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

Grace Kennedy – Project Manager

Grace Kennedy is a second-year NPSIA student 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 in the Libyan Civil War and was awarded an undergraduate research award for her final research project. Currently, Grace works on Canadian and American defence procurement, and is excited to apply her knowledge to this year’s conference. She looks forward to connecting with all the delegates in February!

Chris Merrick – Committee Chair 

Chris Merrick is a first-year NPSIA student specializing in security and defence policy. Chris developed a passion for security and defence through his time in federal politics. Specifically, he is interested in Canada’s efforts to modernize its Armed Forces and strengthen its capacity to address emerging threats at home and within the NATO alliance. Looking ahead, Chris aims to play a role in shaping security and defence policy domestically and internationally.

Trevor Peeters – Committee Chair 

Trevor Peeters is a second-year EURUS student and returning chair to Carleton Model NATO. Trevor’s academic research focuses on Central Asia and the intersection of governance, authoritarianism, and foreign influence in the post-Soviet space. Over the past two summers, he has conducted fieldwork in Kyrgyzstan and published two articles on related topics: “Exporting Surveillance: China’s Authoritarian Blueprint in the Kyrgyz Republic” and “Biometrics and the Belt and Road Initiative: Implications for Kyrgyzstan’s Public Health Sector.” Trevor looks forward to bringing experience and enthusiasm for international relations to this year’s conference and connecting with the delegates.

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.

Cilvius Chin – Committee Chair and Director of Special Projects

Cilvius Chin is a first-year NPSIA student at Carleton University, specializing in International Organization and Global Public Policy. He currently serves as Director of Special Projects at MNATO 26 and as a Committee Chair for the North Atlantic Council. Cilvius previously attended MNATO 2024 as a delegate in the NAC, and his research interests focus on the Indo-Pacific region and its implications for transatlantic security. He looks forward to engaging with all delegates at this year’s conference.

Helena Matos-Pugh – Committee Chair and Social Media Coordinator

Helena is a first-year master’s student in Carleton University’s NPSIA program, where she specializes in diplomacy and foreign policy. She is particularly interested in how foreign policy can address gender-based violence in fragile and post-conflict settings. Helena currently serves as the Social Media Coordinator for MNATO 26 and looks forward to connecting with everyone at this year’s conference.

Ezra Zabawny-Gilman – Committee Chair

Ezra Zabawny-Gilman is currently in his first year of the Diplomacy and Foreign Policy stream at NPSIA where he pursues his M.A. in International Affairs at Carleton University. Ezra’s main academic interests are Eastern European and Post-Soviet politics, and examining the changing dynamics between these states. Ezra most recently completed an internship at the Post-Coflict Research Center in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, where he researched the complex ethnic environment in Bosnia as a result of the Bosnian War and its lasting impacts on the country. Ezra is very excited to chair the Military Committee at Carleton’s upcoming Model NATO conference!

Natalie Mubalama – Director of Communications and Committee Chair 

Natalie Mubalama is a first-year joint JD/MA student at the University of Ottawa and Carleton University’s Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, specialising in security and defence policy. She completed her Bachelor of Social Sciences in Political Science at the University of Ottawa, where she strengthened her interest in global governance and diplomacy through her involvement in the Model United Nations. Natalie also completed an international internship at the Human Rights Advocacy Centre in Ghana, where she contributed to youth-focused research and advocacy initiatives. Her academic interests include international trade, border securitisation, and the legal frameworks that shape global security. She looks forward to supporting this year’s conference and helping foster a connected and dynamic delegate community.

Sam Richard – Committee Chair

Sam Richard is a 4th-year politics honours student at Acadia University specializing in International Relations, Global Studies, and International Human Rights Law. His research interests include the ethical & humanist considerations of AI integrations in governance, and the implications of authoritarian governance on diplomacy and human rights. He has participated in an academic semester abroad in Germany, where he studied the effects of regional environmental governance on national priorities and policy. He is writing his thesis on the global understanding of Human Rights law in the face of AI integration. Sam has participated in CMNATO for the past 2 years and looks forward to participating as one of three chairs for the NAC.

Amy Ricker – Committee Chair

Amy Ricker is a graduate student at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, specialising in Diplomacy and Foreign Policy. She currently serves as the Vice President of Communications for the NPSIA Students’ Association, a Communications Advisor with Young Diplomats of Canada, and works on Parliament Hill as a staffer, supporting parliamentary communications and research. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and International Relations from Simon Fraser University, where she graduated with Distinction and served as President of the SFU Model United Nations Team. Amy previously completed the NATO Field School, studying transatlantic security firsthand through briefings at NATO Headquarters, the NATO Defence College, and EU institutions. Amy has also held leadership roles with Amnesty International SFU, served as an Undergraduate Senator, and coordinated content for the Canadian Defence and Security Network’s Field Report Podcast. She is passionate about diplomacy, human rights, and global security, and looks forward to facilitating a thoughtful and engaging committee experience.