The Executive
The VUWSA Executive, who are elected in September each year by students, run your students’ association. Here’s what they have to say about themselves.
Joel Cosgrove
VUWSA President 2008
Job Description:
As President Joel is employed fulltime i.e. 60-80 hours a week and sits on the University Council as well as many other committees, works with SJS, Studylink, NZUSA, and University Sport NZ. Joel sits on the VUWSA Trust and the Publications Committee with the Admin Vice-President, as well as being the default Chairperson of the VUWSA General and Executive Meetings. He signs off most contracts and agreements that are approved by the Exec or students at General meetings. You’ll see him at protests, general meetings, lectures, Orientation gigs or just walking about the campuses.
Joel’s history goes back to reading Salient’s in 2003 at secondary school, moving on to help organise the big 2005 student fees protest (the one that people still talk about) as well as crewing at The Shins and Interpol gigs around the same time. He’s taken on most elected roles at some point in his time on the Exec, with Activities holding a soft spot in his heart. Joel is a dedicated socialist and member of the Workers Party, something that influences his outlook on most things. Something that Joel has tried to push in his time at VUWSA is mass involvement and direction of the Students Association by students themselves, which is very much an ongoing project. 2008 looks to be a big year and there are a number of things Joel’s working on, a big one being the (date to be confirmed) September Protest Tour of New Zealand. Joel campaigned and won the 2007 election on an anti user-pays a mandate of free internet and printing and is working to bring that about.
Phone: (04) 463 6986
Email
Paul Danger Brown
Education Vice-President
Job Description:
Paul’s role as Education Vice President will see him working with Class reps, faculty delegates and Sandra Crews the Education Coordinator at VUWSA. Paul also works with rep groups to improve the quality in assessment, teaching, conditions and access to courses offered by the University.
Paul is currently studying for a BCA with majors in Management and Information systems. As a former president of UniQ, a regular contributor to Salient and organiser various events such as Mo Month of May, Paul brings a useful skill-set and passion to the position of Education Vice President. Paul believes in strong communication within a team environment and will contribute well to VUWSA.
Phone: (04) 463 6985
Email
Alexander Neilson
Administration Vice President
Job Description:
Alexander’s role as VUWSA Administration Vice President involves organizing and monitoring the VUWSA budget and helping VUWSA departments, rep groups, and clubs with their budgets. If you need some help with your budgets feel free to come down and see him in the VUWSA office at anytime.
Phone: (04) 463 6980
Email
Fiona McDonald
Activities Officer
Job Description:
Works with the Activities Co-Coordinator in bringing all those social events that you all love. Orientation, re-orientation, gigs, parties, fundraisers, competitions and barn burners! Check out the events this orientation and go see some of the fun things on, get out there and tear it up.
Phone: (04) 463 6980
Email
Sonny Thomas
Campaigns Officer
Job Description:
The Campaigns Officer’s role is to promote activism amongst students at Victoria University. As Campaigns Officer I am dedicated to work with students and organizations to advocate the interests, needs and convictions of students. Fee setting, student allowances, and loans will remain central to the role of Campaigns Officer and the Education Action Group. I also aim to address other concerns and unite the student body around prominent issues this election year.
Phone: (04) 463 6980
Email
Stefan Tyler
Education Officer A
Job Description:
Stefan is the other Education Officer, and works with the other VUWSA executive members and other groups on campus in securing fair access and quality of education on campus. Stefan is committed to letting the government know about the hardships facing modern students.
Phone: (04) 463 6980
Email
Seamus Brady
Education Officer B
Job Description:
Seamus works alongside the Vice-Presidents and other members of the Executive to help improve education and welfare services available to students at Victoria. This includes initiatives like stress free breakfasts during exam time, helping with food parcels and free bread. He also works with others in the Association to ensure the University offers the best to students in terms of teaching, equity, quality of courses and assessments. He is also part of the Education and Welfare Team that meets regularly to ensure issues affecting students in those areas are being dealt in the best possible ways.
Phone: (04) 463 6980
Email
Melissa Barnard
Welfare Vice-President
Job Description:
Hay I’m Melissa the Welfare Vice President and I’m responsible for maintaining student welfare related services such as: Free Bread on Wednesdays and Fridays, Campus Angels, Stress Free Study Week, Microwaves around campus and the VUWSA Food Bank as well as sitting on various hardship committees such as the Student Hardship Fund. Similarly, I work with other members of the Exec to secure better welfare access and provision for students, especially those most disadvantaged. If you’re having trouble trying to live while studying or just having trouble full stop, don’t be afraid to come down and see me.
Phone: (04) 463 6985
Email
Katie de Roo
Clubs Officer
Job Description:
The Clubs Officer supports and promotes clubs within VUWSA. She works with the Clubs Development Officer to organise events such as Clubs Days and Team Vic contingencies going to competitions. The Clubs Officer is the first point of call for students who want to know more about Clubs, and liases between Clubs and the Student’s Association. She also sits on the Sports and Cultural Councils for club funding.
Phone: (04) 463 6980
Email
William Wu
International Officer
Job Description:
The International Officer is a significant role within Victoria University. William looks after the concerns of the estimated 4,000 international students at Victoria, in addition to providing supplementary services to international students. International students play an important part in the culture of the university, as well as that of Wellington, and we help to broaden the Kiwi perspective. The International Students’ Council aids in these tasks to build better understanding and cooperation between Kiwis and internationals.
Phone: (04) 463 6980
Email
Rachael Wright
Queer Officer
Job Description:
Rachael works in improving access and equity for queer students on campus. She works with groups on campus and around Wellington, enhancing support and representation of GLBT students at a local and National level. She also helps organise a number of events and workshops on campus to educate, build awareness and have fun!
Email
Phone: (04) 463 6980
Mark Newton
Environmental Officer
Job Description:
coming…
Email
Phone: (04) 463 6980
Georgina Dickson
Women’s Rights Officer
Job Description
Georgina Dickson is this year’s Women’s Rights Officer on VUWSA. The role of the Women’s Rights Officer more generally is to work on women-focussed campaigns and provide services relevant to women’s welfare on campus. Some of the specific initiatives she is responsible for include the Thursdays in Black campaign, Women’s Fest and No Diet Day. She also co-ordinates the Women’s Group, which is open to join for all women on campus and provides support to the Women’s Rights Officer in her role.
Email
Phone: (04) 463 6980