The voting has opened, and you may have already made your decision about who you’d like to represent you. If you’re still not sure which candidate can speak for you, here is something you may not know about them.
Student Union President
Fraser Brown – With nearly a year of experience, he has learned the ropes and knows how to navigate the university and union to get things done.
I’m at least coming into, hopefully, a second year knowing how the university runs and how it works, comfortable with my position in all these different committees and kind of who to speak to straight away.
To win, Fraser needs just one vote more than R.O.N (Re-open Nominations), but he does not take his campaign lightly. He has learned his limits, grown in confidence, and respects the boundaries of his role, ensuring he focuses on what he can achieve while supporting others.
He likes challenges, and just because something has not been done before does not mean it can’t be. Thanks to Fraser, Hasting, which will allow students to question candidates for local MSPs ahead of the Scottish elections, will take place at the Strath Union for the very first time. Representation, democracy, and students’ rights are his priorities, and he actively encourages student-led campaigns on issues that matter.
“Visible, visible, visible” nearly became the three words that best describe him, before he settled on visible, accessible, and accountable.
“Students should be able to find me all over campus… a union president should be visible and accessible, not just behind a desk.”
And when you can’t find him at the union, he may be training for his charity run from Edinburgh to Glasgow, writing a musical, or putting on a cabaret. He stays busy and active but always makes sure he is at the union: visible and available to chat whenever you need him.
Activities President
Callum Denton – is not afraid of a challenge. Over the years, he has been part of a range of societies, including ReAct, Dance, and Musical Theatre, as a treasurer, choreographer, and performer.
This experience gave him insight into “how different societies work and what needs to be done.”
He is determined, and once he puts his mind to something, he follows it through.
“When I started dancing, it was just a hobby; now I’ve been asked to be part of a professional production.”
Callum not only dances, sings, acts, and models, but he also wants to make sure students’ needs are represented. He is passionate about employability and increasing awareness of opportunities through JobShop, as well as boosting the visibility of student action groups. If you’ve never heard of JobShop or these action groups, with Callum in the role, that will change. He is committed to turning his manifesto into action.
Callum thrives on being part of the student community.
“I just love being active and part of the community… I like meeting people and getting involved wherever I can.”
He even stayed to support a quiz night, keeping the numbers up and joining in the fun, even when the questions were tricky enough to make most people groan.
Three words that best describe him? Tall, confident, and exciting.
Om Parashar – agreed to be interviewed but did not attend and did not provide responses ahead of publication.
Ari Taylor – Here is a candidate who will not allow a difficult question to put her off track. She knows what she wants, to support students and societies, helping them grow and realise their potential.
“Making sure that all other students within the union have a place where they feel safe, heard and seen.”
Recognising the power of community, Ari wants to bring people together.
“Bring that sense of unity across societies, because if funding does get cut, or looks like it might, then being a strong community means we can figure it out together.”
She recognises the limitations smaller societies face. Whether it’s a large society like ReAct, which she is part of, or a much smaller one, she believes there should be resources available to help them reach their goals. Fair funding is a key part of that, making sure societies can bring their initiatives to life.
Approachable, strong-willed, and conscientious, Ari positions herself as both a problem-solver and an advocate , someone who not only listens, but acts.
Her artistic side keeps her not only perform with ReAct, but also frequently visits exhibitions or even gets creative herself.
Education President
Lucia Gil Dorta – she is your education nerd with a plan. A year in the role has taught her that a manifesto should not promise the impossible, but even with that realism, Lucia has big ambitions and won’t settle until students get the support they deserve. Representation and quality of education are at the heart of everything she does. Her list of priorities is so extensive that it could fill an essay, from implementing digital badges recognising student achievement, to closing gaps in working experience and industry connections within the curriculum.
“I would like to close those gaps and be like, what can we do to make all these programs have all this working and industry connection?”
Even the smallest feedback is treated with respect, and she ensures issues are resolved from the very start.
“I read papers all the time, I’m very passionate… I know how a faculty works, how the court works, how the Senate works, how the different policies, how personal circumstances work, how the appeals work, how discipline works.”
