Hello everyone!

My name is Sofia Eskildsen, and I am incredibly excited to serve as this year’s Deputy Secretary General of External Affairs for PANAMUN XXXIV. I was born in the United States but raised in Panama. This year marks my sixth PANAMUN conference and ninth MUN conference overall, experiences that have shaped my growth as both a delegate and a leader. PANAMUN has played a meaningful role in my time at ISP, shaping both my interest in diplomacy and my growth as a leader.

My involvement with PANAMUN began in seventh grade, when I represented Australia in UNPBC. My parents encouraged me to join, and while I initially found the meetings intimidating, the conference quickly shifted my perspective. I was struck by how, even as middle school students, we could engage with complex global issues through debate, an experience that sparked a lasting interest in diplomacy. In tenth grade, I was selected as a Chair for UNCTAD, where I discovered how much I enjoyed leadership and collaboration. Last year, I served as Head of the High School Diplomacy Club while also chairing CDN, taking on greater responsibility by organizing ISP’s participation in external conferences. Now, as Deputy Secretary General of External Affairs, I aim to build on these experiences by strengthening PANAMUN’s external connections and outreach.

This year marks a full-circle moment in my PANAMUN journey. Working alongside such a dedicated Secretariat, I am confident PANAMUN XXXIV will be an exceptional conference. I hope it leaves a lasting impact on all who participate, just as it did on me.

I can’t wait to see you all in October!