Students as Partners Consultative Group

Angela is a third year Bachelor of Commerce (Co-op) student.

As a female-identifying Vietnamese business student, she is passionate about equitable access to academic and professional opportunities, particularly in deconstructing prevailing glass and bamboo ceilings. Having entered university through the Gateway Program as the first in her family, Angela is hopeful that her lived experiences through high school and in the corporate space can provide a light to other students experiencing similar challenges, and can empower inclusive change at UNSW. Angela continues to use her voice to combat issues of underrepresentation and lack of accessibility through her experience as a University Ambassador, Youth Engagement Officer within her local religious community and mentor for students from low-SES backgrounds applying for scholarships - all revealing her strong belief that generational change starts from youth advocacy. 

Brit is in her first year of a Master of Public Health, specialising in Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing. She has previously completed a Bachelor of Psychological Science at UNSW. Brit currently works in Aboriginal health and has completed an Internship at the Poche Centre for Indigenous Health.   

Brit grew up on Wiradjuri land in Central West NSW and is passionate about creating equitable opportunities for current and future students. Brit wants to ensure UNSW is a welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone. 

Chris is a postgraduate student studying Commerce, majoring in Marketing and International Business.

As an international student who has also completed his Bachelor's at UNSW, he is passionate about enhancing the student experience during their studies. He hopes to create a respectful, welcoming, and tight-knit international community.

Embracing the culturally diverse background at UNSW, he devotes most of his time to engaging with international students of all levels at UNSW, whether through volunteering as a "Cultural Mentor" to help with first-year international students, to coordinating English conversational workshops with "Let's CommUNIcate!". His wealth of experience comes from his belief in the power of language and communication that can tear down walls and foster greater connectivity between individuals. Understanding the struggles of international students, Chris strives to lend a helping hand and be their voice.

Dylan is a second year Commerce student majoring in Finance who is passionate about making a positive impact on the community around him. Coming from a low-SES background and attending a Gateway high school, he is committed to empowering and inspiring those around him to reach their full potential.

He is currently a University Ambassador and a youth advisory board member for his local council who seeks to foster diversity, equity and inclusion through creating a supportive and welcoming community for students from diverse backgrounds to be a part of.

In 2024, Dylan was recognised as an AFR Top100 Future Leader award winner for his outstanding contribution and leadership in creating a positive change within his community and beyond.

El is a second-year student at UNSW pursuing a Bachelor of Science/Social Sciences, majoring in Marine Science and Art, Culture and Technology.

As a disabled, queer, and gender-fluid individual, El champions equality and accessibility within both communal and academic spheres. Their journey, navigating life with ADHD, chronic illnesses and disabilities, has fuelled their dedication to reshaping perceptions and dismantling barriers faced by disabled and queer communities.

With a deep-seated passion for deep-sea science and sustainability, El believes in the collective capacity of communities to foster hope and enact meaningful change in addressing challenges like climate change. They emphasize the importance of coming together, supporting one another, and recognizing that collective action is key to building a more inclusive and sustainable future for all.

Eunice is a fifth year Medicine student at UNSW and has served on the SCON since 2023.

Coming from a culturally and linguistically diverse community in Greater Western Sydney, Eunice is a strong advocate for building diverse and inclusive communities and ensuring that all students have equitable higher education opportunities. Eunice’s lived experience as a female in STEMM with chronic health conditions has also fuelled her passion for supporting fellow students with similar backgrounds.

Eunice leverages her professional experience as a Senior University Ambassador in the Access, Equity & Inclusion team, Future Students Ambassador, Senior Ambassador in the UNSW Student Health Advisory Committee, student representative on the Faculty of Medicine Student Wellbeing Action Group, and member of the UNSW Mental Health First Aiders Network. Eunice also regularly represents her communities at events and initiatives led by the Wellbeing Community of Practice and Pro Vice-Chancellor, Education & Student Experience (PVCESE) Portfolio.

Eunice strives to amplify the voices of underrepresented groups and make UNSW a welcoming, equitable, and diverse community.

Hannah is a postgraduate student, in her penultimate year of the Juris Doctor at UNSW Law & Justice.

