QYP Conference 2023

The Agenda

Speakers

Xiangtong Liu

Xiangtong Liu is a strong believer in the potential of the youth to take action in driving impact and change. This is the motivation behind her previous roles as the Secretary General of both DCMUN and THIMUN Qatar, as well as her involvement in MUNImpact and the EAA Youth Advocate Program. Xiangtong has participated in the Kyoto Congress Youth Forum as a youth delegate where she drafted recommendations that were later presented to the 14th UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. She has also attended the Pre-COP26 Youth4Climate Summit as both a youth delegate and panellist. Xiangtong continues to work towards stimulating and facilitating youth discussion, engagement and collaboration.

My name is Khemara Chhorn. I am 26 years old. I am originally from Cambodia, but

currently studying and working in Qatar. I am a Years of Culture Coordinator at the Diplomacy Department of Qatar Museum. At Years of Culture, my key roles are to arrange meeting schedules for ambassadors, organize tours at the museums for VIP guests, and participate in the organizing committee for cultural events during the Qatar World Cup 2022. In addition, I just recently graduated with a Master’s degree in Public Policy from Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) after graduating from Georgetown University with a Bachelor’s degree in International Politics. As a student at Georgetown and HBKU, I joined several student clubs, including the Future Is Female, the Annual Undergraduate Research Conference (AURC), and the Georgetown Qatar Ambassador Society. I am also a youth advocate for the Education Above All Foundation (EAA), where I mainly focus on advocating for inclusive education and gender equality. Throughout EAA’s channel, I was a panelist at the Least Developed Countries Conference, Qatar (March 2023), where I represented my country, Cambodia, and spoke about inclusive rights to education for all. I was also chosen to be a keynote speaker at Qatar Leadership Conference 2020, Qatar (Nov 2020), where I talked about the importance of education, resilience, and solution-focused.

Khemara Chhorn

Muhammad Wasay Mir

M. Wasay Mir is a Pulitzer Center fellow who is currently a senior at Northwestern University in Qatar, pursuing a degree in Journalism and Strategic Communication. Belonging from the vibrant city of Lahore, Pakistan, his interests include writing, reporting, public speaking,

marketing, and audio-visual production. He was most recently working as a part of UpFront, a current affairs show at Al Jazeera English in Washington D.C. He has also worked with organizations like Euronews, Doha Debates, and Fox Sports. He is the Editor-in-Chief for his university’s publication and a part of the football and cricket teams.

Wasay’s work has been published in Gulf News, Medill on the Hill, Daily Times, and Pakistan Today. He has produced different documentaries and featured in numerous public forums for discourse and debate. He spent this summer in Jinja, Uganda working with non-governmental organizations to help disadvantaged women achieve financial independence in rural communities.

Nawaal Akram is Qatar's first female comedian with a disability & disability rights activist . She was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy when she was 6 and started using a wheelchair six years later. At the age of 10, Nawaal was denied the right to an education because of her physical disability. She didn't want any child to go through her experience of losing their right to education thus she started advocating for disability at 14 years old, and her work has since pushed for changes to help people with disabilities in Qatar and the MENA region get access to education and accessibility around the country. Nawaal continues her work by content creation , advocating and educating governmental figures, society, and students on the importance of disability awareness, disability diplomacy and the actions necessary to protect the human rights of people with disabilities to education and countries to recognize the rights of persons with disabilities to live and settle with dignity. She was awarded for her work by BBC Worldwide as one of the 100 most influential women in the world in 2017. The Equal Access campaign is an initiative starting in Qatar to spread awareness about the rights and needs of people with physical and intellectual challenges and promote equal access and treatment for all World-wide.

Nawaal Akram

Ambassador Guillermo Ordorica

Doris Zogg Bouchaoui has an extensive background in consular services, administration, and finance. After a period in the private sector, Mrs. Zogg transitioned to the consular service where she has accumulated 23 years of experience. More than half of these years were spent in leadership roles such as Visa Chief, Chancellery Chief, and Operational Manager. She has overseen responsibilities at the Swiss Embassy in Egypt and the Swiss Consulate in New York, addressing diverse aspects like

security, finances, and team leadership. Recently, Consul Zogg Bouchaoui has served as the Deputy Head of Mission and Operational Manager at the Swiss Embassy in Qatar, where she is currently acting as Chargée d’affaires ad interim.

Mrs. Doris Zogg

Hana Elshehaby

Hana Elshehaby is a research assistant for the Middle East Council on Global Affairs’ Foreign Policy and Security Program. She is also Co-Chair of Education Above All’s Second Cohort of Youth Advocates. Hana received a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service with a specialization in International Politics from Georgetown University in Qatar and a certificate in Media and Politics. She has published on the politics of the MENA region, engaged extensively in public speaking, and participated in various events, including being part of the Qatari delegation to the 27th Youth Assembly and organizing for the 28th Assembly as part of the delegation’s steering committee.

