In February 2011, Alex Moores attended the Harvard National Model United Nations (HNMUN) competition in America – the most prestigious international debating competition in the world.
Over the four intense days of debate, negotiation, and lobbying, Alex achieved top of his committee of approximately 375 competitors with the Honourable Mention award, making him one of the best delegates at the competition of over 3500 world class university students.
At only 21 years of age, Alex was Director and Head Delegate of the Australian Delegation. The delegation comprised of 15 elite university students from all over the country and competed against students from Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and many other American and international universities.
“It is not often Tasmania is recognised internationally, and I believe having a Tasmanian winner in a national squad at a competition as prestigious and large as Harvard’s is a good indicator that Tasmania is to be taken seriously on a world stage,” Alex says.
Alex was a delegate in the Legal Committee, debating the pertinent issue of climate change law and the possible creation of an International Court of the Environment. He plans to take the knowledge gained and his own expertise back to Australian climate projects to ensure a truly global approach. He is keenly following the issue of the Carbon Tax debate.
Alex, an Arts/Law student at the University of Tasmania, has been debating for nearly ten years and has participated in Youth Parliaments, Model United Nations Competitions and Debating Tournaments all around the country and internationally. He was the only Tasmanian delegate selected to attend the competition in 2009 (the first year Australia sent a team) and returned in 2011 to lead the delegation on the ‘StatesMUN tour’.
In addition to the HNMUN competition itself, StatesMUN is the name given to the tour of America which included visits to the White House, Congress, the United Nations, the Australian Embassy and Permanent Mission, and American historical locations. Alex attended high level meetings as a representative of Australian Universities, and Tasmanians interested in international affairs.
“The trip, while the primary focus is on the United Nations competition, also examined American politics from an Australian perspective,” Alex says. “It is an invaluable cultural exchange which fosters professional, academic and social ties between America and Australia.”
