The 18th International School Brunei Borneo Global Issues Conference (ISB BGIC) involves almost 300 delegates from 21 schools across Brunei Darussalam. This conference is hosted by International School Brunei, with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports as its conference partner, and was held from 24th June until 27th June at the International Convention Centre.
The school hosted a press conference to initiate the event at their campus in Sungai Hanching, introducing this year’s keynote speakers, Dr Peter Tay, Chief Executive Officer of Gleneagles JPMC Sdn. Bhd; and Lailatul Zubaidah Hussain, founder of The Impian Project.
Dr Peter Tay join Gleneagles JPMC in 2011 as the CEO and during his tenure, GJPMC has been working closely with the Health Promotion Centre (HPC) and the Ministry of Health to support its health and well-being programmes - WAH (Workplace and Health) and HEAL (Happy Environment and Lifestyle) Programmes.
Lailatul Zubaidah Hussain is an avid advocate for special needs children and is the founder of the community platform 'The Impian Project', to empower special needs families. She is also the founder and Managing Director of Elfera Health & Nursing Care Sdn Bhd (FERA Nursing) - a private nursing service that provides nursing care usually sought for patients recovering from post-surgical procedures, chemotherapy, and also for special needs children, medically complex children and geriatrics.
The theme for the 18th ISB BGIC follows the UN Sustainable Development Goal 3 - Good Health and Well-being. On the theme, Mr Macfadyen said, “we felt this was a relevant, timely and meaningful subject after the last two years, but the topics and debates are broad, wide ranging and comprehensive. As ever with our students they have brought far more to this than we first imagined. It’s going to be a terrific three days of debates and discussions.”
Delegates have worked tirelessly to research their topics and prepare speeches for the conference itself. Delegates will debate and decide on resolutions relating to health and well-being of which includes topics on vaccination, infant mortality rates, epidemics, mental wellbeing, access to healthcare, among others.
ISB BGIC Secretary-General Rafferty Grant-Perry said, “The core of ISB BGIC are the resolutions that delegates from around Brunei Darussalam work very hard to write. These are 85-line documents which outline methods to address the problems that that we face, both at home and abroad. These resolutions answer topic questions which are relevant to the issues that are faced by citizens in Brunei Darussalam and around the world.”
“During the ISB Borneo Global Issues Conference, we hope to build the character of the delegates by challenging them to debate and develop a global mindset and encouraging innovative and practical solutions to the problems that are highlighted.”
The resolutions that are passed with a majority vote in the General Assembly will represent the voice of almost 300 youths of Brunei Darussalam and these will be shared with the wider community for further discussions and action where possible.
This conference is sponsored by Brunei Shell Petroleum Company Sdn Bhd, Brunei LNG Sdn Bhd, Gleneagles JPMC Sdn Bhd, Dynamik Technologies Sdn Bhd, Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam and Butra HeidelbergCement Sdn Bhd, with support from TLT Enterprise, Interhouse Company, Air Cat Logistics Sdn Bhd, D’Sunlit Sdn Bhd, Brunei Press Sdn. Bhd and Aewon Garment & Embroidery.
The 18th ISB BGIC is also in support of the Brunei Mid-Year Conference and Exhibition (MYCE) 2022.
ISB BGIC is an annual student-led Model United Nations style conference where participants (delegates) represent countries to address various views on current, real world issues. The delegates are assigned to four different committees - Environment, Human Rights, Eco-Soc, and Political - in two forums. This initiative is aimed at the development of students’ understanding of global citizenship and critical skills in research, public speaking, and negotiation. ISB BGIC is led by the students, for the students.