Bermuda Debate Society

Convenor

Marisa Sharpe

Marisa’s involvement in debate spans back to 2002, when she coordinated the first junior debate programme and competition for young debaters ages 9 through twelve. It was with pride and delight that she has seen  many of them rise to senior debate level and go on to become keen professionals in their work life. In 2007 Marisa joined the Bermuda Debate Society as a Board member. She has adjudicated in many debates nationally, and internationally, in Dundee, Scotland and Cape Town, South Africa. Marisa serves devotedly as convener of the 2013 Pan-Am-Bermuda Debate Competition.

President

Trevor Leitch

Trevor has been involved in debate since 1996, and has represented Bermuda at Worlds as a debater, judge, and coach. Trevor has been president of the Bermuda Debate Society for the past three years. He’s currently heading up the stationery committee, so if anyone needs any paper or pens, please let him know!

Vice President

Richard Hillen

Richard graduated from the Wharton School in 2008, and is currently Vice President of BDS and is leading the fundraising efforts for Pan Ams. A former student debater, Richard represented Bermuda at WSDC in Peru and Germany, and more recently was an adjudicator at the 2010 and 2013 Championships in Qatar and Turkey, respectively.

Secretary

Calvin Thomas

Currently serving as Secretary, Calvin first got involved in debate by volunteering as judge at the annual national tournament nearly a decade ago.  Quite quickly he was hooked by the promise of debate to instill in young people abilities critical to their success: critical thinking, world awareness, empathy, confidence, improvisation and teamwork, to name a few.  A highlight of Calvin's debate experience was to travel with the Bermuda contingent as an adjudicator at the 2008 Worlds' in Washington, DC.

Treasurer

Susan Bartlett

Susan's involvement with debating began in 1991 when Victoria Cox of the Bermuda Junior Service League spearheaded the introduction of debating into local schools. After accompanying the Bermuda team to the Worlds and seeing the positive effect it was having on young people, she was hooked. For several years, Susan chaired the annual BJSL Schools Debate Tournament and was on the original committee of the Bermuda Debate Society. After a hiatus, she has returned to the committee and is thrilled to see some of those early debaters passing on their knowledge and experience to the next wave of young people. In her role as a Human Resource Manager she comments that "Good communication is critical in both our work and personal life and I have seen first-hand skilled debaters making use of their training in communication and thinking on their feet during interview situations". 

Aliyyah Ahad 

When Aliyyah returned to Bermuda after completing her studies at the University of Toronto, she immediately joined the Board of the Bermuda Debate Society. Having debated competitively in both high school and in university (including representing Bermuda at the WSDC in Seoul, South Korea in 2007), she felt it both a privilege and a responsibility to promote debating back on our shores. Aliyyah is responsible for organizing the transportation for the 2013 Pan-American Debate Tournament. 

Aziza Ahad Furbert

As a former debater, Aziza attended the World Schools Debating Championship in South Africa (2001) and Singapore (2002). Upon completing her degree at the University of Western Ontario in 2006, she joined the Board of the Bermuda Debate Society, serving as Vice President from 2008 to 2012. She has adjudicated in both the Pan-American Schools Debate Tournament (Peru, 2008) and the World Schools Debating Championship (Qatar, 2010).

Christianna Hiles

Christianna has been involved with debating and public speaking for approximately ten years but has only recently joined the Bermuda Debate Society. She coaches middle and senior school teams in debating as well as the public speaking teams at Saltus Grammar School where she is also the Head of English and Media Studies. She has also been involved with coaching the Bermuda Debate Team over the past 6 years, making for something of a busy schedule ☺ She has had the privilege to travel fairly extensively  in relation to her role as a debate and public speaking coach and has experienced such wonderful hospitality each time that she is very pleased to be able to return the favour and offer  our Pan American guests a proper Bermudian  welcome.

Glenisha Robinson

Glenisha Robinson has been involved with the Bermuda Debate Society since returning home from university in 2010. Since then, she has judged at national tournaments and has developed a desire to spread the benefits of debate to students who otherwise would not consider it. Glenisha is heading the Entertainment Committee for the 2013 Pan-Ams and is excited to showcase to all visiting teams the best of what Bermuda has to offer.

Gladstone Thompson

Gladstone Thompson has been engaged in debate in Bermuda for twenty-one years. He has served as national coach and has enjoyed watching his debaters mature into upstanding citizens of our island.


Susan Behrens
Susan Behrens has been an enthusiastic advocate for Debating in Bermuda for almost 20 years.  She was initially drafted as a volunteer for the Bermuda Junior Service League's Debating Community Service Project, and was captivated by the poise and eloquence of the young debaters. Susan chaired the BJSL National Tournament for 5 years and subsequently became involved supporting younger debaters through Coach Gladstone Thompson's youth programs. A proud parent of 2 Bermuda Worlds debaters, Susan turned to judging in self-defense and judged internationally for the first time at the 2012 Pan Ams in Santiago, Chile. Susan, an architect by profession, is charged with organising venues for 2013 Pan-Ams in Bermuda.

Walter H Roban JP MP

Walter has been a member of the Bermuda Debate Society since 1996. He became involved in competitive debating while in university in the UK. From Walter’s perspective, interest in debating in Bermuda has grown out of witnessing how the skills gained prepared our young people to enter the world with a positive self esteem and confidence. A lifelong student of current affairs, politics and member of legislature since 2003; Walter is committed to seeing the debate process used as tool for young people to become knowledgeable and involved in Bermuda's affairs.