Each year, Bond University hosts BUHMUN (Bond University High School Model United Nations), a dynamic two-day conference that invites high school students to step into the world of international diplomacy. Representing the perspectives of different nations, students engage in simulated United Nations debates on some of the world's most urgent challenges.
Through collaboration, critical thinking, and negotiation, students work together to propose thoughtful and realistic solutions. BUHMUN offers a rich and engaging experience that not only deepens students' understanding of global affairs but also fosters leadership, communication, and teamwork skills—helping to develop the change-makers of tomorrow.
This year, QAHS was represented by nine delegates; Jenny Chi, Johanna Lee, Isla Malthus, Alexie Paza, Prince Sidiangco, Jelena Uzelac, Morgan Walsh, Summer Xia and Anna Yan and two journalists. Students' roles as delegates required them to think critically about how their represented country would tackle the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth, and SDG 15 – Life on Land in the different committee rooms. Johanna Lee was awarded the Diplomacy award for her engagement in the Environment Assembly discussing critical minerals, natural resources and mining from the perspective of South Africa. Jerry Zhao joined the Journalist team and was awarded Photographer of the conference.
.jpg)
.jpg)
Jerry took a moment to share his experience:
“The BUHMUN Conference took place at the Bond University campus over two days, May 13 and 14. On Day 1, we gathered by the Basil Sellers Theatre, where I was hand assigned to photograph delegate speakers during the opening sessions. Afterward, the Journalist were given a private press conference with the keynote speaker and Bond Alumni, Shinae Haidley, before heading to the newsroom and splitting into our respective conference groups.
I was assigned to the General Assembly and tasked with finishing a story by 3 PM. As delegates presented their proposals to The Chair on sustainable tourism, the session took a dramatic turn when Hungary, representing the Union of Eastern European delegates, declared war on Western Europe. Sweden fired back, warning Hungary to “count their days," while Germany distanced itself, stating it did not seek war. During the closing Informal Formal meeting, tensions rose further when the Ugandan delegate called the European delegates “colonizers", which became the headline for my Day 1 article.
Day 2 began with a group photo of all attending schools before we rushed back to the newsroom to meet our 2 PM deadline. My team was able to interview the Hungarian, German, and Swedish delegates to explore the fallout from Day 1. In the next General Assembly session, conflict between Uganda and European delegates escalated. Sweden responded sharply: “Continuing to call us colonizers incentivises us against helping you." The Spanish delegate later sided with Uganda, calling for reparative action from former colonial powers in the following interview.
And please feel free to check out all the news from the BUHMUN journalist team here: https://buhmun2025.my.canva.site/buhmun-2025-student-news"
Congratulations to the entire team who represented QAHS at BUHMUN 2025!
Tammie Gilbert
HOD Contemporary Learning and Teaching