Our Executive Team
2025-2026
Nyx Kucharski
(they/them)
PRESIDENT
PRESIDENT (at) CUSID.CA
Nyx is a third-year student pursuing Honours Biology at the University of Waterloo. This is their third year debating and first year serving as CUSID president, though they have served 4 terms as an executive member for the University of Waterloo Debate Society. Some of their debate achievements include winning novice champion at Leger 2024 and Chancellor’s 2024, winning NHSE champion at Central Novs 2024, winning Unity Cup 2024, and placing as a novice finalist at CP Nats 2024. Nyx is looking forward to an amazing year for CUSID.
Fun fact: Nyx is a Just Dance enthusiast and has multiple dances memorized!
Julia Van Damme
(she/her)
Co-executive director
EXECUTIVEDIRECTOR(at) CUSID.CA
Julia is a fourth-year student pursuing a joint Arts and Teaching degree at Queen’s University. This is her fourth year debating and second year on CUSID’s executive team. She also served as Secretary on the Queens Debating Union for two years. Some of her debate achievements include breaking open and placing as a semifinalist at Sutherland IV 2023, and her numerous judge breaks at a wide variety of debate tournaments including BP Champs 2022, CP Nats 2023 and NorAms 2025. Julia looks forward to an exciting year to come for debate!
Paul Zhao
(he/him)
Co-executive director
EXECUTIVEDIRECTOR(at) CUSID.CA
Paul is a third-year at Western University studying politics, philosophy and economics. He is a 2025 Canadian Parliamentary Nationals quarter finalist, was the VP Logistics for Western’s debate society, and was the head chief adjudicator for the 2024 Léger Central Canadian Championships. Outside of debate he volunteers as a first aider, bikes, and watches musicals.
Fun fact: Paul once won a Curling tournament
Ted Ren
(he/him)
TREASURER
TREASURER(at) CUSID.CA
Ted is a fourth year student at the University of Waterloo pursuing a degree in Arts and Business with a major in Political Science. He has been in the University of Waterloo Debate Society for four years, serving as President for two years. He was the tournament director of the inaugural Canadian Universities Debating Championship in 2024. Ted has placed as the 5th Open Speaker and Open Quarterfinalist at the Canadian Parliamentary National Championship, Open Quarterfinalist at both McGill IV and Ottawa IV and bubbled WUDC in 2025: at the end of the 2024-2025 year, he was awarded CUSID’s Most Improved Debater Award. He is sure to continue working to provide positive contributions to the Canadian circuit as a whole.
Dhruv Kairon
(he/him)
VICE-PRESIDENT WEST
VPWEST(at) CUSID.CA
Dhruv is a fourth year Computer Science major at the University of Alberta. Dhruv has served as Vice President of Training and Member-at-Large at the University of Alberta Debate Society and is in his fourth year of debating. Dhruv’s debate achievements include breaking at the first ever CUDC 2024, winning Hugill Western Canadian Championships, as well as various regional breaks. This is Dhruv’s first term on the CUSID executive and he is very excited to work towards the development of varsity debate in Western Canada as well as making new friends in the debate community 🙂
Fun fact: During peak recruiting season, Dhruv had more screen time on LinkedIn than Instagram
Brandon Zhang
(he/him)
VICE-PRESIDENT CENTRAL
VPCENTRAL(at) CUSID.CA
Brandon is a fourth-year Political Science student at the University of Toronto. This is his fifth year debating and his first year on the CUSID executive. He is a Seagram’s IV champion and has broken as a speaker at many national and international tournaments. He was also an invited adjudicator for this year’s HWS Round Robin as well as the Hart House Debating Club’s External Tournament Coordinator for the 2024-2025 school year. Brandon is currently the debate coach for Upper Canada College.
Fun fact: Brandon used to work as a ski instructor for 2 years.
Meghan Runge
(she/her)
vice-president east
VPEAST(at) CUSID.CA
Meghan is a fourth year Environmental Science student at Dalhousie University. She was on the executive for Sodales Debate for 3 years, including serving as president for the 2024-25 year. Some of her notable debate achievements include winning Hill IV 2023 and Atlantics 2024, as well as participating in a student debate at a talk by Canada’s ambassador to the UN, Bob Rae. Meghan is looking forward to her first term as a member of the CUSID Executive, and is excited about the impact she will be able to bring to the organization.
Fun fact: Meghan went to the Canada Games for triathlon.