Past Leaders

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, Outreach Director at the University of Toronto’s Amnesty International, G7/G20 compliance analyst, and Outreach Committee member for HanVoice UofT. Da Seul is interested in research that addresses human rights in nuclear North Korea and Latin America.

Fion Li is entering the second year of her 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. Outside of academics, she has a passion for arts and culture, especially the history of protest art.

Grace To is a second-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.

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

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 2024, Portia worked as a Junior Policy Analyst in the Privy Council Office.

Angus MacKellar is entering his third year at the University of Toronto, on exchange at Sciences Po Paris. As a student in the Peace, Conflict and Justice and International Relations Programs, Angus is using his time in Paris to focus on intelligence and security, which he hopes to continue to pursue in the future. Since 2022, Angus has served the G7 Research Group as both a compliance analyst and a compliance director, primarily researching development and education. He was also a member of the field team at Italy’s 2024 Apulia Summit.

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.

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.

Mackenzie Hickie is entering her fourth and final year of her History degree at Toronto Metropolitan University. Her studies have centred around international relations, with a particular interest in security and intelligence studies. Outside of her academics Mackenzie has a strong passion for student engagement, where she focuses on creating and hosting events that bridge the gap between students and professionals, with hopes of setting students up for success in their future endeavours in grad school or careers.

Alex Lapsker is in his final year at Toronto Metropolitan University, completing a degree in history. His research interests include the history of espionage, ancient history, and the history of international relations. He plans on continuing his studies in graduate school, focusing on US foreign policy under the Eisenhower administration.

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, Outreach Director at the University of Toronto’s Amnesty International, G7/G20 compliance analyst, and Outreach Committee member for HanVoice UofT. Da Seul is interested in research that addresses human rights in nuclear North Korea and Latin America.

Fion Li is entering the second year of her 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. Outside of academics, she has a passion for arts and culture, especially the history of protest art.

Grace To is a second-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.

Yonatan Lavrukov is currently in his final year at Ryerson University (now TMU) and will be graduating with a Double Major in History and Philosophy with a Double Minor in Psychology and Criminology. His academic focus is primarily on twentieth-century international relations, with a focus on the Soviet Union’s foreign policy.

Paraney Babuharan is in his third year of an undergraduate degree in political science, philosophy, and economics at the University of Toronto. An alumnus of the Margaret MacMillan Trinity One International Relations programme, he is interested in political theory, religion and politics, and law.

Wyeth Robertson is going into the fourth year of his undergraduate degree in the Ryerson (now TMU) History-Philosophy Double Major program in the Fall 2021 Semester. Wyeth’s historical research interests are broad, but he focuses on 20th-century migration in Europe and diasporic communities throughout the world. His philosophical interests center around discourses on ethics. Wyeth enjoys making an impact in the Ryerson (now TMU) community through a variety of student initiatives, and also has a passion for music and filmmaking, which he pursues in his free time.

Mackenzie Hickie is entering her third year of her History degree at Toronto Metropolitan University. Her studies have centred around international relations, with a particular interest in security and intelligence studies. Outside of her academics, Mackenzie has a strong passion for student engagement, where she focuses on creating and hosting events that bridge the gap between students and professionals, with hopes of setting students up for success in their future endeavours in grad school or careers.

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, Outreach Director at the University of Toronto’s Amnesty International, G7/G20 compliance analyst, and Outreach Committee member for HanVoice UofT. Da Seul is interested in research that addresses human rights in nuclear North Korea and Latin America.

Vamika Jain is entering her third year of an undergraduate degree in International Relations and Contemporary Asian Studies at the University of Toronto. Her research interests include issues of international law, security and terrorism in Asia, and she is currently working with the Laidlaw Foundation on an independent research project in this field. Outside the IID, she is also Associate Editor-in-Chief for the Synergy Undergraduate Journal, an executive member of the International Relations Society, and a tea enthusiast.

Matt Brown is entering his fourth year of a history major at Ryerson (now TMU). His focus is on 20th century US Foreign Policy towards Southeast Asia, which he is writing his undergraduate thesis about. He plans on continuing his studies in graduate school after graduating.

Yonatan Lavrukov is currently in his final year at Ryerson University (now TMU) and will be graduating with a Double Major in History and Philosophy with a Double Minor in Psychology and Criminology. His academic focus is primarily on twentieth-century international relations, with a focus on the Soviet Union’s foreign policy.

Benn Bland is entering his fourth year of a History Major at Ryerson University (now TMU). He is focused on how science, technology, and agriculture have evolved throughout human history and their impacts. He is the Minister of Education for the Ryerson (now TMU) History Society. He is also hoping to do graduate school after graduating.

