Its role is to represent student issues, run campaigns on student initiatives, participate in national education campaigns, support safer spaces on campus, lobby for the reduction of course fees, provide a strategic direction for the UTSSA and ensure that students are represented at all decision-making levels at UTS. These are all discussed and voted on at its monthly meetings.
The Student Representative Council Speaking up for every student.
#What is the SRC?
The SRC is a team of students elected each year by the student body to represent all UTS students and act as the peak governing body for the UTSSA.
The Student Representative Council runs several campaigns around student issues, both campus-specific and national.
#What do we do?
The SRC, through the UTSSA, also runs several campaigns around student issues, both campus-specific, such as the Know Your Union campaign - and national - such as those run by the National Union of Students (NUS) which target the quality of our education, safety on campus, unfair course costs and decreasing HECS.
#How do I get involved?
Elections for the SRC are held annually in October, giving all UTS students a say when it comes to who will represent them and their values. Students are able to nominate to run for a position, and all UTS students are eligible to vote.
Any UTS students are welcome to attend an SRC meeting and participate in our campaigns. Check out our website for more information.
#SRC Executive Team
Mia Campbell
President
I’m Mia, a fourth-year Law and Science student at UTS. I firmly believe in a focused, team-oriented approach to address the issues that impact students at UTS. Positive change, in my view, stems from a combination of strong communication, protest, and teamwork. The main goals of the Students’ Association this year revolve around expanding free student services, reforming SA/SH policies, fostering inclusive communities, creating a productive space in the UTSSA SRC, and enhancing the promotion of our services. By doing so, we aim to elevate the student experience at UTS and amplify the student voice to university management.
Contact: president@utsstudentsassociation.org
Adam Levett
General Secretary
Hi, my name is Adam (He/Him), and I'm a third year BCII student also studying strategic communications majoring in social political sciences. During my time here, I’ve grown a great fondness for life at UTS, often spending way too much of my day on or around campus (or in the loft). Throughout the past couple of years I’ve also had the privilege of travelling across Australia, representing UTS as a member of the National Union of Students (NUS). Needless to say, I would be honoured to represent UTS in a leadership role as general secretary of the UTSSA. The UTS students’ association is not simply run by one or two people; it is held up by the backbone of the women’s, queer, disabled, indigenous, ethnocultural, international and postgraduate student collectives. Which is why I pledge to support the full autonomy of every UTS collective, so they can effectively organise in their own best interests. I also hope to ensure that outside of collective organising, the UTSSA continues to support our lively LGBTQIA+ community and continue UTS’ rich history of Indigenous, feminist, environment, and other social justice activism.
Contact
gensec@utsstudentsassociation.org
Januka Suraweera
Assistant General Secretary
Hi, I'm Januka Suraweera Engineering and Business Student serving as Assistant General Secretary of the UTS Student's Association and I am excited to contribute to UTS through it. I have over my time at UTS been committed to creating a better student experience for all and I believe in collaborating to make the best solutions to the challenges faced by students. I especially support any measures to ease the cost-of-living pressures on students including continuing to support our free food services. While working towards improving the Academic system with a focus on improving course flexibility to ease the stress faced by students.
Content:asst.gensec@utsstudentsassociation.org
Samiha Emran
Education Officer
Neeve Nagle
Welfare Officer
#General Councillors
Jermaine Petterson-Heard
Indigenous Students Officer
I'm Jermaine Petterson-Heard, currently in my third year at UTS pursuing a Bachelor's in Construction Project Management. My mob is Wardaman (South-West of Katherine) and Wagadagam (Torres Strait Islands), and I hail from Darwin, Northern Territory. When not drowning in studies and work, you'll find me hunting or fishing, though unfortunately not in Sydney. My aim is to support and engage in the rich cultural diversity at UTS, particularly by assisting indigenous students transitioning from their hometowns to the big city life of Sydney, a journey I've undertaken myself.
Olivia Lee
Women's Officer
Hello! My name is Olivia (she/they) and I am in my second year of a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Communication (Social and Political Sciences). My goal this year is to create a more inclusive and representative space within the Women's Collective through both expanding the membership of the collective and actively working with the members to create our ideal WoCo. I will be planning both social events as well as promoting activism around women's issues. One particular issue that I am interested in is period poverty and would like to work toward alleviating period poverty for UTS students. Finally, I look forward to this year and to making lots of new friends!
