Executive Meetings
The executive of the Queen’s Debating Union meets regularly once a week prior to Thursday meetings via zoom. All executive meetings are open for member observation. Guests at executive meetings must pay in mind the following rules:
– If you would like to present an issue to the executive for discussion, you must submit an email to secretary@queensdebatingunion.org well in advance of the meeting so we may set the agenda accordingly
– Visiting members will be given the opportunity to express any concerns or questions they may have at the end of the meeting, if time permits
– Visiting members may not participate in executive discussions unless they have requested to present on an issue in advance of the meeting, or are doing so during the designated roundtable period at the end of the meeting, as outlined above
– The executive reserves the right to ask that visitors leave the room should sensitive or confidential material need to be discussed
All meeting minutes will be available online within the following week, and a link will be distributed in the next Weekly Update. You may read minutes here.
2023-2024 Executive Roles and Responsibilities
Voting Members
The club’s President is Qixuan (Austin) Yao. He is ultimately responsible for the executive and the club as a whole. He represents the QDU to the broader Queen’s and debating communities – curating the events and type of culture that the club has.
The Critics are Emma Kelly & Lily McKay. They act as vice-presidents, keeping a check on the President and the rest of the executive. They are also responsible for training the team and for administering the QDU’s High School Outreach program.
The club’s Treasurer is Raymond Qiu. He is responsible for collecting membership dues, paying for all club expenses and coordinating sponsorship.
Our Secretary is Julia Van Damme. She leads communication efforts with our members, taking meeting minutes and writing the Weekly Update. She also manages the club’s email account, and assists the President with representing the club to the broader Queen’s community. She is responsible for maintaining the QDU website, Instagram page, Facebook page, and all other social media platforms.
The club’s Logistics Officer is James Larkin. He is responsible for helping organize practical aspects of attending tournaments such as billeting and transportation.
Non-Voting Members
Our National High School Debating Championship Tournament Directors are Claire Chen and Dylan Zheng. They will serve as the main point of contact between our club and representatives from interested secondary schools.
The Sergent is Robert Howden. He is responsible for preserving and protecting the Union. He is also responsible for keeping the President safe from harm, and caring for the club’s traditions by maintaining archives and records and acting as the Guardian of the Mace.
The club’s Outreach Director is Tristan Jones. She is responsible for building relationships with other clubs on campus and the broader Kingston community. She is in-charge of creating one outreach event per semester and working with other executive members to recruit and retain members.
The Socials Director is Irelande Farrell. This role is responsible for curating a fun and safe social environment. They plan a variety of socials throughout the year, including those for tournaments and Queen’s members.
The Novice Representative is Olivia Tucker. They will advocate on behalf of novice members before the Executive and will be required to attend all executive meetings.
Our Equity Officers are Jiarui Che and Hashmita Muthusamy. The Equity Officers operate independently from the club executive, and are responsible for ensuring that our club environment is friendly, inclusive, accessible and non-discriminatory. They or an acting Equity Officer will be present at all club events. Please do not hesitate to approach either of them in person, or confidentially by email at equity@queensdebatingunion.org to discuss any issue you may be having with the club or its executive. All equity complaints are confidential. A copy of the Queen’s Debating Union Equity Policy may be found here.
Want to contact the executive? Visit the Contact Us page!