Conchita Ponce is the Founder of Doha Women Forum, one of Qatar’s largest gathering of women, aimed at providing a platform for inspiration, empowerment, and discussions on the crucial challenges faced by women. She was also the Founder of Future 318, a creative solutions and events management organization, with a strong focus on social community events. She also founded the Filipino Women’s Association in Qatar aimed at bringing together Filipino women for collaboration and leadership development. Conchita hosts Pinay Talks, an online talk discussion that tackles a variety of inspirational topics to empower Filipino women. She is also the founder of Qatar Homeschooling Network, a group for parents of homeschooled children. Conchita has also established The Women of Change Awards and has received invitations to speak at numerous events and organizations.

Conchita Ponce

Massimiliano Montanari

Massimiliano Montanari – formerly of the United Nations – is the Executive Director of Save the Dream. His experience is with international policies, diplomacy, social innovation and design of multisectoral programmes. In countries and organizations where he worked, Massimiliano has given priority to the development of common languages among different sectors and regional cooperation grounded on the principle of shared responsibilities for the promotion of common goods, such as security, justice and development.

Massimiliano, who also serves as CEO of the ICSS Group has previously served in various roles at the ICSS, including as Chief Executive Officer of the ICSS INSIGHT (2018-2020) and Chief of Cabinet of ICSS President (2014-2016). During his tenure he has undertaken the creation of several initiatives to empower youth and civil society through the use of sport and sport values, including and particularly Save the Dream.

Before joining the ICSS and Save the Dream, Massimiliano held a number of positions at the United Nations. He worked as the Head of the International Centre for Public-Private Security Policies, lead the International Permanent Observatory on Major Events Security and previously worked at the Terrorism Prevention Branch of UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), as well as taking part in UN Task Forces and programmes addressing issues such as violent extremism, war crimes prosecution and security in post-conflict zones.

He holds a master’s degree in International Advanced Legal Studies, a university degree in Political Sciences and a post-graduate degree in International Relations.

Dr. Evren Tok is Associate Dean of Community Engagement and Associate Professor at College of Public Policy, Hamad Bin Khalifa University. Dr. Tok also acts as the regional coordinator for the Executive Master’s Program (Development Policies and Practices) jointly offered by Graduate Institute of Geneva and Hamad Bin Khalifa University. He is the co-editor of Policy Making in a Transformative State: The Case of Qatar, published by Palgrave MacMillan, 2016. His recent publications “Global Governance and Muslim Organizations” published by Palgrave MacMillan and Innovating South-South Cooperation by University of Ottawa Press in 2020. He is the director of a QNRF funded cluster (2021-2026) entitled “SDG Education and Global Citizenship in Qatar”. He is the Lead Project Investigator for Qatar National Research Fund Priority Program for 3 years on “Localizing Entrepreneurship Education in Qatar”. He is the founder of the maker space entitled Maker Majlis: Islam in a Global World, which received Qatar Sustainability Award under Best University Initiative in 2020 and OIC Shaikh Hasina Award of Best Innovative Idea in 2022. Dr. Tok is also the recipient of Best Research Project Award in HBKU in 2022.

Dr. Evren Tok

Alina Zaman

Alina Zaman works as a Research Assistant at the College of Public Policy at HBKU. Alina graduated with a Master of Arts in Islam & Global Affairs from the College of Islamic Studies at HBKU. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Linguistics from the college of Arts & Science at Qatar University.

Irshad Ibrahim works as a Research Assistant at the College of Public Policy at Hamad Bin Khalifa University. Irshad has a Master’s degree holder in Digital Humanities from Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, and holds an Undergraduate degree in Commerce with computer

applications from one of the reputed universities in India – the University of Delhi. For the last seven years, He has been a professional digital graphic designer and branding specialist working for various non-governmental entities in Qatar and India. As part of my MA program

requirements, he did a three months internship with Al Jazeera Media Network as a graphic designer.

Irshad Ibrahim

Jose Saucedo

Jose is an Industrial Engineer/operations manager turned environmentalist. He is an American citizen living in Qatar for the past 6 years. He leads Deap Qatar, an initiative that is raising environmental awareness in the country and is inspiring and empowering youth and the public to take action against plastic pollution. Jose’s work has mobilized over 20,000 volunteers (the majority of them students), and has resulted in more than 180 tons of trash removed from nature. He has presented to thousands of students across the nation making DeapQatar one of Qatar's most continuously active and successful community based initiatives. Jose holds a masters degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the Ohio State University. Upon graduation he spent over a decade successfully working for one of the world's biggest food companies. His areas of expertise are sustainability, productivity, continuous improvement, project management, and optimization of manufacturing and business processes.

