Student ExecStudent Exec Blog

Your 2025/26 Student Exec Round-Up

June 30, 2026
8 Mins Read

This is your 2025/26 Student Exec – Wrapped! 

As the academic year comes to a close, we’re looking back on some of the biggest achievements from your Student Exec team – Amara, Eden, Safiyah, Katrina, Lydia and Shivani!

They’ve worked tirelessly to turn student priorities into action, championing the issues that matter most, creating positive change across your Union, your University and nationally.

This roundup celebrates some of their proudest achievements and the lasting impact they’ve made for students.

Here’s a look back at some of the highlights.

Shivani Gug’s Top Five

As your Education Officer.

Opened Edward Boyle as a 24-hour library

After popular student demand, I led campaigns to make Edward Boyle the 24-hour library at the University.  

While advocating for inclusive assessments, improving academic personal tutors and AI guidelines for students, I helped the Faculty Officers become more central in decisions that affected them.  

I made national impact for students by going to Parliament about the unfairness of the student loan repayment system.  

This is a space for students and staff of second/third-generation identity, who have been shaped by more than one culture or identity, to share their story. 

I presented the launch event at an international conference at the University of Vermont.

The LUU Book Swap is now open in Common Ground! This is for students to have an accessible and cost-free route into leisure reading.  

Lydia Shale’s Top Five

As your Activities & Opportunities Officer.

Women's+ Sports Participation Project

I tackled inequalities that disproportionately impact women, trans and non-binary students, securing funding for five ‘student activators’ to lead the work.  

For the last two years, we have held some incredible Women in Sport Panel events which have provided platforms for some very empowering and inspirational women connected to Leeds.

Alongside the British Sign Language (BSL) Society, we secured £10,000 of funding to help make student events and initiatives more accessible. This money was used to buy specialised equipment and for societies to apply for. 

Following the Supreme Court Ruling in relation to trans identity in sport, we hosted a mixed gender football and netball tournament, showcasing inclusive sporting opportunities. 

LUU held an International Women’s Day (IWD) celebration week on campus, covering Women in Leadership and Campaigning, Women in Sport, Women Across the Globe and Women’s Health. 

The week of events brought together thousands of staff and students.

Amara Relf’s Top Five

As your Union Affairs & Communications Officer.

"Making Misogyny a Hate Crime" - Drove national policy impact through a gender-based violence campaign

We secured more than 114,000 signatures in the UK Government petition, visiting Downing Street to submit the petition.

We developed and delivered a sector-leading initiative to tackle sexual harassment and assault in student spaces, equipping student leaders with the tools to create safer communities. 

We brought Reclaim the Night back to campus under student leadership, creating a high-impact, visible campaign centred on safety empowerment, and collective action. 

We established a new representative structure to centre liberation groups in decision-making, strengthening inclusive governance and amplifying underrepresented student voices. 

We collaborated with the Islamic Society and University of Leeds to successfully advocate for and implement a permanent Muslim Chaplain, improving faith provision and student support. 

Safiyah Farid’s Top Five

As your Equality & Liberation Officer.

Organised the Palestinian Culture Day

This had the direct involvement of more than twenty-five societies in the forms of educational workshops, stalls, film screenings, an olive tree unveiling, music listening, fitness classes and a book launch, raising more than £1,000 for the Gaza Humanitarian Scholarship Fund. 

It is now possible for students inside Gaza to apply for scholarships, which is something that I have been campaigning for two years.  

The exhibition included interactive elements, combined with a black historical ‘wall of fame’ of people who have lived or spent significant time in Leeds.  

This intends to make Leeds University Union an Endometriosis-Friendly Employer, educate students and commit to providing physical support. 

This allowed for many women of different backgrounds an experience to speak in solidarity and resistance. 

Katrina Liu’s Top Five

As your International & Postgraduate Officer.

Improving international student representation

I worked closely with colleagues to strengthen international student representation, ensuring that effective student leadership follows democratic changes.  

I represented international students in discussions around national policy changes, successfully contributing to efforts that helped reductions in the proposed international student fee levy. 

I established and developed the International Student Advisory Board as a dedicated platform to bring together international students, the University and the Union, helping their voices be heard. 

I launched the PGR Café to create a welcoming space for Postgraduate Researchers to connect with one another and engage with LUU. I also supported the development of the new PGR Trustee role.  

I worked in partnership with the International Student Office to deliver a series of events, encouraging cultural sharing, community building and greater engagement between home and international students. 

What has Eden been up to?

As your Wellbeing Officer.

Breaking Bread

West Yorkshire Combined Authority awarded recognition for conceptualising the “Breaking Bread” initiative, which has since been piloted with support from multiple society groups. 

I launched the Student Bereavement Network and helped to run sustainability and wellbeing projects, including a meal kit project for new incoming students, and collaborated with mental health and cancer charities across Leeds and the University of Leeds. 

I met with Rachel Reeves to discuss student loan reform, while also working on housing policy, including landlord DBS checks, ethical partnerships and supporting improvements to university personal tutor systems for disabled students. 

I attended a decolonisation conference in Cambridge with Safiyah, contributing to discussions on institutional change and continued involvement in the Gaza40+ Campaign. 

I presented at LibCon Warwick on the history of student activism and met with student leaders to discuss support for University of Leeds offer holders affected by the situation in Gaza.  

Related Posts