Debating Society: IV Convenor

Qualifications:

Being on the committee has been a privilege and I am proud of what I have accomplished. As IV convenor I have helped to organise tournaments such as UCL schools, UCL Pro-am, and I am currently working with my amazing fellow convenors to organise the UCL IV and other exciting competitions taking place. Whilst we have had our challenges – Round 1 of the UCL schools Hybrid tournament! – I and my fellow convenors have always bounced back and rescued such situations!  In short, I know what it takes to organise and run competitions successfully, and how to deal with issues as and when they arise. More generally, I feel that I have also fully embraced the spirit of my role on the committee, having attended almost every social, every meeting, and every training session. Being on the committee means more then simply carrying out the basic responsibilities of a single role – it’s about being present and fully invested in our society.  

Aims:

• Continuing to prioritise UCL debaters in all spheres to make your experiences here fun and memorable.  E.g., More chances to speak and opportunities to judge at prestigious competitions.
• Working to strike the right balance between competitive fervour and the creation of a relaxed, safe, and friendly environment for all, irrespective of one’s level of debating experience.
• Continuing to be an active and present member of the society.  

Proud to propose ?

As an active member of the Debating Society, I understand that tournaments are a valuable opportunity to develop skills and meet new people. I’ve grown a passion for debating during my 2 years with the society, and so I want to give back by making your UCL tournament experience one of the best next year. 

I’ve had extensive event organizing experience, leading the UCL’s Lawyers Without Borders events committee to run moots and debates, fundraisers for the Habitat for Humanity NGO, and a legal careers workshop with the UCL Business Society. I understand the commitment and responsibilities involved in running a successful tournament, having debated and judged at large tournaments such as Warwick IV, Manchester IV, UCL Schools, and more. 

My priorities:

• Successful events: My main priority is to ensure the smooth operation of next year’s tournaments. This means finding experienced CAs and judges, and pushing for in-person events so you can learn and make meaningful connections
• UCL participation: I look to create more speaking and judging opportunities at UCL tournaments such as President’s Cup, London Open, and UCL IV. I will also push to include “hybrid tournaments” with both in-person and virtual options to ensure our tournaments are equally accessible
• Formal spars: I will also look to set up more formal spars with other universities leading up to tournaments, giving you more exposure to new debaters outside of the Thursday training

Throughout this academic year I’ve been participating in multiple competitions, which gave me an understanding of how the process of convening looks like and what are people’s expectations of both in-person and online events. I want to ensure that the experience of everyone who attends our UCL comps is an unforgettable one in a totally positive sense. This impression should be formed by excellent timing, great CAs, lovely food and organised fun socials afterwards (post-pandemic times, yay).

Also, knowing how many things with organising comps can potentially go not according to plan A (be it teams dropping out, storm Eunice version 1.2 or whatever that can go according to Murphy’s law), I’m sure I could contribute to our convening team being four parallel universes ahead of any potential difficulty because I’m a well-organised and responsible person with decent problem-solving skills. I would be grateful to get this chance to give back to the community that is very valuable for me.