Our Board
The Board of Directors is composed of 14 Directors, including 11 student Directors elected at the Annual Elections each year, two Senate-appointed Directors and the Immediate Past President.
Meetings of the Board of Directors are where the operational and strategic business of the USU is discussed. At each meeting, there is an agenda item called ‘Open Question Time’, which is an opportunity for USU Members to bring issues to the attention of the President and Board of Directors. All USU Members are welcome to attend and observe these meetings.
Announcements and statements from the President:
• USU update media release: COVID-19 (28 July, 2020)
• USU update media release: COVID-19 (6 May, 2020)
• The Affiliation Agreement between USYD and the USU
Board Meeting Dates 2021
In accordance with article 11.2(b) of the
Constitution, the Board of Directors has determined the following ordinary meeting dates in 2021:
Friday 26 February 2020, 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Friday 26 March 2020, 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Friday 30 April 2020, 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Friday 28 May 2020, 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Friday 25 June 2020, 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Friday 30 July 2020, 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Friday 27 August 2020, 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Friday 24 September 2020, 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Friday 29 October 2020, 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Friday 26 November 2020,1:00pm to 3:00pm
There are also special meetings of the Board of Directors that are conducted in accordance with the
Constitution and
Regulations.
All meetings will be hosted from an in-person location at a USU building at the Camperdown/Darlington campus. Some Board Directors join the meeting via audio-visual link online.
All USU members can connect to Board of Directors meetings either in-person or online via audio-visual link. Please contact the President, Irene Ma at
r.ma@usu.edu.au for more information or to attend.
Register of Directors’ Interest
All actual, perceived or potential conflicts of interest must be declared. A
register is kept and updated by the Board Secretary at all times.
Transparency
The Board of Directors is transparent to our staff and members. Here’s what the Board has done in 2020 to be transparent and open:
- • The recommendations in reports are now publicly published in minutes
- • Meetings have been conducted online via Zoom, making them more accessible to all members of the USU (to join them, email the Board Secretary)
- • Student media are automatically invited to all ordinary and special Board meetings
- • The text of all in camera motions are published publicly
- • The Board has changed its agenda so that Confidential Business goes last
- • The reasons for going in camera are announced publicly at each meeting
- • Executive reports and motions on notice will be published online
- • The Board agreed to review its In Camera Policy
-
Ruolin (Irene) Ma - President
Contact: r.ma@usu.edu.au
Position on Board: President
Other Positions: Chair, Awards Committee; Chair, Electoral Committee; Chair, Executive Committee; Deputy Chair, Remuneration Committee; Member, Clubs and Societies Committee; Member, Debates Committee; Member, Finance Committee, Member, COVID-19 Response Committee; Member, Work Health and Safety Committee; Member, Governance Committee.
What are your best memories of your time with the USU?
It’s definitely club and society that I joined in the beginning, and then I’m on board, and every second here is the best memory!
What are your favourite things about the USU?
Too many.... I love the time hanging out with friends at Courtyard! I love free access to clubs and societies! I love the platform the USU providing to every student for them to shine! and I can’t emphasise this enough — I love ginger fish with rice at the Abercrombie terrace (ABS cafe)!
What is something you can’t live without and why?
Friends! I just can’t imagine one’s life without friends!
Nick Forbutt - Vice President
Contact: n.forbutt@usu.edu.au
Position on Board: Vice President
Other Positions: Queer Portfolio Holder; Member, Awards Committee; Member, Clubs and Societies Committee; Member, Clubs and Societies Awards Selection Panel; Member, Debates Committee; Member, Executive Committee; Member, Remuneration Committee, Chair, COVID-19 Response Committee.
Tell us a little bit about yourself?
I'm 21, a Virgo and I love to have fun. If I were trapped on a deserted island, I would bring a mixtape consisting only of Untouched by the Veronicas, the Communist Manifesto and Courtyard’s caramelised onion & brie pizza.
What is something you can’t live without and why?
That euphoric feeling I get when a friend tags me in a meme! It keeps me happy and the quality of memeage is low-key how I value friendships.
What are your best memories of your time with the USU?
Debuting in Queer Revue! The identity revue season is so empowering, and for me, it was an experience that reinforced the importance of the need for acceptance and compassion in our community.
Caitlin (Cady) Brown - Honorary Treasurer
Contact: c.brown@usu.edu.au
Position on Board: Honorary Treasurer
Other Positions: Member, Finance Committee; Member, Remuneration Committee; Member, COVID-19 Response Committee.
Tell us a little about yourself?
I love my dog, a crisp meme and anything that sparkles. I’m the typical virgo, i’m from the country, and I love seeing a need, and doing something about it.
What is something you can’t live without and why?
Definitely my laptop. It was broken for 6 weeks and I definitely cried at least 18 times a day in its’ absence. I'm a very organised gal, and trying to do admin and work on my phone was a nightmare.
What are your best memories of your time with the USU?
Getting to work with the USU throughout my election I would say is a pretty definitive time in my life, and will be forever. But priorly through the Palladian Program- getting a Captaincy and volunteering my time to teach dance at College was so rewarding.
Benny (Yinfeng) Shen - Honorary Secretary
Contact: y.shen@usu.edu.au
Position on Board: Honorary Secretary
Other Positions: Chair, Clubs and Societies Committee; Deputy Chair, Electoral Committee; Member, Clubs and Societies Awards Selection Panel, Director of Student Publications; Member, COVID-19 Response Committee.
