ADVISORY PANEL

President: James Chu (IBSH)

Dep. President: Haru Shih (KAS)

(1101) The question of balancing national sovereignty and international interests at global trade choke points

(1102) The question of mitigating environmental and social challenges from the rising

Dear delegates, welcome to HSINMUN XXII! My name is James Chu, a junior from the International Bilingual School at Hsinchu Science Park (IBSH) and it is my utmost honor to serve as your President of the Advisory Panel.

If you were expecting the standard chair introduction with a long list of past conferences and stories of struggling at first conferences, I’m going to disappoint you. To be honest, I’ve always found that a bit cliché. Instead, I want to ask a question: Why do you do MUN? Is it for the debate, the friends, the EC list or something else?

For me, that “something else” is what most delegates overlook: the soft skills you gain conference after conference. They are quiet. They won't change you overnight, but they gradually reshape who you are. During a chaotic unmod, I wasn’t just learning diplomacy; leadership and guidance played an equal role. Standing up to speak in front of a room full of strangers was more than delivering a speech as it helped in actively conquering stage fright. Researching global issues and speech writing broadened my perspective and introduced me to various multitudes of writing.

These soft skills became a part of who I am today. Now, it’s your turn. Step out of your comfort zone. Take a stride and be a leader. Practice the art of public speaking and learn as much from the delegate sitting next to you as you do from your research. And let the quiet changes shape you.

See you in October!

Hello everyone! My name is Haru Shih, and I am a freshman at Kaohsiung American School. I am extremely honored to have the opportunity to serve as a student officer at HSINMUN. This will be my 13th conference, and my 5th time chairing. This is my third year in MUN and it has become one of my favorite activities to partake in. As someone interested in pursuing a career in academia in the future, I see MUN as a valuable opportunity to develop critical thinking, research, and analytical skills. Outside of MUN, I enjoy listening to true crime podcasts, reading, and oil painting. I am also a passionate student of art history and archaeology. Occasionally you will find me doing studies museums or in the wilderness while listening to The Marias. Some of my favorite artists include John William Waterhouse, Artemisia Gentileschi, and Lawrence Alma-Tadema.

Feel free to reach out to me via email at haruushih0320@gmail.com or on Instagram @muahahahaharu. I look forward to seeing everyone in October!