Arman Azad, a Year 12 student at Qatar International School, is an artistic storyteller who specializes in cinematic videography and photography. His captivating visuals delve into the realms of travel and food, inspiring others to embrace their passions. As COVID emerged, Arman discovered his calling, sharing his unique perspective to ignite revolutionary ideas and transform the world. He attracts followers through his love for gastronomy, while also leading initiatives in student assistance and COVID-friendly innovations. Raised amidst Toastmaster conferences, he has honed his eloquence, debating skills, and commitment to change. Arman's culinary explorations, community service, and involvement in leadership programs further enrich his journey. With heartfelt talks, he aims to ignite young hearts, infusing their lives with purpose and anticipation for the future.

Arman Azad

Naima Bint Sameel

Naima Bint Sameel, is a 15-year-old student in Year 11 at QIS. Her unwavering passion lies in advocating for youth empowerment, firmly believing in the transformative power young individuals possess to create a positive impact on our world. Serving as a co-director of Student Reach, a student-led charity, she devoted herself to fostering unity among students and instigating meaningful change within our community. Through this valuable experience, she has cultivated the virtues of empathy, teamwork, and perseverance. Additionally, she actively contributes to her school newspaper, using her writing skills to raise awareness about pressing issues in the world. Naima firmly believes that education and awareness are key catalysts for positive change, and she is committed to shedding light on important topics that often go unnoticed. Beyond these endeavours, she finds immense fulfilment in making a positive difference in the lives of underprivileged children, actively engaging with them to help improve their circumstances.

Sarah Jasmine Said is a passionate advocate for youth empowerment and global leadership. As the Head of Outreach for Student Reach, she has played a pivotal role in fostering connections and expanding the organisation's impact. Through her involvement in THIMUN, including her position as the Deputy President of the General Assembly, she has honed my diplomacy, leadership, and public speaking skills to empower youth in Qatar. Beyond THIMUN, she organised successful service projects that have positively impacted communities. Working closely with underprivileged children, her team has provided educational support, mentorship, and resources to help them unlock their full potential. Additionally, Sarah has organised food drives, mobilising dedicated teams to distribute essential items to those in need. Through these service projects, she aims to make a tangible difference in the lives of individuals and communities. Her experiences have deepened my commitment to youth empowerment, and she actively seeks opportunities to create positive change and uplift those in need.

Sarah Jasmine Said

Mikayla Rahman Said

Passionate, outspoken and ambitious, Mikayla Said is a seventeen-year-old student who is currently enrolled in Qatar International School. Over the past 4 years, Mikayla has actively engaged herself in various organisations, prestigious conferences and attended many debate competitions. Her core passion derived from diplomacy, networking and global awareness; this further fuels her motivation to constantly play an active role in student-led organisations such as The Student Reach. As the Deputy Head of The Student Reach, Mikayla plans to further expand the impact of the organisation by networking and creating a space where teenagers in Qatar alike can contribute their very own efforts directly to bettering their local community.

Bayyo Pane is a passionate and dedicated student within his community. Understanding the importance of community service, Bayyo is currently the co-director of The Student Reach. The Student Reach is a youth-led organisation established to encourage student impact. He is a firm believer in the power of young people for reformation, which is why he is an avid participant in Model United Nations. He was formerly a Secretary General of QISMUN, overseeing the organisation’s first external conference, and currently serves as the Deputy Secretary General of THIMUN Qatar. Under his direction, Bayyo has launched a Ramadan Food Drive for underprivileged families, SDG Outlet (a student-run blog that covers people who positively impact the world), and a local SDG1 creative writing contest. Beyond these experiences, he enjoys teaching and mentoring others in debate, the World Scholars Cup and martial arts.

Bayyo Pane

Workshops & Panels

Disability and the Economy: The Ripple Effect by Nawaal Akram

Disability has a significant impact on several facets of the economy and society as a whole, which has wide-ranging and interrelated impacts as we strive to reach the SDG Goals. We join together on vital information about disabilities to engage young people because they will be significantly impacted both now and in the future by the actions governments will take to achieve disability justice.

Building and managing an NGO in a constantly changing world by Mr Massimiliano Montanari

Purpose of the intervention is to instigate a conversation with the audience on opportunities and challenges linked to construction and management of NGOs in a more and more complex international scenario, as well as on the different types of career which can be embarked or accessed through an experience with such organizations. The session will refer to the experience of the International Centre of Sport Security and its Save the Dream initiative as a case study, sharing insights on the journey which was undertaken and main achievements during its first 12 years of life.

