New York City, USA
2026 United Nations High Level Political Forum
The HLPF is the main United Nations platform for sustainable development. It has a central role in the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the global level.
Linnea Nguyen, Head Delegate
Linnea Nguyen is a public interest and governance leader based in Montreal, Canada, with a strong background in human rights advocacy, youth engagement, and international policy. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from McGill University and will begin her legal studies at the McGill Faculty of Law in Fall 2026. Linnea currently serves as the Global Delegate for Amnesty International Canada, contributing to the organization’s international governance processes and participating in regional and global policy discussions. She has also been involved with UNICEF Canada’s U-Report program for several years, supporting youth engagement initiatives that gather young people’s perspectives on social and policy issues to inform decision-making. Passionate about inclusive global governance, Linnea is particularly interested in the role of partnerships, civil society engagement, and multilateral cooperation in advancing sustainable development and human rights. She has delivered a TEDx talk on global citizenship and youth engagement, presenting a practical model for strengthening youth participation in international affairs.
Disha Trivedi, Communications Coordinator
Disha Trivedi is a healthcare educator and policy-focused professional whose work bridges frontline care, education, and community-based advocacy. She brings over seven years of experience across clinical practice, regulation, and education, with professional experience spanning pediatric and adult acute care settings. Working closely with patients, students, and communities has shaped her practical understanding of how policy and governance decisions influence access to care and who benefits most from health systems. Disha works as a Nursing Instructor at Bow Valley College, where she teaches and supports large, diverse cohorts of students and contributes to curriculum development aligned with professional and regulatory standards. Her approach to education is grounded in accountability, ethical leadership, and real-world application. Alongside her teaching role, she has contributed to regulatory auditing with the College of LPNs and HCAs of Alberta, engaging with continuing competence frameworks, compliance review, and policy interpretation within provincial health legislation. Beyond her professional work, Disha is actively engaged in community leadership and advocacy. She serves on the Executive Committee of the South Asian Health Access Network, contributing to governance, strategic planning, and member engagement to address systemic barriers faced by South Asian communities in navigating health and social systems. She also mentors youth through a national initiative with the United Nations Association in Canada during 2025-2026, supporting community-based sustainability projects. Her ongoing community-based work aligns with SDG 11 and SDG 17 through youth-led projects focused on sustainable communities and collaborative, cross-sector approaches. She is currently pursuing a Master of Public Policy at the University of Calgary, with a focus on health policy and governance.
Renee Zhao, Engagement Coordinator
Born and raised in British Columbia, Renee Zhao is an ecopoet, climate advocate, and firm believer in youth-driven change. She is a first-year student at the University of British Columbia, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources and specializing in Bioeconomy Sciences and Technology. She has organized and led local, national, and international initiatives in environmental stewardship and climate education. As Director of Climate Education with the Canadian Youth Climate Action Team, she is helping build a growing global program that has reached over 300,000 youth across 30 countries, equipping young activists around the world with the confidence to engender a sustainable future. Renee has spoken on the power of storytelling and climate action at the Climate Storytellers’ Summit hosted by Yale University, Princeton University, and the University of Pennsylvania, where she shared how youth-led activism fosters hope, climate literacy, systemic change, and sustainability. Named one of Canada’s Top 25 Environmentalists Under 25 and a recipient of the National Youth Climate Activism Award, her passions lie in climate justice, investigative journalism, reimagining waste systems, and advancing renewable energy innovation. At HLPF 2026, Renee aims to advocate for transformative action toward the 2030 Agenda and promote an equitable future for all.
Pierola Tarakji, Research Coordinator
Vipasna Nangal, Research Coordinator
Marianne Stintzi, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Coordinator
Marianne Stintzi is a Master’s student in Human Rights and Humanitarian Action at the Paris School of International Affairs (Sciences Po), specializing in International Public Law and Diplomacy. She has gained professional experience in diplomacy and international development, having worked within the Foreign Policy and Diplomacy service at Canada’s mission in Spain. She is currently engaged in human rights advocacy and research through her work with Apatride Network, the Geneva International Centre for Justice, and Sciences Po’s Political Observatory on Latin America and the Caribbean. As a strong advocate for refugee rights, Marianne also serves as President of Sciences Po Refugee Help. She aspires to pursue a career at the intersection of diplomacy, international law, and humanitarian action, working to strengthen protection frameworks and develop lasting solutions for marginalized communities.
Vipasna Nangal is a graduate student specialising in migration governance, diaspora politics, and human rights law. She holds a BA (Honours) in Political Science and is currently pursuing an MSc in Migration Studies at the University of Oxford, with the intention of commencing her Juris Doctor (JD) this fall at the University of Toronto.Her academic and professional work focuses on the legal and policy gaps that emerge from diasporic tensions within liberal democracies. She has contributed to research on Canadian migration and resettlement narratives and has examined the implications of public policy on minority rights, including an analysis of Quebec’s Bill 21 during her tenure as a Junior Research Fellow with the Canadian Law Review. Vipasna’s commitment to community advocacy is reflected in her engagement with a range of initiatives. She has supported archival efforts with the “Caste in Canada” project at the University of British Columbia and has served for four years as a Human Rights Advocate, assisting with complaints before domestic and international tribunals. Her experience also includes work in municipal governance, where she contributed to benchmarking and performance measurement initiatives. In 2025, Vipasna was selected as a Youth Delegate to the World Forum for Democracy hosted by the Council of Europe, where she contributed to international policy discussions. She has also served as a Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Ambassador with the United Nations Association in Canada
Pierola is a dedicated advocate for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a strong focus on youth employment and labour market access for underrepresented groups. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Public Administration and is currently completing a Master’s in Political Science at the University of Ottawa. Her academic studies engage topics around minority representation, diasporas and digital nationalism leading to policy development. Professionally, Pierola is a policy analyst with the Government of Canada, working on an international relations team supporting Canada’s representation and efforts towards advancing SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. Her experience as a 2022-2023 SDG Youth Ambassador with the United Nations Association of Canada gave her the opportunity to participate at COP15’s Youth and Community Environment Festival side event, which deepened her engagement with the 2030 Agenda and strengthened her passion for sustainable development. Pierola has since been an active Global Shaper with the World Economic Forum’s Ottawa Hub, where she leads a community project advancing SDG 2: Zero Hunger. In addition, she volunteers her time with the Institute of Public Administration Canada’s NCR chapter, helping organize embassy events that foster open and accessible dialogue on foreign relations. Pierola values diversity and inclusion and is committed to amplifying youth voices at the HLPF while advancing solutions on employment, innovation, and sustainable development.