Lyna Mohamad
Keynote speakers for the 19th International School Brunei Borneo Global Issues Conference (ISB BGIC) were introduced during a press conference at ISB’s campus in Kampong Sungai Hanching yesterday.
The conference, jointly hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and ISB, involves nearly 300 delegates from 23 schools across Borneo.
Head of Manpower Planning and Employment Council (MPEC) Secretariat under the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Dr Hajah Siti Haziah binti Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin, and Deputy Managing Director and Commercial Director of Brunei Shell Petroleum Company Sdn Bhd (BSP) Haji Mohamad Azmi bin Haji Mohd Hanifah were introduced as the keynote speakers.
Dr Hajah Siti Haziah worked with the Ministry of Health for nine years before joining BSP as Chief Medical Officer, HSSE and Crisis Management Manager, and as Learning and Development Manager. She then led Panaga Health Centre, which became the first local health institution to achieve accreditation for quality health care in the country. Since September 1, 2021, she has been seconded to take up her current role.
She said, “The voices of our young talents need to be heard and sought, and having a platform like the ISB BGIC enables meaningful participation and the voices of our young leaders to be heard as we build sustainable and resilient societies and shared future together.”
Haji Azmi was seconded in 2013 as the Head of Energy Services Business Development at the Department of Energy at the PMO prior to his appointment as Deputy Permanent Secretary (Energy and Industry), then as Permanent Secretary (Industry) and Permanent Secretary (Energy and Industry) at the Ministry of Energy and Industry.
He was later appointed BSP’s Commercial Director in 2020, and he has also been serving as Deputy Managing Director since 2021.
Also present at the event were Head of Digitalisation at Brunei LNG Sdn Bhd Kong Yeung Ching, and Business Development Manager for Dynamik Technologies Sdn Bhd Albert Wen Yau Hwong, who spoke on behalf of their companies. Other panellists included ISB Executive Principal and Chief Executive Officer Dr Stephen Kendall-Jones; ISB BGIC organiser Ai Ling Wong; and ISB BGIC Secretaries-General Sophie Kay and Sneha Elizabeth Panackal.
BSP and Brunei LNG are the main sponsors for the 19th ISB BGIC, joined by Dynamik Technologies, Datastream Digital Sdn Bhd, Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam, Brunei Fertilizer Industries Sdn Bhd and Butra HeidelbergCement Sdn Bhd.
The event is supported by TLT Enterprise, Interhouse Company, Air Cat Logistics Sdn Bhd, D’Sunlit Sdn Bhd, Brunei Press Sdn Bhd and Aewon Garment and Embroidery.
This year’s ISB BGIC focusses on the eighth Sustainable Development Goal (SDG8) – Decent Work and Economic Growth.
Dr Kendall-Jones said, “Employers want employees who can problem-solve, work in teams, think critically, and communicate well.
“These skills are exactly what participants develop in a simulation of a real-world environment. Students also get to consider the issues that they, as future leaders of their generation, will have to address.”
Delegates will debate and decide on resolutions relating to decent work and economic growth, including topics on safe working environment, sustainable technologies and industries, labour rights, economic diversification and artificial intelligence technologies.
Participants at the annual student-led Model United Nations-style conference will represent countries to address current real-world issues, developing their understanding of global citizenship and critical skills in research, public speaking, and negotiation.
The conference runs until March 13, with the opening ceremony to take place today at the International Convention Centre in Berakas.