The Student Reach by Naima Bint Sameel, Sarah Jasmine Said and Mikayla Rahman Said

This session will introduce the Student Reach (TSR) team and their mission to empower students for positive change. We will emphasize the importance of student-led initiatives and their transformative impact on communities. TSR's history will then be briefly discussed, highlighting its formation by students and notable achievements, such as successful beach clean-ups and partnerships with organizations like DEAP. The upcoming project will then be introduced, outlining its goals, objectives, and target audience. The session will emphasize the potential impact the project can have on the community and individuals it aims to serve, discussing specific benefits. Furthermore, to maintain audience engagement, interactive elements will be incorporated. A Q&A session will allow attendees to ask questions about TSR or the upcoming project. Participants will be encouraged to share their thoughts, ideas, and suggestions, fostering collaboration and involvement in future initiatives.

Finding Your Fuel by Arman Azad

Do you struggle to set meaningful goals for yourself? Do you wake up every day, unsure of purpose and direction in life? My workshop is designed for young adults who are looking to spark the fires of creative artistry, in any field that suits them, and to begin a new chapter in their lives; a spark that will mature into a passion and an overwhelming ambition for success. It is important to know that your teenage years should be spent building up your potential, and learning important habits that will put you in a good position in the future. In a time where life after school can seem so daunting, we hope to be able to extinguish your fears,

and build a good foundation for you to branch off of. We will help you identify your own strengths and weaknesses, and inspire you on how to work on them. Throughout the course of the workshop, we will also touch over many topics, including time management, self-discipline, crafting your passion and finding your voice, with personal anecdotes to constantly inspire you.

Accelerating SDGs: Unleashing Leadership Potential with the IDGs Framework by Dr. Evren Tok, Alina Zaman and Irshad Ibrahim

Join us for an inspiring and transformative workshop as we delve into the powerful IDGs

(Integrated Dimensions of Global Sustainability) framework, designed to equip leaders with

essential skills and qualities needed to drive progress towards the Sustainable Development

Goals (SDGs). The workshop is not just limited to leaders; it offers valuable insights applicable

to all individuals striving to make a positive impact on the world. During this interactive session, we will explore the five dimensions and 23 skills and qualities that lie at the core of the IDGs framework. These dimensions encompass a holistic approach to addressing global sustainability challenges, empowering participants to become catalysts for change in their respective fields. Whether you are a seasoned leader or an aspiring change-maker, this workshop will provide you with the tools and knowledge to accelerate progress towards the SDGs and create a prosperous future for all of humanity. Join us and unleash your leadership potential to make a meaningful difference in the world!

Emotional Intelligence: An Essential Tool for Leaders by Xiangtong Liu

Do you pay attention to your emotions? Are you able to manage your emotions and the emotions of those around you? While cognitive intelligence and technical skills are important factors which determine the success of a leader, it is emotional intelligence that allows you to build strong human relationships, make accurate decisions and not crack under pressure. It is the foundation of skills and trickles into almost all the traits of a good leader. Essentially, it is the “People Currency”. In this workshop, we will discuss emotional intelligence and how you can use it to your advantage both in leadership roles and in life.

Attitude + Nothing = Everything by Conchita Ponce

Session focuses on the power of attitude and its impact on achieving success and fulfillment in life. Attitude is a personal choice and having the right attitude, combined with a strong sense of purpose and unwavering determination, can shape one's thoughts, actions, and overall approach to life. This combination has the potential to yield extraordinary outcomes, even when confronted with challenges and obstacles.

Youth Leaders Panel by Bayyo Pane and Hana Elshehaby

Every young leader faces the exciting challenge of building a unique vision while making critical decisions about their future. The two are inextricably intertwined, and with so many possibilities, finding the path that feels right can be daunting. Qatar Youth Power recognises that one of the best ways to foster confidence and the skills for success is by learning from one another. The Youth Leaders Panel features two young leaders who will share what shaped their leadership choices, as well as insights from their experiences so far. We hope that hearing authentic stories from those who were once in your shoes will encourage you in finding your drive and direction, and provide concrete examples of successful youth leadership as a model for your own leadership development journey. This panel is organised in conjunction with the Laidlaw Undergraduate Research & Leadership Programme, under which the panel moderator holds a scholarship.

Leaders wanted: The climate crisis and plastic pollution by Mr Jose Saucedo

During this presentation participants will learn about the climate crisis and plastic pollution. From general data, to practical applications and skills needed, young leaders will be able to learn leadership skills, and an easy way to chart their path to action against the climate crisis and plastic pollution. Failure to take action will be catastrophic for the planet and humanity. Let’s be part of the solution, learn how to be a leader and an enabler of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

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