About Me 

Hi there, 

I’m Emma, your Students’ Union President. I study Electrical and Electronic Engineering – and I’m currently taking a sabbatical year between my third and fourth years to serve in this full-time role. I was elected in the 2025 leadership elections and began my term on the 1st of July 2025. 

As President, I am a full-time Sabbatical Officer and Trustee of the Students’ Union, working to represent and lead the Union while advocating for all students at the University of Southampton. 

What do you do as Union President? 

I’m at the heart of your student union, attending some of the highest level university and SUSU meetings, and I’m here to make your time at Southampton the best it can be. I have an oversight on major campaigns, estates, residences and sustainability. I support student engagement with SUSU democracy, encouraging participation in elections and campaigns. 

But the true core of my role is to represent the diverse and complex needs of our student body, especially in university meetings and to external bodies. 

What I’m working on 

I’ll be working on my plans outlined in my manifesto, i.e. the things you voted for – better bus routes, tackling the cost of living crisis, improving the clubs and socs experience, lobbying against bad landlord practices, and so much more. I campaigned strongly on these issues because I had experienced them firsthand and know that they can affect every single one of our students. 

But my plans and priorities are ever-evolving; through talking to students throughout the year, I’m going to make sure that what I work on makes tangible differences that you see throughout your university experience.  

Another big one – communication – a very broad subject that I’m excited to tackle by working with SUSU’s many teams to produce better documentation and improve access to information. This’ll make your life as a student easier – whether that be from running a club or society to knowing your rights as a student renter. I’ve realised a lot of solutions to smaller problems are already out there, but it’s hard to find them. So much goes on at the university that you don’t know about! 

You may have seen me at student events, society activities, or around campus. Being part of the student community is a massive part of my life, and I’ll continue to show up, listen, and take action. 

If you have ideas or feedback, please reach out to any of us sabbatical officers. We’re in challenging roles, but we’re here to learn from you and make sure your voices are heard. 

University meetings I attend  

• University Council – the most senior governing body of the University. I bring a student with me to ensure student perspectives are considered in the University’s biggest decisions. 
• University Executive Board – weekly strategic meetings with University leadership. 
• University Senate – academic policy and standards. 
• Estates and Infrastructure Committee 
• Student Experience Programme Board 
• The University’s Strategic Major Projects, including: 
  • Hartley Library Transformation – recently started back up, planning to increase study space and modernise the building. 
  • Student Experience Process Transformation (SEPT) – improving interaction with University services. 
  • North East Quadrant – a major expansion on the top right of Highfield Campus. 
  • Academic Responsibility and Conduct (ARC) – previously Academic Integrity, now expanded to better support academic fairness and standards.