Info about co-chairs | Info Suite | Photos

26 January 2011
The Art of Debating and Public Speaking:

How to express your opinion in the most eloquent and engaging way?
How to maximize the impact of your speech?
Can debates be won?
Is there any link between debating and selling skills?
What about great speeches that changed the world?

Discussion co-chairs

Ms. Kallina Bassli, Head of Speech at English Speaking Union
Ms. Eilidh Hamilton, Director, British Council Turkey
Mr. Jules Irens, Consul, British Consulate-General Istanbul
Mr. John McKee, President of Scottish Student Debating Council
Mr. Gregoire d'Oultremont, Managing Partner, International Business Diplomacy Associates
Mr. David Watson, Post-Graduate Law, University of Oxford

Structure of the program:

Turkey is an expatriate exporting country, and ESU Turkey aims to provide a platform for young professionals to get prepared for a future expat life. In line with that goal and within the framework of our vision, ESU Turkey will be hosting a series of roundtable discussions and debating opportunities, called "ESU ExpatSuite". The program will aim to help talented young people improve their multicultural adaptation skills to help them be better prepared for an international career.

Each event starts with some international keynote speakers expressing their point of view on the subject and all participants are welcome to get actively involved in the following discussion and debate.

The structure of the program is such that for each event there will be up to six international senior expats sharing their views and experience on the selected topic. The session will start with a panel where each keynote speaker will address the participants with a short introduction (max 10 minute), and then they will join small discussion groups where participants could direct their questions in a more conversational environment. We seek to have a max 42 participants divided into three roundtables. Therefore the events will consist of a general panel for about 45 minutes followed by 90 minutes of small group discussions (divided into three 30 minutes periods at which keynote speakers will change tables...).

Brief info about the co-chairs:

David Watson - Originally from South Africa, David is currently a post-graduate Law student at the University of Oxford. He has extensive coaching, judging, and debating experience having worked with a variety of age groups and taught different formats. Some of his most notable achievements include: repeatedly judging the Grand Final of the South African National Schools Debating Championships; assisting with the selection of the South African National team; organising a number of schools competitions in South Africa; serving as the South African Schools' Debating Board Training Director; a two-time Grand Finalist and a Winner of the Southern African Debating Championship.

John McKee
- John has a long relationship with the ESU in Scotland, having supported them as a mentor for many years. Currently the President of the Scottish Student Debating Council, he is  actively involved with the running and coaching of a number of schools and university debating societies and competitions. He is also the representative of Scotland in international competitions. Throughout his university years, John has organised some of the most successful debating competitions including the Scottish Novice competition. As a speaker he has reached the finals of multiple university competitions, and has won the prestigious Scottish Parliament Debating Championships. 



Kallina Basli
- Currently the Youth Outreach Education Leader at the ESU, working in the Speech and Debate department. She has worked extensively on the Discover Your Voice teaching programme, developing and delivering training in debating and public speaking for students and teachers. A member of the Organising Committee of the World Schools Debating Championships 2009 held in Athens, and has also organised a number of competitions. Since 2009 acting as the Coach of Team Greece at the World Schools Debating Championships (team was ranked fourth on both occasions and won the Best English as a Second Language Team award in 2009). Won multiple university debating competitions in the UK, and have judged and spoken in the Grand Final of several competitions.




 
Schedule of events: