Team

My journey with APS has shown me how much difference genuine support and representation can make. I first joined as a volunteer, helping with community events such as the Dragon Boat Festival and NAIDOC Week BBQ Feed, student engagement activities like Social Badminton and Library Trolley Snack and Affirmation runs, and later became the International Officer, conducting events such as “Rakhi Vibes” and “Social Badminton”, while also supporting my co-workers in events throughout semester 2, 2025. Through these roles, I’ve listened to many coursework students and seen the challenges they face, especially those who are new to Australia. These experiences have motivated me to step into a position where I can advocate more strongly, improve communication between students and the University, and help create a more connected and supportive postgraduate community.

I have seen to the advocacy and support of many HDR-related matters, particularly those concerning the Graduate School’s admissions and support policies. This year’s most significant accomplishment was securing ongoing annual funding for the CDF programme through University funds, removing it from the uncertain SSAF application process. This represents a lasting benefit for the HDR community and required strong collaboration with the executive committee and support from the offices of the DVC(A) and DVC(RI). We have expanded the ECG programme, helping international students navigate Australian culture and communication. We have also undertaken a comprehensive redesign of the Academic Editing programme, which will provide higher-quality support for HDR students. For 2026, I plan to continue this advocacy work while completing the CAPA HDR Stipend Campaign report examining student experiences under the current stipend model, implementing the redesigned Academic Editing programme, and expanding the ECG programme. I also intend to work closely with the Policy Coordinator to strengthen our representation across University boards and committees, ensuring the APS remains the respected voice for postgraduate students at UQ.

I believe APS is now entering a decisive moment: one where strong governance, principled leadership, and a deeply student-centred vision matter more than ever. Over the past several years, I have served postgraduate students across multiple levels of the higher education landscape: as an elected member of the UQ Senate, the first postgraduate President of the UQ Union, and the Board Chair of the Association of Postgraduate Students. I have also represented national postgraduate interests through the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA). These roles have given me a comprehensive understanding of institutional power, university governance, and the structural conditions shaping research training in Australia. They have also taught me the importance of creating spaces where postgraduate voices are not simply included, but actively shape decision-making. My academic background, spanning a PhD in higher education policy, postgraduate coursework at several universities, and teaching across undergraduate and postgraduate levels; means I understand both the structural and lived dimensions of the postgraduate experience. The lens through which I work is shaped by my background as the grandson of migrants who believed deeply in education as a pathway to empowerment. It is also informed by my research in governance, power, and policy: a reminder that representation is never neutral, and that leadership requires ongoing reflexivity, responsibility, and courage.

APS has been the centre of my UQ life. On good days, bad days, and the days in between, this is where I’ve found community. I’ve made friends I hope to keep for life, and I’ve loved every moment of contributing to APS, whether running events, supporting new students, or helping keep things moving behind the scenes. Over the last year as the Postgrad Student Partnership (PSP) Officer, I worked with Aadhya Babu, the 2025 president coursework, to organise cross-faculty panels focused on university life, academics, and career development. Before that, I volunteered at APS events from my very first semester. None of this was ever about a position, it was simply my way of making student life richer, for myself and others. Moving to another country was hard, but it was a little less hard with APS. I want to give that same stability and belonging to more students, now and in the future.

I first met APS at the HASS orientation in July 2024, and the moment changed how I saw student life at UQ. I remember listening to the team talk about how they help students, which made me think about joining their ambassador program and becoming part of this community. I started as a volunteer with no Idea how much I would grow. As I moved into the Wellbeing Officer role and then Wellbeing VP, I realised how much I loved working for students. Meeting them, guiding them, listening to their stories, helping them feel like they belong, and seeing them smile at our events made every hard work worth it.

Because of this journey, I want to step up into the Secretary position. APS has become a place where I feel I belong, and I want to take up the responsibility to support the whole team.  I have learned that I enjoy the small details that keep everything moving smoothly. As Secretary, I aim to help APS stay organised and responsive, so every student who comes to us feels comfortable and supported.