Lucia combines deep knowledge of the system with a clear drive to improve it, making her a candidate who is both prepared and determined to make a difference. She knows the system inside out, and she’s ready to use that knowledge to make real change for every student.
Three words she describes herself with:knowledgable, approachable, and very diligent; qualities that are reflected in both her understanding of university systems and the care she takes in addressing student concerns.
Devanshu Dipak Raut would like to be part of the solution and not to be another person pointing problems out. Ready to take responsibility and drive change he wants to focus on making support truly accessible, simple, visible, and easy for students to use.
“Students shouldn’t have to struggle to find help that already exists.”
With students often geting frustrated chasing information or waiting for answers, Devanshu wants to make systems work and bring the change sudents want: transparency, accountability, and real results. He is all about solutions that work.
“With a background in consulting at Deloitte, I’ve worked extensively on solving real-world problems in structured, practical ways.”
His proven leadership track record means he dosn’t just analyse problems but takes ownership and drives change.
Outside of university, Devanshu stays active, works on projects, and enjoys connecting with people. Three words he would use to describe him are: approachable, reliable, and committed.
The candidate was approached for an interview and initially agreed, but ulitately privided his answers via email instead.
Nayan Chalavadi Narayan says he is not like any other candidate and that social media campaigns are not enough.
“They want the visibility on social media. That’s wrong. That’s not what we require. We need transparency, where a person goes to each and every student in person to understand their struggles, identify gaps, and see what can be achieved together. That is what we need, to unite students for a better future, for a better tomorrow.”
“You can’t even sell education, you can’t even purchase education. We shape it; we don’t just educate it, we shape it.”
He believes students need that inner drive, the hunger to achieve.
Driven and apporacheble, with stron leadership and communications skills Nayan believes in going to each and every student, asking aobur the challenges they face, the support they’re getting and what changes can be done.
Above all, he wants students to feel confident sharing their voices, because “if you raise your voice, others will too.” He believes in the power and importance of education, comparing it to tiger’s milk, which gives a cub its roar. Education, he says, gives us strength and the power to roar, to make an impact both within the university and beyond.
Jennifer Nneoma Onwukwe-kalu – Motivated by her own experiences navigating delays and challenges in her education, Jennifer is driven to make a real difference for students.
“Back in my undergraduate degree, I was just staying behind the crowd, telling the student representative about problems that never got solved.”
Determined to do things differently, she decided to take matters into her own hands and represent students directly.
Her manifesto is built around students’ needs. By speaking with students across different departments and programs, she identified what changes are necessary. She wants to help reduce stress, support a better balance between academic and social life, and provide assistance to those with learning difficulties.
“I want to make learning easier for students, especially students that have difficulties. Everybody’s brain works differently. Everyone has a different way of learning. I want to provide ways for students to express their problems so solutions can be found.”
She aims to be a visible and approachable Vice President—reliable, attentive, and committed to ensuring students’ voices are heard. Strong communication and listening skills are central to her vision for the role.
Outside her studies, Jennifer enjoys swimming, badminton, watching anime, and solving Sudoku puzzles. Her three words? Approachable, supportive, and determined. She hopes to leave a lasting impact, not only for current students but also for those who will follow.
Inclusion President
Syed Fatmi – “A good human being,” are the three words he uses to describe himself, and it’s easy to see why. From the start of his Strathclyde journey, he noticed how lonely and confusing university life could be, and he wants to be the person who helps students find their footing. Humble yet determined, Syed is passionate about inclusion and giving students the tools and confidence to speak up.
“I want students to have a voice rather than me imposing my voice on anyone.”
Syed’s manifesto focuses on making support accessible, visible, and straightforward. From helping students with ADHD and dyslexia as a support worker to understanding the challenges international students face, he combines hands-on experience with a commitment to real change.
“Neurodiversity is something which I’ve had experiences with. And I feel the pain of it, so that is something that is on the top of my agenda… I’ve started speaking up about this. So, I can raise a voice. I’ve always been very activistic.”
He also champions space for religious practice on campus, saying every student “deserves to be included in whichever environment they are in.”
Outside of his academic and activist work, Syed keeps himself busy running, volunteering, and reading, but always stays approachable and humble. His combination of empathy, experience, and dedication makes him a candidate ready to turn words into action while remaining genuinely grounded.
