Who are the Secretariat and Chairs?

Since its inception in 2002, Carleton Model NATO has been proudly led by students, for students. Every year, a hardworking team of student volunteers take on Secretariat and Chair positions and coordinate the entirety of the conference from the ground up. These students’ responsibilities range from choosing our annual theme, to selecting and researching topics for position papers, to arranging delegation visits and speakers, to running our online and social media presence. Every role is vital to the functionality of the conference and each person brings their own unique talents. Much like CMNATO delegates, our Secretariat and Chair Members have a passion for international security issues and model simulations (amongst many other things!), and we encourage delegates to connect with them beyond their conference roles, or even volunteer for future conferences themselves.

Get to know us

Julia Khodos – Secretary General

Julia is a recent graduate of the Masters of Arts in European, Russian, and Eurasian studies from Carleton University, focusing on Arctic Security policies. Julia has previously participated in Model NATO for several years as a committee chair and was last year’s Secretary General. She is looking forward to returning as Secretary General again this year. Julia currently works at Public Services and Procurement Canada in the trade agreement unit within the policy sector. She is looking forward to meeting the delegates and watching the conference unfold.

Jared Gagne – Committee Chair

Jared Gagne is a second year master’s student in Carleton University’s Political Science Program, where he studies political theory and international relations. His research interests include Liberal Political Thought, Canadian Politics, Canadian Foreign policy, 19th-century Politics, and International Relations. Jared comes from North Bay, where he worked actively in academia, holding a director position at Nipissing’s student union alongside a position as undergraduate student senator on Nipissing’s Academic Senate. Jared looks forward to engaging with everyone at this year’s conference.

Cameron Cadogan – Committee Chair

Cameron (he/him) is a first year master’s student at the University of Ottawa’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs. Growing up in Toronto, Ontario, he learned about Model UN in high school, and continued to participate in university. Active since 2017, Model UN helped to develop his interest in politics and international affairs, along with greatly aiding the refinement of his public speaking abilities. Cameron has attended more than twenty-eight conferences as a delegate and has chaired along with being a crisis staff.He previously held the positions of Vice President of Delegate Coordination and Vice President of Training for the University of Ottawa Model United Nations Association. Cameron likes to go on walks, consume media relating to cars, play video games, and follow political news.

Ethan McLaughlin – Committee Chair

Ethan is a second year master’s student at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs within the Security and defence stream. His research interests include alliance formation and dynamics, grand defence strategy, and foreign policy, specifically American foreign policy. Ethan is from Oakville, Ontario and partook in Model NATO 2023 and is excited to have a role in the military committee. Ethan enjoys board games and loves to go canoeing in the summertime.

Trevor Peeters – Committee Chair

Trevor Peeters is a first year master’s student at Carleton University. He is enrolled in the Centre for European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies and studying Russian history. His research interests are in Soviet perceptions and expressions of nationalism and the creation of borders and national identities in the first two decades of the Soviet regime. His interest in participating in this year’s upcoming Model NATO is gaining experience working within the framework of a transnational institution and exercising his knowledge of the former states of the Soviet Union in an applied setting. This last summer, he had the opportunity to travel to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on a scholarship to participate in a Russian immersion language program. In his free time, Trevor is an avid skateboarder and enthusiast of cars from the 1980s.

Grace Kennedy – Committee Chair

Grace Kennedy is a first year master’s student at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University, specializing in Diplomacy and Foreign Policy. Her research interests include intrastate conflict and development in Africa, Chinese diplomacy, and Canada-Africa foreign policy. Grace is from Chilliwack, British Columbia and completed a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at the University of the Fraser Valley. At UFV, she presented original research on NATO intervention during the Libya Civil War and was awarded an undergraduate research award on her final research project. She has participated in Carleton’s 2024 Model NATO and is looking forward to her new role this year. Outside of academics, Grace enjoys watching Canucks games, being outdoors, reading, and baking.

Je Ho Cho – Committee Chair

Je Ho is a first year master’s student at Carleton University’s Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, specializing in Diplomacy and Foreign Policy and Data Science. Most recently, Je Ho graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Conflict Studies and served on the Secretariat of the 2024 North American Model United Nations conference hosted in Toronto as the Director of Crisis Simulations. Je Ho’s research interests include Canadian foreign policy in the Indo-Pacific, NATO’s partners in Asia, and international organizations.

