2022
Justin Trudeau
23rd Prime Minister of Canada
Justin Trudeau (born December 25, 1971) is Canada’s 23rd Prime Minister.
Justin’s vision of Canada is a country where everyone has a real and fair chance to succeed. His experiences as a teacher, father, leader, and advocate for youth have shaped his dedication to Canadians – and his commitment to make Canada a place where everyone has the opportunities they need to thrive.
The oldest of three boys, Justin grew up with the profound influence of his father, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, and his mother, Margaret Trudeau. He was raised speaking both French and English and has family roots in both Eastern and Western Canada. This background helped spark his passion for public service and shaped his conviction that diversity is Canada’s strength.
Justin studied literature at McGill University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in 1994. He went on to complete the University of British Columbia’s education program, and spent several years teaching French, math, and other subjects in Vancouver. Teaching allowed him to make a positive impact in the lives of young people. He remains committed to hearing the voices of young Canadians, from the classroom to Parliament Hill.
In 2002, Justin returned home to Montréal, where he met Sophie Grégoire, a Quebec TV and radio host. They married in 2005 and are now the proud parents of Xavier, Ella-Grace, and Hadrien.
2021
Rachel Bendayan
Member of Parliament, Outremont
CONMUN had the pleasure to host Rachel Bendayan as keynote speaker at their second annual conference in 2021. Ms Bendayan was first elected as the Member of Parliament for Outremont in 2019. She previously served as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade. Over a period of close to 10 years, Ms. Bendayan built a successful legal practice at Norton Rose Fulbright in the fields of litigation and international arbitration, specializing in international trade law. Ms. Bendayan also taught at the University of Montréal’s Faculty of Law. She later served
as Chief of Staff to the federal Minister of Small Business and Tourism. Mother to a toddler and deeply engaged in her community, Ms. Bendayan has a strong connection to the families she represents in the Montréal neighbourhoods of Outremont, Mile End, and Côte‑des‑Neiges.
CONMUN also partnered with the John Molson International Business Association (JMIBA) for their annual Global Insights Conference which invited a panel of eight ambassadors and consuls to discuss the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on global affairs. The panelists shared their insights on how foreign policy has changed and how their countries are responding to the pandemic. The event kicked off with an opening statement by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Henrik Van De Velde, Belgium
Borek Lizek, Czechia
Ahmed Abu Zeid, Egypt
Josefina Vidal, Cuba
Hanne Fugl Eskjaer, Denmark
Roberto Rodriguez Arnillas, Peru
Mauricio Ortiz, Costa Rica
Eamonn Mckee, Ireland
2019
Dr Fang Liu
Secretary-General of ICAO
At the first iteration of the conference, ConMUN was proud to present Dr Fang Liu, the Secretary-General of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as the keynote speaker. Prior to her appointment as Secretary General, Dr. Liu served for eight years as the Director of ICAO’s Bureau of Administration and Services (ADB). Prior to joining ICAO, Dr. Liu served the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC), where over the course of twenty years she successively held the posts of Legal Counsel, Deputy Director, Director and Deputy Director General, Department of International Affairs and Cooperation.
She was responsible for China’s international air transport policy and regulations, bilateral and multilateral relations with international and regional organizations including ICAO, the World Trade Organization, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the European Union, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Dr. Liu was also chief negotiator for the Chinese government for bilateral and multilateral air transport agreements with foreign countries. During her career with the CAAC, Dr. Liu was elected chair of the Aviation Group of the Asia- Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and was nominated by China to sit on the Air Transport Regulation Panel in ICAO. She also served as an expert on mediation and dispute resolution. Dr. Liu earned a PhD in international law at Wuhan University, China, and a Master’s degree in air and space law at Leiden University, the Netherlands. She was the Director of the Association of Air Law of China and of the Association of Private International Law of China, and has published articles and delivered lectures on a wide range of topics in international air transport regulation and air law. She speaks Chinese and English and has knowledge of French.