IID
The International Issues Discussion (IID) series is a student-led forum designed to engage all members of the university community on major events and issues in contemporary global affairs through reasoned, objective, and scholarly discourse.
IID

The Team

Co-Founder, Faculty Advisor and Manager
Arne Kislenko is Associate Professor with the Department of History at Ryerson University (not Toronto Metropolitan University) and an Instructor in the Margaret MacMillan Trinity One International Relations programme at Trinity College, University of Toronto. He teaches modern international relations, including courses on the world wars, the Cold War, the history of espionage, the history of terrorism, comparative foreign policy, and modern Southeast Asia. Read More.


Da Seul, also known as Regina, is pursuing a double major in International Relations and Political Science with a minor in Latin American Studies at the University of Toronto. Her interests in contemporary global affairs issues, human rights, and the environment have led to her involvement as a student leader in the International Issues Discussion Series, President of Rotaract UofT, Outreach Director at the University of Toronto’s Amnesty International, G7/G20 compliance director, as well as Research and Education intern for HanVoice UofT. Da Seul is interested in research that addresses human rights in nuclear North Korea and Latin America.


Fion Li is entering her third year of a Politics and Governance Co-op degree at Toronto Metropolitan University. Her primary research interests focus on international relations, the power dynamics of the state, and contemporary East Asian politics. She previously worked as a research analyst for the Ministry of Infrastructure’s Broadband Financial Accountability Unit.


Jordan Picheniuk is in his third year of an Economics and History degree with a focus in Data Analytics at the University of Toronto. He has developed a keen interest in national and global policy, especially concerning Canada and its allies abroad. Through his time at the IID, Jordan has broadened his academic and professional horizons and connected him with community members. He hopes to connect further with students and enrich their campus experiences as well.


Rayyan Akhtar is in his fourth year at Toronto Metropolitan University, he is a business management student majoring in Law & Business. His primary research interests revolve around intelligence studies and particularly the development of the Canadian intelligence community since the second world war. Outside of academics, Rayyan has worked as a teaching assistant at TMU and a boutique human resources firm that specializes in recruitment for the transportation and logistics industry


Maisha Karim is entering her fourth year of Philosophy-History double major at Toronto Metropolitan University. Her primary research focus includes Russian international relations and Metaphysics with a personal interest in theology.


Portia is a second-year undergraduate student at the University of Toronto, Trinity College, studying International Relations and Political Science. As a Compliance Analyst for the G7 Research Group, Portia has researched the commitment of Canada and the United Kingdom to the rules-based multilateral order. Portia has presented academic papers at several undergraduate research conferences hosted by the University of Toronto, including the Trinity College Undergraduate Research Conference (TCURC) and the IID’s own annual Student Conference. Portia is also a member of the Indigenous Leadership Commission of the Voices of Future Generations Children’s Initiative Project, in partnership with the Centre for International Sustainable Development Law. Over the summer of 2023, Portia worked as a National Security Screening Analyst in the Intelligence and Enforcement branch of the Canada Border Services Agency.


Angus is entering his second year at the University of Toronto as a Specialist in Peace, Conflict and Justice studies and a Major in International Relations. His interest in international affairs has been demonstrated in his role as a compliance analyst in the G7 Research Group and as a writer in the European Studies Student Association journal. In his free time Angus likes to play soccer, having been involved as a player, coach, referee, matchday coordinator, and youth leader for over a decade at his local soccer club.


Grace To is a third-year Graphic Communications Management (GCM) student at TMU. Her admiration for printed media and passion for art has made her feel right at home in GCM. She continually strives to sharpen her graphic design skills and broaden her reach into projects that simultaneously help people and satisfies her creative fervor.


Luis Sanchez is an undergraduate student at the University of Toronto, currently doing a double major in political science and history. He enjoys a wide variety of topics ranging from action film stunt work, Wilsonian idealism, and runway fashion. Luis’s commitment and excitement to the IID are felt by the executive team.


Student Volunteers

Benn Bland

Aviva Gomes Bhatt

Sophie Johnson

Katie Flinn

Jorge Ortega

Abdullah Barez

Aleksander Jova

Christal Cheng

Madison Skoblo

Nathan Ye

Charlotte Keating

Maddaline Bertolo

Zachary Logan

Tenzin Shaksur

Oliver Zhao

Paul Huang

Burhan Khan

Tourang Mohavedi

Tessa Di Vizio

Alykhan Jetha

Stephen Chankov

Eva Gomez