Jo Fitzpatrick – it’s likely you’ve seen her around, whether it’s her welcoming smile at the union welcome desk, meeting students at Hear to Listen, or marching alongside you in the Fight for the Night March. Her commitment to students is undeniable and shows through her presence where it matters most.
She approaches her role with both care and determination. Skilled at active listening, she pays attention not just to words but to the needs behind them, ready to fight for students’ rights. She understands the challenges that come with the position, including issues like student visas for international students and spaces for religious practices, and she’s prepared to ensure all groups receive the support they need.
Her confidence and knowledge come from a combination of personal experience and her studies in Gender Studies.
“I want any student, regardless of their identity or circumstances, to feel like they can approach me and we can work together.”
She has already engaged with university officials and campaigned on a national level, demonstrating her willingness to advocate fiercely.
“I’m not scared of going in and telling them they need to do better. I’ll fight for students as if it’s my own experience.”
Her empathy is informed by her own neurodivergence.
“I myself am autistic, so I can appreciate how socializing isn’t always the easiest. That’s made me empathetic in listening to what someone is saying, not just how they’re saying it.”
Motivated, enthusiastic, and hopeful, Jo wants to make sure students feel supported and represented.
Ayo Olivia Kehinde – Ayo’s journey to running for president Inclusion is deeply personal and rooted in her own experiences navigating life as a student far from home.
“I came to this country when I was 16, with no family, no friends. I struggled with anxiety, but I didn’t stay in my house. I knew what it was like to be alone, and I don’t want anyone else to feel that way,”
Her firsthand understanding of isolation and systemic challenges drives her commitment to student advocacy.
She is passionate about inclusion and says it is not just the regular things we think about, but it’s culture, and it’s everything. Students need to know there’s someone advocating for them
“Students want to see results. They want transparency and action, not just words.”
Ayo brings experience from both leadership and volunteer roles among which are the years she served as student rep. It tought her that it is not enough to listen bur once neeed to sit down and plan ahead.
Her qualities as a leader are grounded in empathy, resilience, and hard work.
In her free time, Ayo enjoys knitting, going to the gym and swimming, and running a YouTube series breaking down complex topics like artificial intelligence into simple, understandable explanations.
Driven, empathetic, and solution-focused, Ayo is determined to ensure that every student feels seen, supported, and included.
Sports President
Tilly Galvin jokes that at this point, she might be at the University of Strathclyde more for sport than for her degree, but that is exactly what makes her such a compelling candidate for Sports President.
“I just love sport. Day to day, I’m completely consumed by it,”
A member of two teams, women’s football, where she serves as president, and badminton, where she is also a captain,, Tilly is deeply embedded in the university’s sports community.
“I just want to make it grow and make it better for future students, and make it more accessible to people as well.”
Despite running uncontested (aside from R.O.N.), Tilly has taken her campaign seriously, putting in the same level of effort she would in a competitive race. Her focus remains firmly on representing every student, not just those already in the spotlight.
“Sport is a lot more than just performance… people in recreational or development teams are feeling unseen,”
Her goal is simple: to make sport more accessible and inclusive for everyone.
Alongside visibility, she is also thinking about long-term structural issues within the Sports Union. In particular, she highlights the limitations of current facilities, which can restrict clubs’ ability to grow.
Approachable, energetic, and deeply committed, Tilly describes herself as someone who is always present, someone students can turn to.
“I like to be involved in everything… I just want people to feel like they can come to me.”
Three words that describe her best: chatty, approachable and silly.
Hi, I am Julia Braun Raven, an award-winning student journalist, having been named Arts Writer of the Year at the Herald Student Press Awards 2026. Following this achievement, I am continuing to develop my journalistic skills and contribute to The Herald’s arts and culture section under the mentorship of Arts Correspondent Brian Ferguson.
I am a third-year Journalism, Media & Communication and English & Creative Writing student. I was re-elected as Editor-in-Chief of the Strathclyde Telegraph for 2026/27. Alongside preparing for the new academic year, I am delighted to continue working with the team to create a student newspaper that reflects student life on campus, while also covering the wider issues shaping the world around us.
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