Guest Speakers and Diplomatic Panel

GUEST SPEAKERS AND DIPLOMATIC PANEL

Here we outline the exclusive guest speakers we have lined up for our opening and closing ceremonies and our diplomatic panel.

Opening Ceremony

Below we introduce our speakers for the opening ceremony.

Lord Boateng

Introducing Lord Boateng, the first black cabinet minister in British history.

A Labour party politician, who served as an MP from 1987-2005, becoming the first black cabinet minister as Chief Secretary to the Treasury in 2002. Later, he went on to become Britain's first black ambassador, acting as the High Commissioner for South Africa, advocating for a wider understanding of African affairs within the Western world. Now a member of the House of Lords, Boateng remains committed to implementation of welfare provisions for the most vulnerable, alongside engaging in the salient dialogue concerning the treatment of racial minorities in the Justice system.

You will have the chance to hear Lord Boateng speak about his incredible political journey at our prestigious opening ceremony.

Diplomatic Panel

Last year LSEMUN launched its first ever fireside chat, providing students with the opportunity to hear an array of highly valued opinions concerning last years theme, inclusion and diversity.

For 2024 LSEMUN is proudly continuing this newly established (and exclusive) tradition.

Our Diplomatic Panel brings together top-notch speakers with academic and practical expertise in crisis management to share their insights on the theme 'Crisis and Sustainability in International Trade and Diplomacy'.

While this is an LSEMUN event, you do not need to be an LSEMUN delegate to attend.

Pizza and refreshments will be provided before the panel and during the networking event! If you are a non-LSEMUN delegate, please sign up below!

Singapore High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Ng Teck Hean.JPG

Mr Ng Teck Hean

High Commissioner of Singapore.

He was Deputy Secretary of Asia Pacific and Southeast Asia respectively at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Senior Official of Singapore to the Arctic Council and the Asia-Europe Meeting; Ambassador to Vietnam; and Director of the Americas Directorate and Southeast Asia Directorate, among many other senior diplomatic positions.

Andrew Smith

Commercial and Economic Minister-Counsellor, High Commission of Canada in the UK.

With over 28 years of experience as a senior trade commissioner and diplomat, some of his notable achievements include facilitating a large contract for a Canadian aerospace company in India, supporting the negotiation of a trade agreement with the Philippines, and strengthening the bilateral relations between Canada and Turkey during a period of political instability.

Brendan Simms

Founding Director of the Centre for Geopolitics, University of Cambridge.

He is a historian of European geopolitics by training and his principal interests are the German Question, Britain and Europe, humanitarian intervention and state construction. He has advised governments and parliaments, and spoken at Westminster, in the European Parliament (Brussels) and at think-tanks in the UK, US, and many Eurozone countries.

Dr. Saleyha Ahsan

Founder of the Healthcare in Conflict network at the Centre for Research in the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (CRASSH), University of Cambridge.

She is a former British Army captain-turned doctor and journalist, with experience in Libya and Syria, and expertise in international human rights law. She is currently researching the impact on healthcare in conflict zones both prior to and during COVID-19.

Academic Chair

Below we introduce our academic chair for the conference, who will be chairing our diplomatic panel!

Dr Marta Soprana (Moderator)

A fellow in International Political Economy at the LSE.

Her research interests fall into the field of trade policy, trade in services, digital trade, cross-border data flows, artificial intelligence (AI), and law and technology. She has worked as a trade policy advisor for several international organizations and national governments, and supported private firms’ efforts to access and operate in foreign markets.