steve Paikin. Five years from now she hopes to be pursuing a career in international law or diplomacy with the Canadian Government.
E-Mail Ariel: Click here.
Alex Sewell is a second year undergraduate at the University of Toronto where she is working towards a double major in International Relations and Political Science. As a new addition to the UTMP Executive she works closely with the Director of Registration and is looking forward to helping make the simulation a successful annual tradition. In addition to her role within the UTMP, Alex is a Compliance Analyst for the G8 Research Group, works part time at the Royal Conservatory of Music, and intends to spend the coming summer learning French in Quebec.
E-Mail Alex: Click here.
Michael Sarty is a first year undergraduate student at Trinity College in the University of Toronto. He is tentatively pursuing a major in East Asian studies with a double minor in History and Political Science. He was born in Ottawa, and grew up in Moscow and Beijing. As Associate Director of Registration, Michael is responsible for contacting schools in Ontario and helping with public relations on the St. George campus. Michael is also an active member of the Trinity debate team and the Trinity men’s ice hockey team. His interests include modern Korean history, 20th century American literature, Canadian history and Chinese political history.
E-Mail Michael: Click here.
Melissa Beauregard is a first year undergraduate student at Trinity College in the University of Toronto. She is working towards pursuing a double major in International Relations and English with a minor in Psychology. She was born in Boston, Massachusettes and moved to Atlanta, Georgia soon after where she currently spends her time when she is not going to school in Toronto. Melissa enjoys studying both Canadian and American foreign policy, post-modern British literature, and mid 20th century American poetry. When she is not pursuing academic interests, Melissa is a member of the intramural rugby and lacrosse team for Trinity College.
E-Mail Melissa: Click here.
Natalie Wright is a first year undergraduate student at Trinity College in the University of Toronto. She is looking towards majoring in environmental science with a double minor in economics and sociology. Within the organization Natalie is the Associate Director of Events. Natalie was born in Ottawa, but has spent the majority of her youth in London, England. Living abroad has sparked a strong motivation to travel and explore. Natalie finds enjoyment in connecting different fields of study and is therefore focusing on an interdisciplinary area of study. Outside the classroom Natalie is a member of both the intramural volleyball and soccer teams.
E-Mail Natalie: Click here.
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