Hannah has navigated societal expectations and systemic barriers that have disproportionately affected women, neurodivergent individuals, international students and postgraduate students. These experiences have heightened her sensitivity to the intersectionality of gender, neurodiversity, and systemic challenges within academic institutions.

Hannah hopes to leverage her diverse background and experiences to contribute meaningfully to SCON matters. In particular, she aims to advocate for the rights, inclusion, equitable treatment, and empowerment of women, neurodivergent individuals and international students within the university community.

Hannah looks forward to collaborating with fellow students and EDI staff to advance a more inclusive and equitable campus environment at UNSW.

Indigo is in her pre-penultimate year of her Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics.

She comes from a regional town and has firsthand experience with the barriers to tertiary education for those from low-SES backgrounds and regional areas. Additionally, she’s passionate about lifting up those in her community who may struggle with accessing university services due to mental health conditions or neurodiversity. She volunteers as a tutor with UNSW’s Shack Tutoring to provide free tutoring to high school students to pay forward the guidance she received from teachers and mentors as a teen herself.

She strongly believes in the power of education and representation and aims to uphold her key values of empathy and integrity in all conversations. As a queer woman, she hopes to be the representation for the next generation of queer youth that was lacking when she was growing up.

Irina is a first year student starting her Bachelor of Social Work (Honours)/Arts journey. She was born and raised in New Zealand. Being a first-generation immigrant, Irina has had experiences that profoundly shaped her worldview and values. Growing up in a multicultural environment ignited her fascination with diverse perspectives and the richness of human experiences. Through having the privilege of being one of the Deputy Head Prefects at her high school in 2023, she had significant experiences where she was able to connect with her community on a deeper level and understand unique perspectives, stories, and aspirations. 

Alongside being in minorities like the LGBTQIA+ community, she has realised the power of empathy and advocacy to address social injustices and promote meaningful change, which she hopes to be able to achieve here at UNSW.  

Irina aims to leverage her personal experiences as well as those of others to enhance accessibility, equity, diversity, and inclusivity for all within the UNSW community.

Melanie is in her second year of a Bachelor of Science, with a focus on biology and ecology.  She is passionate about mitigating the effects of climate change, learning more about the natural world, and making it better.

Melanie is a mature age student, finally being able to realise her dream of returning to study, while continuing to solo parent her three offspring while working part-time. Melanie has experience working in a broad range of industries, and is a strong advocate for education for all ages and the awesome value that mature age students bring to university and as new graduates. In the university space, she’s interested in reducing the significant barriers faced by mature age students in returning to education, as well as during their studies – aiming to represent a cohort of students with very low visibility. Melanie is also a founding member and Treasurer of the UNSW Mature Age Students’ Society which aims to bring mature age students together for support, networking and fostering of opportunities.

Peter is a first year, part-time Master of Public Health student, returning to formal study for the first time in over twenty years.

Being queer and having worked in the private industry for 17 years has given Peter insights into the importance of visibility in diversity in creating a healthy workplace, and in providing opportunities for every member of society.

As a member of the Students as Partners Consultative Group, Peter would like to work to make diversity more visible across UNSW schools and projects, to inspire and create opportunities for current and future students that may not have previously seen such possibilities for themselves.

Peter also hopes to be able to provide insights about the joys and challenges of returning to formal study later in life as his journey progresses.

Timothy is studying a Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours) with a major in Immunology.

Coming from a culturally and ethnically diverse community in Greater Western Sydney, Timothy is a strong advocate for building support networks that are diverse and inclusive of these communities, ensuring young people have equitable access to health and education.

Timothy's lived experience from a low-SES background, carer of a relative with disabilities and attending a Gateway school has also fuelled his passion for supporting students of similar backgrounds. This is reflected in his experiences as the 2024 SRC Disability Officer, member of the Matilda Centre's Lived Experience Research Network (LEARN) and steering committee member for the National Practice Standards in managing mental health conditions in alcohol and other drug treatment settings.

Through his work, Timothy strives to make UNSW an equitable and diverse community accepting of those with mental health conditions.