Griffon Clement – Committee Chair and Director of Marketing

Griffon is a first year master’s student in the Critical Infrastructure Protection and International Security Program at Carleton University. Born in Southeastern Quebec, he completed his Bachelor of Business Administration at Bishop’s University prior to relocating to Ottawa. His research interests include nuclear non-proliferation and national security. He looks forward to working alongside a great team and getting to meet all the delegates during the event.

Erica Joy Bergado – Director of Special Projects

Erica Joy (aka EJ) Bergado is a second year master’s student specializing in Intelligence at Carleton University’s Norman Paterson School of International Affairs. Previously, she served as 2024 Model NATO’s Social Media Director. She holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences in International Development and Globalization from the University of Ottawa. After spending a few years in Japan on the JET Programme, she returned to Canada to work for the Information and Cultural Division at the Japanese Embassy before shifting her career towards security and intelligence. Her academic interests include Canadian/Indo-Pacific trade relations, counterterrorism, and research security. She also had the opportunity to attend this summer’s week-long NATO Summit Simulation at HQ in Belgium, hosted by Simon Fraser University as part of NATO Field School. In her spare time, she enjoys watching 2005’s Pride and Prejudice (again), going to art galleries, and playing piano.

Lea Fazio – Director of Communications

Lea Fazio is a second year master’s student at Carleton’s Norman Paterson School of International Affairs specializing in Security and Defence Policy. Her research interests include Canadian defence procurement and acquisition, and recruitment and retention in the Canadian Armed Forces. Lea is from Windsor, Ontario where she received her undergraduate education in International Relations and Development Studies, writing a senior thesis on United Nations Security Council Reform. With work experience in Canadian defence procurement, she is excited to apply her knowledge and expertise to the Model NATO Secretariat. Lea is an avid film enthusiast and especially enjoys the Lord of the Rings movie series.

Filip Prentas – Director of Home Base Planning

Filip is a second year master’s student at Carleton’s Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, specializing in International Economic Policy with interests in trade and economic security. His current research analyzes the Canadian-European Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, focusing on preference utilization rates and customs procedures. He is also interested in topics related to AI and trade. With work experience from boutique European energy consultancies and trade negotiations, Filip aims to harness his experience in high-level information management and brief writing to assist the Model NATO team and delegates in creative problem solving. Previously, Filip completed a Bachelor’s in Political Science with a Minor in Economics from the University of British Columbia. In his free time, Filip enjoys playing rugby, tabletop wargaming, and cooking.

Cassie Klein – Director of Social Events

Cassie is a second year master’s student at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs specializing in Intelligence. She is interested in global public health intelligence and Canadian national security policy/law. Though she is from Caledon, Ontario, this is her sixth year in Ottawa. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Law and Political Science from Carleton in 2023. During her undergrad, she completed an Honours Research Essay that focused on civilian casualty assessments by the US Military. Cassie was the Vice President Social of the NPSIA Students’ Association last year and is excited to bring her experience to the MNATO Secretariat! Outside of school, she enjoys spending time by the lake and checking out new restaurants.

Brett Szmul – Director of Crisis Scenario Management

Brett is pursuing his Masters degree in International Affairs at Carleton’s Norman Paterson School, specializing in Intelligence. He is excited to serve as Director of Crisis Scenario Management at this year’s Model NATO and welcoming delegates from across Canada to the conference. Brett works on the policy and legislation team in Transport Canada’s High-Frequency Rail division, helping develop one of the country’s largest infrastructure projects forward. His previous experience includes serving as Vice President, Digital Media & Communications with the Canadian International Council’s Young Professionals Network, President of the University of Toronto Model Economic Forum, and Compliance Director with the G20 Research Group.

Vladimir Gorodkov – Project Consultant

Vladimir is a second year master’s student at the Institute of European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies at Carleton University. His research focuses on international sanctions imposed upon Russian aggression against Ukraine. He is also interested in the topics of cybersecurity and AI. Vladimir came back to academia after a long and successful career in International marketing and event management. His academic background includes a Bachelor’s in Economics and Political Economy from the St. Petersburg State University, Russia, and a Master’s of Business Administration from the University of Cape Town, South Africa.

Francis Obeso – Project Manager

Francis Obeso is a second year master’s student at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University. Francis hails from Edmonton and completed a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Computer Science. Francis is passionate about technology and would like to undertake research that relates political science to technology. During his undergrad, he served as the Model UN club’s Vice President of Finance. Last year, Francis was the Director of Crisis Management for Carleton Model NATO 2024. Francis is looking forward to applying these past experiences to this year’s Secretariat. Aside from academics, Francis likes to play a multitude of sports, including basketball, golf, and soccer. Francis is also currently doing his second co-op term at Employment and Social Development Canada.