Contact: womens@utsstudentsassociation.org
Harshvardhan Suvarna
International Students Officer
Harshvardhan Suvarna, a Master's student in Cybersecurity, is passionate about fostering a vibrant and supportive community for international students. This year, I am committed to connecting students across universities, creating a network where international students can engage, share, and grow together. Additionally, I am actively advocating for the Opal card concession to ease transportation challenges for students. My goal is to enhance the
experience of international students and ensure they feel welcomed, valued, and empowered during their journey at UTS.
Contact: international@utsstudentsassociation.org
Vaishnavi Omar
Postgraduate Students Officer
Hi, this is Vaishnavi Omar, I’m completing my masters in business analytics at UTS and currently am in 3rd semester. I have always been very keen towards taking a stand for improvement and betterment of society and contribute to the best of my ability. Being an international postgraduate student at UTS, I came across many issues that students are facing but they either don’t know who to ask for help or they don’t know the process to get help, there is also a need of more resources to provide a better experience to postgraduate students. This is the reason I decided to run for the postgraduate officer position at UTSSA, and now having been elected, I aim at bringing the required positive changes.
My goal is to create a stronger networking among the postgraduate students at UTS to help them grow together. I want to increase the circulation of information among the postgraduate students about the resources available for them and get to know their grievances to be able to represent them better. One of my important goals is to get better career help system for postgraduate students, the goal is to ensure that postgraduate students can get access to more internship, graduate programs and job opportunities before they graduate from UTS.
Contact: postgraduate@utsstudentsassociation.org
Salma Elmubasher
Ethnocultural Officer
As a proud Palestinian-Australian Muslim woman, I understand firsthand the experiences of being undervalued and marginalized. It is an honor to be elected to represent BIPOC voices at UTS, and I am committed to ensuring our concerns are heard and addressed.
Outside of my studies, I enjoy styling hair and exploring Sydney. Although I'm a domestic student, I only moved here from Kuwait in 2021 after completing high school!
I'm currently in my third year of Law & Business and have a strong passion for advocacy! I believe that real change begins with accountability.
This year, I'm focused on building solidarity, creating spaces for healing and support, and advocating for divestment from unethical partnerships.
Amelia Ireland
Disabilities Officer
Hi everyone! My name is Amelia and I am very pleased to announce that I am your Disabilities Officer for 2025. I am a proud trade unionist, disability activist and First Nations Gomeroi woman.
I am a second year communications student who has Autism and ADHD and I am so excited to be advocating for students with disabilities within the UTSSA and the broader UTS community.
Nothing about us, without us!
Contact: disabilities@utsstudentsassociation.org
Daewah Thein
Queer Officer
Hello people my name is Daewah Thein (They/Them) and I will be your queer officers for 2024. With the upcoming election in America the need for a safe space is important now then ever. With anti-trans and anti-queer legislation at the forefront in the current political zeitgeist and with the rise of homophobic and transphobic attacks in our society, the need to provide a space for our LGBTQIA+ students is paramount in ensuring safety and mental stability. The UTS Queer Collective is an autonomous collective for all LGBTQIA+ students to both connect and foster a sense of community. Our Queer Space is the space for Queer folk to hang around and meet other Queer folk. It is also our main activist space where we plan events, and rallies throughout the year as well as hold meeting and discuss issues pertaining to the LGBTQIA+ community. Queer students should not have an extra amount of stress when pressuring higher education and as such I will work hard to increase visibility for our collective.
Sina Afsharmehr
Environment Officer
Hi there! I'm Sina and I'm in my third year of a Bachelor of Laws/ Bachelor of Business (Economics) degree. Over the course of this year I want to focus on running events that are fun and allow members to socialise while also being able contribute to building a more sustainable campus. As the Enviro Collective transitions into Environment and Technology, I also want to continue to advocate for students as new technology is rolled out at UTS.
Contact: environment@utsstudentsassociation.org
Yasmine Johnson
General Councillor
Omar El-Sobihy
General Councillor
Ella Haid
General Councillor
Natasha Abdulghani
General Councillor
Lucia Thornton
General Councillor
Alessio Maiese
General Councillor
Elliot Kameron
General Councillor
Dirk Hoare
General Councillor
Amelia Raptis
General Councillor
Eamon Ryan
General Councillor
