This year’s Model Arctic Council Bilbao (MAC Bilbao) — our seventh conference at Colegio Ayalde in Bilbao, Spain — marked a turning point.  It was the first of my MACs run entirely by Polar Aspect Associates — Josh Gray and Rosie Tregenza, the most senior members of my team, and veterans of many past MAC conferences, both as delegates, members of the ‘Secretariat’ and Deputy Directors.

And Josh and Rosie certainly delivered a successful MAC Bilbao 7 this past weekend!  It was a very international conference: 28 delegates from 12 secondary schools in nine countries.  They tackled the questions of the Last Ice Area and renewable-energy development in the Arctic, and they managed to reach consensus on a ‘Bilbao Declaration’ on both of these complex issues.  Congratulations!

A selection of lovely testimonials from MAC Bilbao 7 delegates:

• It was a great learning experience, I must admit, at first we were all a bit lost and kept going around in circles. However that fact made it all the more rewarding to see ourselves growing more comfortable in our roles as delegates each day. Overall, the simulation part of the conference was really fun and I hope I get the chance to experience something like it again!
• Very professionally organised. I do believe the experience was elevated by Josh and Rosie’s presence.

Many thanks to Colegio Ayalde for hosting MAC Bilbao 7, and to Josh and Rosie for their excellent leadership.  Colegio Ayalde have invited us back for MAC Bilbao 8 next year, which I’m pleased to say Josh and Rosie will be leading again!