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Keynote speakers
Jack Hickman
Our charity: Stepping Stone Gala
JACMUN is thrilled to be working with the Stepping Stone Gala this year to support the Montreal Children’s Hospital. The Stepping Stone Gala is a dedicated non-profit organisation committed to providing additional support to children and their families. The founder of this organisation, Jack Hickman, was diagnosed with juvenile arthritis at the age of eight, which limited his physical activity and prevented him from playing the sports he loved. With the help of the Montreal Children’s Hospital, Hickman was able to move without any pain after a three-year treatment process. In 2021, he founded the Stepping Stone Gala to support others with similar conditions and has since hosted annual fundraising events to raise awareness and money for the Rheumatology department.
We are delighted to announce that Jack Hickman will be joining us as a guest speaker at the opening ceremony of JACMUN. His presence is a testament to our commitment to inspiring youth leadership and encouraging delegates to become active members of their community and to commit to causes that extend beyond the conference.
For more information about the Stepping Stone Gala, we encourage you to visit the following link:
https://www.steppingstonegala.com/event-details-registration/stepping-stone-donations
Senator Tony Loffreda
JACMUN is honoured to welcome Senator Tony Loffreda as the guest speaker at this year's closing ceremony. Appointed to the Senate in 2019, Senator Loffreda has campaigned for just policies that benefit Canadians. His impact extends beyond that of the Senate, as he is the Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration, Chair of the World Bank and IMF Parliamentary Network for Canada and Chair of the Senate Immigration Working Group. He is also Vice-Chair of both the Canada–Spain Parliamentary Friendship Group and the Canada–Romania Parliamentary Friendship Group. Moreover, he is an active member of the Independent Senators Group.
Senator Loffreda has been honoured with several awards for his contributions, such as the Order of the Star of Italy, as the first Canadian-born Senator of Italian descent. He has also been granted the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, the Gold Medal for Exceptional Merit from the Lieutenant Governor of Quebec and the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers from the Governor General of Canada, among others.
Prior to his appointment, Senator Loffreda served on 21 boards, including Concordia University’s Board of Governors. He also contributed to the financial industry for 35 years, serving as Vice-Chair and Senior Executive at the Royal Bank of Canada.
As a philanthropist, he has raised awareness and funds for several causes, including the Montreal Cancer Institute, the Montreal Jewish General Hospital, and McGill University’s Goodman Cancer Research Centre.
His presence is a testament to our commitment to fostering meaningful discussions and inspiring the next generation of leaders. We are certain that, with his incredible knowledge and experience, his insights will spark new ideas, challenge perspectives and encourage delegates to continue their diplomatic and intellectual pursuits beyond the conference.
