With nearly a decade of debate coaching experience, Rebecca’s passion for debate began in high school, where she quickly excelled, travelling with her partner Gabrielle to win awards across North America. Her accomplishments include becoming a senior finalist at Canadian Nationals and a senior quarterfinalist at US Nationals. At just 15, Rebecca founded DSDC after parents began approaching her with coaching inquiries.

Driven by a desire to make debate more accessible, Rebecca has since personally coached over one thousand students, sharing her expertise and love for debate. Awarded the Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship to attend the University of Sydney, Rebecca is now in her fourth year of University, studying a dual degree in a Bachelor of Arts and Laws. She strongly believes that the fundamental skills debate imparts are transformative, fostering personal growth and academic diversity in all students. In her (admittedly little) spare time, you can find her working on her manuscript, ice skating, travelling, or at a local bookstore-cafe chatting with some elderly people and petting every dog in sight.

Archie is a scholarship student at the University of Sydney, pursuing a dual degree in Commerce and Arts, with majors in Finance and Political Economics. A decorated debater, Archie holds the title of 3rd-Ranked Reply Speaker in Australia and Asia and was part of the 4th-Ranked Debate Team in Australia at the 2024 Australian Intervarsity Debating Championships. His achievements also include being the 13th best speaker in the country at the same tournament and adjudicating the Grand Final of the Commonwealth Debating Championships, one of Australia’s most prestigious tournaments.

A quarterfinalist at the 2025 World University Debating Championships and a Grand Finalist at the 2023 British Parliamentary World Debating Championships, Archie consistently excels as one of the best debaters in the world. Archie’s remarkable debating journey reflects his dedication to excellence, and he is passionate about helping students unlock their potential through the transformative skills debate provides.

Tim is pursuing a Bachelor of Laws and Arts at the University of Sydney and has an exceptional record as both a debater and a coach. As a competitor, he is a 14-time intervarsity grand finalist and a four-time champion, as well as a two-time quarterfinalist at the Australian British Parliamentary Debating Championships.

In addition to his debating success, Tim has made a significant impact as a coach. Under his guidance, junior and senior students have advanced to the Octo-Finals of the International Debating Championship, the Semi-Finals of the University of Oxford Schools Debating Championships, and won titles such as the GPS Championship and Eastside Grand Final.

Tim’s deep passion for debate is evident in his ability to inspire and cultivate excellence in his students, helping them achieve remarkable results on both national and international stages.

Gabrielle started debating in 2017 and has since found her way to the final rounds of multiple national tournaments at both the high school and university level. She also represented Canada as a member of the 2019-2020 national debate team. Debate has pushed Gabrielle to be more confident and knowledgeable about the world, which has strengthened their academic and leadership capabilities. Similarly, Gabrielle’s students have qualified for multiple national events and become leaders in their local debate circuits. Gabrielle has been on the board of the Debate and Speech Association of British Columbia since 2021 and is currently the organization’s president. Outside of debate, Gabrielle is completing a degree at Simon Fraser University in geography, with a minor in social data analytics and a certificate in urban studies.

Rose is an ambitious pre-med student at Queen’s University and has been coaching students at DSDC for over five years. She came from a heavily competitive environment of studying from South Korea and found herself in her first debate class the day of her arrival. She was extremely inspired by how debate allowed her to speak with logic and evidence and strategize to trap opponents and get the win. Since then, she has continued to appreciate the deep and rich discussion and the ability to persuade someone. While competing, Rose was the first Canadian to ever receive a Gold Bid at the United States Tournament of Champions and was the grand champion of many prestigious tournaments, both nationally and internationally.

Serina started debating and competing in the World Scholar’s Cup in 2018, and has found herself on national and international stages, having competed in the WSC Tournament of Champions at Yale University, breaking to finals as an adjudicator at the Australasian Debating Championships in Jakarta, and becoming a quarterfinalist at the Australasian Women and Gender Minorities Debating Championships. Serina is pursuing a double degree in Law and Economics at the University of Sydney, and has 4 years of coaching experience. As a coach, she has seen teams through to the finals of the ISDA and Archdale championships in Sydney. She is passionate about helping students pursue their passions and developing lifelong skills through World Scholars Cup and Debate coaching.

Having been a dedicated and awarded debater throughout high school, as the Champion and Best Speaker of the ACT Debating Union Competition, and a top 10 speaker at the Australian Individual Public Speaking and Debating Championships, Serina now debates for the University of Sydney, and believes in the value of debate as both an intellectual and social pursuit for all stages, and is dedicated to cultivating both passion and expertise in her students.

After ranking at the bottom of his first tournament, Finn was left with a weird sense of inspiration to keep debating until he saw progress. Since then, he’s competitively debated for five years in multiple tournaments, and in styles including Canadian National Debate Format and British Parliamentary. Debating has led him to gain knowledge, confidence, and a love for speaking that he definitely wouldn’t have gotten anywhere else. He believes that acquiring the ability to analytically express your own opinions and having the confidence to do so is something truly great to have. Outside of debate, Finn enjoys playing deafening sounds on their guitar and piano, tutoring, and making digital artwork. He aims to continue bettering himself at debate, while also helping students to do so as well!

As a rising Duke University student, Emily is elated to be entering her 5th year as a debate and World Scholar’s Cup coach at DSDC. Ever since her first tournament, she quickly grew to love debate, sacrificing countless weekends to research niche topics and take tragically indecipherable notes. Emily has found immense success at countless tournaments, both national and international, despite her young age, and an even more meaningful fulfilment through helping others discover and nurture their passions for debate. Outside of debate, Emily dabbles in Model United Nations, youth parliament, and writing stories on whatever currently piques her interest. 

Catherine Wong is a rising University of Toronto student who studied the International Baccalaureate program at RE Mountain Secondary School. Debating for over five years, she has attended provincial and national debate and speech tournaments, and is currently ranked as one of the best debaters in Canada.

Debate and speech have been the main outlet Catherine has used to grow her confidence and persuasion – and she has extended these benefits through coaching students at DSDC for the past two years. Outside of debate, she often plays the piano, creates art, runs, and spends time with her friends.

Anisha has been coaching students at DSDC for over five years and was first introduced to debate in 9th grade through her school club. Captivated by the way debate explored a variety of perspectives on different issues, she began competing in as many tournaments as she could. She has debated in regional, provincial, and national tournaments in the styles of Cross-Examination and Canadian National Debate Format. Anisha is also very passionate about spreading her love of debate to others and co-founded a club at a local elementary school to teach more children about critical thinking and persuasion through debate. Debate has changed both her academic and social life immeasurably, and she believes everyone should get to experience the benefits of public speaking. Outside of debate coaching, Anisha is now an undergraduate Neuroscience student at the University of British Columbia, and also likes to volunteer and read in her spare time.

Akash is a student at Fraser Heights Secondary School who has debated since he entered high school, and is now one of the best debaters in the province. Akash’s passion for debate was sparked when he originally joined debate classes at DSDC and was introduced to the thrill of competition and public speaking. Since then, Akash has competitively debated for 3 years and has participated in countless tournaments in styles such as Canadian National Debate Format, British Parliamentary, World Schools, and Cross Examination, frequently taking home the titles of Champion and Top Speaker at these tournaments. Debate has provided him a competitive spirit and an incredibly supportive community that has encouraged him to seek out knowledge and aim to share his learnings with others around him. Outside of debate, Akash participates in mock trials, enjoys reading, playing sports, and spending time with friends.