New York City, USA
2022 United Nations High Level Political Forum
The HLPF is the main United Nations platform on sustainable development. It has a central role in the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the global level.
The 2024 HLPF will be held from July 8th, to July 17th, under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council in New York City. This year's theme will be “Building back better from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) while advancing the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”.
Nina Lam , Head Delegate
Nina Lam is in the final semester of her Master in Development Studies at the Geneva Graduate Institute. Her curricular specializations are migration and human rights, stemming from her lifelong commitment to advance the welfare of migrants and marginalized populations based on her own identity as an Asian Canadian.
Born and raised in Winnipeg, Nina holds a B.A. (Adv.) in Global Political Economy from the University of Manitoba. During her time there, she studied abroad in Hong Kong and served in multiple leadership positions within the realms of university and student governance. Over the course of her academic career, she has conducted research on issues including the unfair recruitment of migrant workers, precarity in the gig economy, and the financing of child welfare.
In her community, Nina sits on the board of the Youth Parliament of Manitoba, where she mentors other youth to foster professional development and political literacy. She currently works for the Government of Manitoba, supporting the Province's immigration programming and policy development. As a passionate advocate of the SDGs, she is honoured for the opportunity to attend the 2022 HLPF and represent Canadian youth as stakeholders of a sustainable and equitable future.
Leah Morris, Communications Coordinator
Leah is currently a Director at Radical Ventures – an AI and deep tech venture capital fund supporting Canadian and global AI researchers to scale their transformative technologies. Leah is engaged in supporting diversity in tech and improving the use of science, technology, and innovation (STI) for sustainable development.
Leah has worked across various organizations guided by the United Nations SDGs and human rights frameworks. In Kingston, Jamaica, she worked on behalf of Caribbean populations especially vulnerable to HIV infection at the Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition. She also worked with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in the Migration, Environment, and Climate Change Division. After which, she held a fellowship with the Open Society Foundations in Johannesburg, South Africa, which focused on LGBTQIA+ programming.
Leah holds a Master of Global Affairs and a Master of Business Administration, both from the University of Toronto, and a dual major BA (Hons.) in International Development Studies and Environment, Sustainability, and Society from the University of King’s College. Leah’s research at the University of Toronto examined AI and the digital economy, resulting in her co-authoring a paper exploring the potential to reduce false denials in refugee claims in Canada with AI.
Kerry Li, Engagement Coordinator
Kerry Li holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Politics, and Philosophy from Western University and graduated top of her class. She was a Bobby T Jones Scholar at the University of St. Andrews where she studied Economics and Philosophy. Her research interests include global priorities, education and economic development, and sustainable finance. Kerry intends to continue developing her knowledge and involvement in impact investing, marrying her interests in finance and social impact. Her finance experiences include completing work terms at CIBC and Goldman Sachs in both Toronto and New York. Kerry currently works in the private equity investing space at OTPP.
An active member of the Global EA community, Kerry serves on the Board of Immploy, a non-profit serving to connect and train immigrant talent to improved employment opportunities; is a volunteer investment advisor at CARE Social Ventures; and was the co-lead of Events at Inclusion in Impact Investing, a BIPOC investing community. Previously, she has worked with a variety of other student and professional organizations with the aim to drive improved outcomes in providing equitable access to quality education, employment opportunities with dignity, and financial services.
Kerry aspires to continue to learn more about and contribute effectively to areas where the intersections of innovation, capital, and policy can help construct a more equitable and sustainable future. She hopes to engage with multiple stakeholders, including minority perspectives, to develop a more panoramic view in representing Canadian youth at the 2022 UN HLPF and in future SDG-driven projects.
Megan Tran, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Coordinator
Megan Tran is the Space for Youth Coordinator at Student Energy where she supports meaningful youth engagement in the climate and energy sector to facilitate equitable dialogue and intergenerational collaboration between young people and decision-makers. She holds an International Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from Glendon, York University, and a Certificate in International Affairs & Strategy from Sciences Po, Reims Campus.
Prior to Student Energy, she has worked with a variety of organizations that align with her passions for sustainability, social justice, and youth empowerment. Her experience includes supporting regional businesses in adopting more sustainable practices and supporting a national research project that explored how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected Canadian youth living in urban centres.
Megan currently sits on the Board of Directors of Ally Squared, an intersectional feminist organization that aims to advance active allyship to build an equitable, decolonized and just society. She is also a member of the Toronto Asia Pacific Youth Council under the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, and was a Daughters of the Vote delegate where she represented one of 338 Canadian federal ridings at their 2021 leadership summit.