19th ISB BGIC Press Conference

The 19th International School Brunei Borneo Global Issues Conference (ISB BGIC) involves nearly 300 delegates from 23 schools across Borneo. The conference is jointly hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and the International School Brunei, and will run from 10th March to 13th March.

The school hosted a press conference to initiate the event at their campus in Sungai Hanching, introducing one of this year’s keynote speakers, Dr Hajah Siti Haziah binti Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin, Head of Manpower Planning and Employment Council (MPEC) Secretariat, Prime Minister's Office, prior to the opening ceremony at the International Convention Centre, Berakas, on 11th March 2023.

Dr Hjh Siti Haziah worked with Ministry of Health for 9 years before joining Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP) Company as Chief Medical Officer, HSSE and Crisis Management Manager, and as Learning and Development Manager. She then led Panaga Health Center, which became the first local health institution to achieve accreditation for quality health care in Brunei Darussalam. Since 1st September 2021, she has been seconded to take up the role as Head of MPEC Secretariat under the Prime Minister’s Office.

It is Dr Hjh Siti Haziah’s hope that ISB BGIC will further empower and inspire youths to play driving roles in shaping the world and their future. “The voices of our young talents need to be heard and sought, and having a platform like the ISB BGIC enables meaningful participation and the voices of our outstanding young leaders to be heard as we build sustainable and resilient societies and shared future together.”

The second keynote speaker for the conference is Awang Haji Mohamad Azmi bin Haji Mohd Hanifah, Deputy Managing Director and Commercial Director of Brunei Shell Petroleum Co Sdn Bhd.

In 2013, Hj Azmi was seconded as the Head of Energy Services Business Development at the Energy Department, Prime Minister’s Office (EDPMO) prior to his appointment as the Deputy Permanent Secretary (Energy & Industry) then as the Permanent Secretary (Industry) and Permanent Secretary (Energy & Industry) at Ministry of Energy and Industry. He was later appointed as BSP’s Commercial Director in 2020, and he has also been serving as Deputy Managing Director since 2021.

Officials representing the sponsors, Kong Yeung Ching, Head of Digitalisation at Brunei LNG, and Albert Wen Yau Hwong, Business Development Manager for Dynamik Technologies Sdn Bhd were also present to speak at the press conference on behalf of their companies.

Brunei Shell Petroleum Company Sdn Bhd and Brunei LNG Sdn Bhd have continued to be the main sponsors for ISB BGIC.

The 19th ISB BGIC is sponsored by Brunei Shell Petroleum Company Sdn Bhd, Brunei LNG Sdn Bhd, Dynamik Technologies Sdn Bhd, Datastream Digital Sdn Bhd, Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam, Brunei Fertilizer Industries Sdn Bhd, and Butra HeidelbergCement Sdn Bhd, with support from TLT Enterprise, Interhouse Company, Air Cat Logistics Sdn Bhd, D’Sunlit Sdn Bhd, Brunei Press Sdn Bhd and Aewon Garment & Embroidery.

Also speaking as panellists were, ISB Executive Principal and CEO Dr Stephen Kendall-Jones, and ISB BGIC Secretaries-General Sophie Kay and Sneha Elizabeth Panackal.

This year’s ISB BGIC focuses on the 8th Sustainable Development Goal (SDG8) – Decent Work and Economic Growth. On the theme, Dr Kendall-Jones said, "there is research that shows that employers want more from graduates entering the workplace. They want employees who can better problem solver, work in teams, think critically, and communicate well. These skills are exactly what ISB BGIC develops in the participants in a simulation of a real-world environment. On top of that, the students get to consider the issues that they, as future leaders of their generation, will have to address."

Delegates have worked tirelessly over recent months to research their topics and prepare speeches for the conference itself. Delegates will debate and decide on resolutions relating to decent work and economic growth of which includes topics on safe working environments, sustainable technologies and industries, labour rights, unemployment, economic diversification, AI technologies, among others.

ISB BGIC is an annual student-led Model United Nations style conference where participants represent countries to address various views on current, real-world issues. This initiative is aimed at the development of students’ understanding of global citizenship and critical skills in research, public speaking, and negotiation.