About me

A little about me

I’m Jay, a fellow student studying Project Management and your current Student President. For the past 8 months, I’ve proudly represented over 42,000 students across blended and distance learning.

You may have seen me in your classroom, on stage at inductions, in the café, or even just saying hi in the lift. I’ve made it my mission to be present, not just elected. I believe leadership is built in the small moments, listening, connecting, and showing up.

I understand the pressure of juggling study, work, family, and life. That’s why I’ve fought for real change, fairer financial support, subsidised and nutritious hot meals on campus, childcare support for student parents, and protections for students like no-detriment policy to ensure no students is unfairly penalised because of system failure.

Many of you trusted me with your vote once, and I’ve worked hard to honour that trust. Now I’m asking for the chance to finish what we started, together.

Vote Jay for Student President.

What motivates me to want to become one of your next Student Leaders

My motivation isn’t new, it’s ongoing and deeply personal. Over the past 8 months, I've seen how powerful student leadership can be. I helped to launch and host Arden’s first-ever Student Town Hall, bridging the gap between students and senior decision-makers. Now, those conversations are sparking real change, many of your questions are being discussed at board level.

I’ve worked to ease financial pressure, with hardship funds under review, discounted hot meals rolling out, and childcare support and no-detriment policies being pushed forward.

One of my proudest moments was advocating for students stuck in academic misconduct backlogs, cases that dragged on, caused stress, affecting their mental health, and impacted their learning. I pushed for many to be written off, especially first-time, less serious ones, while still protecting academic integrity.

I stand up for students at every opportunity. That’s what motivates me, to keep going and finish what we started together.

Why you should vote for me

Why I think I would make a great Student Leader

There’s still more work to do, and I’ve already proven I can deliver. I don’t just promise change, I fight for it and make it happen.

I pushed for a full review of the Hardship Fund, ensuring it’s truly used by and for students. I advocated to grow student leadership from one role to three, so your voice is stronger. This election, you can vote for your President and two additional leaders, real progress for over 42,000 students.

I helped recruit paid student board members to ensure more students are in rooms where decisions happen and, also proposed more paid roles so more students, including distance learners, get equal opportunities.

I fought to address the gap in supports for distance learners, leading to a new University-wide Improvement Plan and quarterly newsletter updates.

Even hallway chats have sparked initiatives like the Table Tennis Competition to build community.

Leadership is about showing up when it counts. Let’s finish what we started. Vote Jay.

What I think is the biggest challenge facing students at Arden

As your current President, I have had the privilege of engaging with students across all campuses, and I have listened carefully to what you have shared. Arden students face a unique set of challenges, many of which I have already begun addressing, and others I’m committed to solving if re-elected.

Let's be honest, right now, one of the hardest parts of being a students isn't just the quality of lectures, delay in grade release or untimely communications from the University. It's simply getting by!

Ask any students whose student loan payment has been delayed for any reason, or those who are skipping meals just to stretch their budget, or those juggling multiple jobs while trying to stay on top of full-time study. The pressure is real and it's exhausting. The cost of living crisis has hit many of us harder than we expected. And it's not right. That is why I have made financial support my priority. I have pushed for a full review of hardship fund, not just a surface check, but a deep dive to make sure the system is fairer, more accessible, and faster when students are in crisis.

I am proud to say the University has now committed to that. I believe that being on campus should come with small but meaningful benefits, like affordable food. It should never cost the same, or more, to eat on campus than it does on the high street. There should be a clear difference in what you pay. When you are on campus, you should feel that you are in a space designed with students in mind, including prices that reflect that. It's little thing like this that can make university life not just more manageable but enjoyable.

And that's is why I have been actively pushing for nutritious, subsidised hot meal on campus, and I am excited to say they will soon be rolling out across all campuses. This isn't just about policies, it's about dignity, about making sure no students is left struggling in silence. I will keep fighting to make sure support is there when you need it most.

What I pledge to do if elected

My first priority will be to

First Priority: Childcare Support for Student Parents

It’s no secret that many Arden students are also parents. During half terms and school holidays, attendance drops, classrooms are empty, and learning suffers, not just for student parents, but for everyone. Even lecturers notice the low turnout, and that affects the energy and engagement of the sessions.

That’s why I’m making it a priority to fight for accessible, affordable childcare support near our campuses. No student should have to choose between attending class and caring for their child.

This is about fairness, opportunity, and recognising the real-life challenges many of our students face. If re-elected, I’ll continue to push for real solutions, not just words, to make childcare support a funded reality at Arden.

My second priority will be to

Second Priority: More Paid Opportunities - Internships, Work Experience & Exposure.

We all know that real-world experience is just as important as academic success. Students want more than lectures, they want a chance to apply what they’re learning, build confidence, and earn while they learn.

That’s why I’ve already helped introduce paid student roles, but we need to go further. I’ll continue to push for more paid internships, placements, and work experience opportunities across all campuses, including for distance learners.

These roles aren’t just about money; they’re about equity, employability, and giving every student the tools to succeed after graduation. You deserve more than a degree, you deserve experience that counts. More paid roles mean students can support themselves financially while gaining valuable experience. Together, we can make sure Arden students are better prepared for life after graduation.

My third priority will be to

Timely Support. Timely Grades. Respect You Deserve.

Too many of you have shared the same frustrations, unanswered emails, delayed support, unclear communication, and long waits for grades. It’s not right, and it’s not what you deserve.

If re-elected, I will push for a full review of both support and academic processes to fix delays and confusion. We need to understand what’s causing the issues, staffing, workload, or broken systems, and take action.

I’ll keep fighting to ensure grades are returned on time, not weeks late. Timely feedback helps you plan, progress, and stay confident in your studies.

This is about respect. You are not just a STU number. You are the reason these services exist, and it’s time they started working like it. I’ll keep standing up for you and demanding systems that put your needs first.

Vote Jay and together, let's finish what I started with your mandate.