The new Guild Officers for 2016/17 have taken up their roles and we have been finding out what their plans are for the year ahead.
Sean, Oba, Ananda and Yasmin are going to have a busy year ahead with overall plans including widening participation, raising and giving, and improving the student experience.
The new Officers were elected by fellow students in March 2016 to help improve things and will work until Summer 2017 supporting activities, running campaigns and bringing students’ ideas to life.
Find out more about each new Officer in the profiles below.
Sean Turner, President
Currently working on: Finding out who all my new colleagues at the Guild are. Lots of planning! Researching ideas for RAG development and planning new ways for societies to better interact with the Guild.
Background: Born and raised in the Sefton Park area of Liverpool, I’ve studied Mathematical Physics for the past three years.
My passion: Equal opportunities and removing financial barriers from those who have the ability to achieve. Innovative ideas for the third sector.
Best quote I’ve heard: “A coward is incapable of love; it is the prerogative of the brave.”
Favourite thing about the Guild: It’s holding the Best Students’ Union Award.
My priorities: Growing Liverpool RAG. Better publicising the Guild to students and, conversely, hearing what students want from the Guild.
Oba Akinwale, Deputy President
Currently working on: Launching a weekly student night in The Cellar & expanding on a calendar of innovative, socially inclusive events.
Background: I class my nationality as Nigerian, was born in Surrey, raised in Saudi Arabia and now call Birmingham home. Completed a degree in Sociology and Criminology and also created my own company called The Victoria Events co.
My passion: Playing and watching all manner of different sports. Professionally, I love conceiving and conceptualising a range of different events.
Best quote I’ve heard: “If it be now, ‘tis not to come. If it be to come, it will be now. If it be not now, yet it will come – the readiness is all” – William Shakespeare, Hamlet.
Favourite thing about the Guild: Sue McGuirk (one of the Guild’s brilliant cleaning staff – you’ll probably see her in the Courtyard).
My priorities: Widening participation with and within the Guild. Establishing a better platform for RAG & showing more support for sport teams.
Ananda Mohan, Vice President:
Currently working on: Improving the housing database and working with libraries on student issues.
Background: A Malaysian and a former law student who loves TV.
My passion: Reading, writing, talking and helping students, of course.
Best quote I’ve heard: “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.”
Favourite thing about the Guild: The amazing people you meet here all the time.
My priorities: Housing, improving the academic experience and bringing the world to you.
Yasmin Gasimova, Vice President:
Currently working on: Improving mental health services, increasing academic support and developing liberation campaigns.
Background: Born in Baku, Azerbaijan, just finished second year in Computer Science and Philosophy.
My passion: Dogs, memes and environmental socialism.
Best quote I’ve heard: “Freedom in capitalist society always remains about the same as it was in ancient Greek republics: freedom for the slave owners” – Melania Trump.
Favourite thing about the Guild: The way it genuinely enriches students’ experiences at this University.
My priorities: Addressing mental health on campus, relieving students from academic and financial stress, supporting students from deprived and marginalised backgrounds and improving the environmental impact of the University.
Staff can get in touch with the new Guild Officers on:
- Sean Turner, President – Turner@liverpool.ac.uk
- Oba Akinwale, Deputy President – Akinwale@liverpool.ac.uk
- Ananda Mohan, Vice President – Mohan@liverpool.ac.uk
- Yasmin Gasimova, Vice President – Gasimova@liverpool.ac.uk