The Secretariat

Olivia Grado is so excited to be Secretary General for CAPMUN 2026. She is currently in her final year at the University of Ottawa studying Political Science with a minor in Statistics. Born and raised in Windsor, Ontario, Olivia is looking to explore a career in diplomacy and international relations following her Master’s degree, which she will start in the fall. Olivia is a returning Secretariat member, having served as Chief of Staff for CAPMUN 2025 and USG Recruitment for CAPMUN 2024. This year’s CAPMUN is going to be one for the record books and she cannot wait to welcome you all in March!

Samson Friedman’s first experience with CAPMUN was as a delegate in 2023, attending the Chinese Civil War JCC. In 2024, he was the 2nd Chair during Berkay Sultunate's Harem committee. Last year, in 2025, he was happy to join the Secretariat as the USG Committees. This year, in 2026, he is serving as the Director General of CAPMUN in addition to directing a committee of his own, the Star Trek Crisis Committee. To all of you who think your CAPMUN story ends after the conference ends, you could not be more wrong. He is happy to see delegates return as staff members, and staff members return as Secretariat, just like he did. See you all at CAPMUN, and beyond!

Lia Maragha is honoured to be Chief of Staff for CAPMUN 2026. She is in her second year at the University of Ottawa studying Conflict Studies and Human Rights. Lia began participating in MUN in high school, where she founded her school’s club! Lia joined CAPMUN during her first year and served as Head of Recruitment, while also chairing as the unforgettable Sultan in Berkay’s committee. Now, as Chief of Staff, Lia is responsible for coordinating staff recruitment, training, and ensuring the conference runs seamlessly behind the scenes. During CAPMUN, Lia can be found around campus with an iced coffee in hand and is always happy to chat with delegates. For her, CAPMUN is a space where leadership is built, and lifelong connections are formed. She cannot wait to welcome you all to Ottawa this March for an unforgettable CAPMUN 2026!

Samuel Sha will be serving as USG Committees at CAPMUN 2026. He is an MA student in political science at the University of Ottawa, with research interest in democratization and authoritarian resilience in East Asia. He is originally from Jilin City, China, and crossed over half of the globe to settle in Canada. Samuel started participating in Model United Nations when he was in Grade 9; he joined CAPMUN in 2019 in his first year of university, and served as the Secretary General for the 2022 edition of the conference. He is thrilled to be serving as USG Committees this year as he is eager to continue the educational mission of CAPMUN and welcome all delegates to the 12th Session of Capital Model United Nations in March of 2026. Aside from academia, Samuel is a Canada Soccer Association match official, and he can be found refereeing soccer games during weekends.

Sajdah Hema will be serving as Deputy USG Finance for CAPMUN 2026.

Saskatoon export Tatenda Musundire is a third year Political Science student at the University of Ottawa, excited to serve as your CAPMUN 2026 USG Logistics. Having been introduced to MUN in his second-year of University, Tatenda's favourite committee topics often revolve around international criminological collaboration, and he hopes to pursue a career in public safety and anti-human trafficking after graduation. A returning CAPMUN staffer from 2025, Tatenda is looking forward to streamlining CAPMUN 2026 challenges, and keeping schools safe and informed. He wishes you a very happy CAPMUN experience.

Vishna Marion will be serving as USG Recruitment for CAPMUN 2026.

Yasmine Ghaffari is a second year psychology major in the Faculty of Social Sciences! She is serving as USG Events for CAPMUN 2026. This is her first year with CAPMUN, but her third year in a Model UN club. She actually participated in a CAPMUN event when she was in high school, which was one of her reasons for joining this year! A fun fact about her is that she loves pickles :)

Aisha Milfort is a third-year Political Science student at the University of Ottawa, where she studies in French. Born and raised in Ottawa, she has attended Francophone schools throughout her life, which has shaped her deep appreciation for bilingualism in all spaces. Her interest in public speaking began in high school through her involvement in the debate club. When she discovered the MUN club at uOttawa, she joined with no prior experience, driven by curiosity and a desire to grow. Last year, she served on the CAPMUN staff in the bilingual committee and had a great experience. This year, she is committed to creating an environment where everyone feels comfortable speaking in the official language of their choice, and where bilingual participants can enjoy a truly enriching experience. She believes MUN is an excellent platform for developing public speaking skills and a deeper understanding of global political issues. Aisha enjoys reading, gardening, music, and taking walks!

Inaya Muhammad is a second-year student majoring in Conflict Studies and Human Rights. This is her first year with CAPMUN, where she’s excited to serve as the Director of Equity. It’s her second year in a MUN club, and she’s looking forward to learning and meeting new people. Outside of school, she loves travelling and exploring new cafes to study at.

Aekam Chahal will be serving as Chargé d’Affaires for CAPMUN 2026.

Carly Edman is a second year student in Communication and Political Science. This is her second year involved in CAPMUN and MUN overall, and she is excited to be serving as part of the Communications & Marketing team for CAPMUN 2026. A fun fact about her is that she loves learning languages. She wishes delegates a happy conference full of learning and fun.

Kaitlyn Fawcett is a third year student majoring in Political Science and minoring in English. This is her second year with CAPMUN, were she previously served as a page. She had so much fun that she had to come back this year as a Communication & Marketing Liaison. This is her second year of MUN after her friends convinced her to join with them. A fun fact about her is that she loves to crochet.