Prior to becoming involved in debating, Aziza Ahad had never been outside of Bermuda and the continental USA.  She had the opportunity to travel to Calgary with her high school debate team before being selected to compete in South Africa and Singapore with the National Debate Team. Aziza enjoyed the sights, sounds, tastes and cultures of the places she visited as much as she loved meeting the other teams from around the world.  "I learned so much about global issues while researching for debates; it was amazing to have global experiences to make those issues feel even more pertinent."

The election in September 2006 of our new President Jennifer (Rhind) Haworth was "the fulfillment of a dream" according to out-going President Tim Smith. "We couldn't be more pleased than to see one of our own ex-debaters actively promoting debating in Bermuda. Who could be a better advocate than Jennifer who can build on her own first-hand experience!"

Jennifer was debating in the Bermuda nationals as a 12 year old Mount St. Agnes student back in the early nineties. She represented Bermuda at the Worlds in 1997 (Bermuda) and 1998 (Israel). What may be more inspirational for young people who are interested in debating is to learn that she has gone on to develop her oratoral skills. She was admitted to the Bermuda Bar in 2006 and is employed in the litigation department of one of Bermuda’s leading law firms. She has turned a passion into a career.

Trevor started debating after meeting former National Coach Gladstone Thompson at a Youth Parliament session. From there he began attending national training sessions and went on to compete at Worlds' in 1997 and 1998. What most drew Trevor to debate was the importance the discipline placed on staying informed of current events, particularly from a global perspective. A voracious reader of news sources (his two personal favourites being The Economist and Wikipedia), Trevor, who is now our National Coach, makes every effort to pass on a curiosity about the world to the debaters at his weekly practices.

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".

As a keen student and observer of politics and civic affairs, Walter Roban has always found debating interesting. Attending the House of Assembly and watching Opposition and Government members debate the business of the country became a weekly activity for him. While attending University in the UK, he joined the Birmingham University Debate Society. All of his experiences with debating prepared him to be a Government Senator where good communication was crucial. Like his colleagues in the Debate Society, he believes that debating is an activity where young people can build character, learn to express themselves, understand the meaning of working together and develop skills that will aid them every step through life.