Aviva Gomes-Bhatt graduated from Ryerson (now TMU) in 2020 with a BA in History and English. While at Ryerson (now TMU), she held the positions of co-host and leader of the IID, and Vice-President of the Ryerson (now TMU) History Society. She is currently completing an MA in European and Russian Affairs at the University of Toronto, focusing on 20th century German history.

Grace van Vliet is a graduating Ryerson (now TMU) student completing her undergraduate degree in History. She has focused her work on ‘anything between Bismarck and the moon landing’ with a focus on Franco-German relations, World War II, the Francophone world and decolonization, and the Cold War in Europe and the U.S. She is currently undertaking an undergraduate thesis on the French Resistance of the Second World War and the Vichy regime. She has presented her research on the internal bureaucracy of the Third Reich at an international undergraduate conference in Dublin, and has won awards such as the Denis Mock Award for Student Leadership and the Doug Webb Award for History. She was president of the Ryerson (now TMU) History Society and co-leader of the IID for the academic year 2018/19. As of September 2019 she will be working on her Masters at the Munk School as part of the Centre for European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies.

Rolando Gómez Báez is a graduating Ryerson (now TMU) student, completing his major in History and minor in Politics. He co-led the IID for the academic year of 2018/19. His areas of interest include Cold War international relations, the Soviet Union, twentieth-century Cuba, and U.S. foreign policy toward Latin America more generally. He is currently finishing an undergraduate thesis on Cuba’s foreign relations with Venezuela since the end of the Cold War and the Pink Tide movement in Latin America. As of September 2019, he will continue his studies in the Master’s Field in Contemporary International History at the University of Toronto.

Amanda Macdonald graduated with a BA in History and a minor in English. Her academic focus is on international relations and World War II. In addition to co-hosting the IID Series, Amanda is also a member of the Ryerson (now TMU) U of Mosaic team. Outside of school, her interests include travel and photography. In the future, Amanda hopes to continue her education by pursuing a Master’s degree to explore the effects of violence and genocide on society.

A Ryerson (now TMU) alumnus, Muna Osman graduated in 2016 with a Bachelor of Arts Honours specializing in History. She co-hosted the International Issues Discussion (IID) series from 2013-2016, and was awarded the Dennis Mock Student Leadership Award for her work. Muna also served on the Ryerson (now TMU) History Society, the Ryerson (now TMU) International Student Exchange Committee, and as a Research Assistant for the Middle East North Africa Studies Centre (MENA) at Ryerson University (now TMU). Muna graduated with a Master of Arts degree in 2018 having specialized in Intelligence and International Affairs at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs. She is a Junior Research Affiliate of the Canadian Network for Research on Terrorism, Security, and Society, and previously managed the Terrorism, Security, and Society (TSAS) Student Blog. In 2017, she co-presented a paper on kidnapping for ransom at the TSAS Junior Affiliate Workshop, and her paper “Kidnapping for Ransom: An Analysis of Canadian Cases” was published in 2018. Muna previously interned at the Economic and Political Intelligence Centre of Export Development Canada and has carried out policy research for Policy Horizons Canada. Muna currently works as a Policy Analyst at the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) within their Federal Policing Strategic Policy and Strategic Direction division.

Mark Unwin graduated from Ryerson (now TMU) in 2016 with a BA in history and a staggering coffee addiction. The two years he co-hosted the IID with Muna Osman (who also served as his bodyguard) were the highlight of his undergraduate experience. While at Ryerson (now TMU), he received the Gold Medal in History, the Dennis Mock Leadership Award, the Maurice Pope Scholarship in British History, the Doug Webb award, and the Best Essay prize.  Mark presented his research at the 2014 Great Lakes History Conference in Michigan and twice at ARTeries, Ryerson’s (now TMU) undergraduate Arts conference. In his current role as Executive Assistant and Director of Operations at the Ministry of Infrastructure, he is helping to guide infrastructure spending and improve asset management practices in Ontario. Mark is also the adoring father of Matias Unwin, recipient of the utterly fictitious Handsomest Baby in Recorded History award.

Steph Perrin was an IID co-leader with Kate Grisdale in 2011-2012. Since graduating from Ryerson (now TMU), Steph pursued her Master’s degree in International Studies at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver. With interests in women’s rights, art, and social change, her MA thesis explored how Egyptian women used graffiti during the Arab Spring. Steph is now based in her hometown of Calgary where she works as an International Development Officer at the University of Calgary. In her spare time, Steph volunteers as the Resource Director for Femme Wave, a leading feminist arts festival.