Milestones

“Challenges and Change: a time for new thinking”

AMUNC 2008 was a time for new thinking for the hundreds of delegates who attended the conference, as the Host Team set out to inspire a new cohort of students to engage with the United Nations and the issues that it faces. From the outset, the organisers aspired to undertake new and positive initiatives to add to the legacy of AMUNC.

Some of the milestones achieved in the five core principles of the conference are as follows:

Sustainability

• With the support of local company Carbon Planet, AMUNC 2008 was the first carbon-free conference in its history, achieved through carbon offset contributions from each delegate
• Use of “green” printer Finsbury Green, thereby reducing the harmful effects of printing ink and utilising recycled paper
• Conscious effort to cut back on usage of excess paper, eg electronic display of resolutions at General Assembly
• Recycling of leftover paper at the conclusion of the conference, and reuse of remaining brochures

• Opportunity for all students to attend the conference, including participation as NGOs at no cost and encouragement of TAFE student participation
• Focus on delegate welfare, including Delegate Welfare Line available 24 hours, informative newsletters leading up to AMUNC, airport booth to welcome arriving delegates, and halal catering at all events <br>· Scholarships opportunities available for both local and international delegates

• AMUNC 2008 was held in Adelaide for the first time, providing a unique opportunity for many delegates from SA to experience their first MUN and encouraging them to expand their involvement beyond AMUNC
• The announcement of the successful bid for AMUNC 2009 during the conference was an exciting new initiative to generate further excitement for hosting the event in future years
• The launch of new branding for the conference, including corporate identity and website, which served as a sophisticated, professional, comprehensive and user-friendly face for the conference

• Registrations were received from delegates from over 25 different countries
• All social events were inclusive and culturally sensitive, to reflect the diversity of the delegates, with an emphasis on interaction and entertainment
• A diversity of speakers was presented, from high profile former UN personnel, politicians and academics, to inspirational grassroots speakers from such groups as Barefoot Initiative, Oaktree Foundation, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and others

• 2008’s Host Team made the training day a compulsory component of the conference for the very first time, reflecting the importance of training for engagement throughout the week
• AMUNC 2008 was successful in raising awareness about the conference in the wider community through such means as: newspaper articles (metropolitan and rural areas), radio interviews (including Radio Italiana and Radio Adelaide), a series of fundraising events with the support of community groups, extensive donations and sponsorship from local businesses and government
• Provision of new delegate award categories, to acknowledge the diverse ways in which students engage with the conference theme, the committee topics and their peers