Tell us a little about yourself?
Explorer, photographer and burger hunter with almost full score in 'openness to experience' from personality test and willing to try everything!
What are your best memories of your time with the USU?
Winning the dancing battle at the 'Welcome to Sydney Party' the first night in Sydney
What is something you can’t live without and why?
Art and photography, it’s my language.
Benjamin Hines - Board Director
Contact: b.hines@usu.edu.au
Position on Board: Director
Other Positions: Director of Student Publications; Member, Remuneration Committee, Chair, Debates Committee.
Tell us a little bit about yourself?
My biggest flaw is my inability to answer when asked to tell someone a little bit about myself. My second biggest flaw is that I'm incredibly unfunny (as has probably now become apparent). I enjoy debating, playing basketball and football, and drink way too much bubble tea (half sugar no ice gang).
What are your best memories of your time with the USU?
Definitely the seemingly fleeting, seemingly innocuous time spent with friends, especially those that otherwise probably wouldn't have been brought together if not for the USU, that in that moment stick out as truly special and make you glad to be a part of the Union!
What is something you can’t live without and why?
The hope that one day, if we're lucky, Kanye will drop Yandhi.
Kailin Qin - Board Director
Contact: k.qin@usu.edu.au
Position on Board: Director
Other Positions: International Student Portfolio Holder; Director of Student Publications, Member, COVID-19 Response Committee.
Tell us a little bit about yourself?
A skater girl who loves to play basketball. If you catch me cruising down Eastern Avenue on my longboard, be sure to say hi. Always up for Maccas run and banter. Also, I have a kitten named McDee (I really love Maccas).
What are your favourite things about the USU?
Ginger fish at ABS cafe. To whoever that suggested to have it on the menu, THANK YOU. Also, cliche to say but of course, I love my clubs and societies. The vibes are so good and they made Sydney truly feels like a second home to me.
What is something you can’t live without and why?
I can't choose between friends who tag me in memes and coffee. Let me have both please.
Ruby Lotz - Board Director
Contact: r.lotz@usu.edu.au
Position on Board: Director
Other Positions: Member, Clubs and Societies Committee, Member, COVID-19 Response Committee; Disabilities Portfolio Holder.
Tell us a little bit about yourself?
I’m a Taurus and a Love Doctor on SURGFM. I love goats cheese, blue cheese, brie cheese and $6 garlic and cheese pizza at Courtyard (Bring it back). I play guitar (somewhat poorly), listen to A LOT of music, and am 'THAT person' who ignites political debates at parties.
What are your best memories of your time with the USU?
There's SO many! Beer towers at Hermann's, hosting my own radio show, starting up a society, attending parties, balls, revues and above all - meeting so many of my closest friends.
What are your favourite things about the USU?
The inclusivity and diversity of the clubs & societies program. Seriously, there is something for everyone and I think that's amazing. Oh, and Courtyard of course.
Nicholas Rigby - Board Director
Contact: n.rigby@usu.edu.au
Position on Board: Director
Other Positions: Deputy Chair, Finance Commmittee, Member, COVID-19 Response Committee.
What are your best memories of your time with the USU?
Definitely my time with the Sydney Arts Students Society (SASS). It has been an invaluable experience - the first year camps, balls, cruises and everything else! Biggest highlight would be the SASS First Year Camp 2020, a very successful camp.
If you could have one wish granted for every student at The University of Sydney, what would it be?
I would say better coffee around campus! It is already of a high standard but I would grant the students of the Uni with a few better blends.
What is something you can’t live without and why?
Music! I always have my headphones in and listening to my recent favourite album.
Belinda Thomas - Board Director
Contact: b.thomas@usu.edu.au
Position on Board: Director
Other Positions: Wom*n's Portfolio Holder; Member, Awards Committee.
Tell us a little bit about yourself?
Hey! I’m an Arts (music)/Laws student, and I think “tell me about yourself” is the hardest question ever. I’m training to be an opera singer, I’m allergic to kiwi fruit, I once performed for Cate Blanchett, and I can play the violin behind my head.
What are your best memories of your time with the USU?
Coming to university as a lonely and clueless first year wasn’t particularly fun - but immediately joining clubs and societies and attending their events truly showed me how vivacious student life count really be - serving as an exec on these societies was the cherry on top.
What are your favourite things about the USU?
I love that absolutely every student can (and should!) get involved with what the USU has to offer - any society that you could possibly dream of, countless opportunities, and such a welcoming community.
Di Eve Wang - Board Director
Contact: d.wang@usu.edu.au
Position on Board: Director
Other Positions: Ethnocultural Portfolio Holder
Tell us a little bit about yourself?
A 20-year-old young who is either traveling or on her way to. Love dogs so much and an interesting dog meme can make her day.
If you could have one wish granted for every student at The University of Sydney, what would it be?
An assignment-free semester.
What is something you can’t live without and why?
My phone. I can't stand not knowing what's going on in this dynamic world and can't stop tagging my friends under interesting post.
Prudence Wilkins-Wheat - Board Director
Contact: p.wilkins-wheat@usu.edu.au
Position on Board: Director
Other Positions: Environment Portfolio Holder; Member, Electoral Committee; Member, Governance Committee.
Tell us a little bit about yourself?
A fun fact about me is that I can tap dance, an irrelevant fact about me is that I'm not very good at it. I love skateboarding, hate jam and have mixed feelings about Nicholas Cage. Watch Con Air and get back to me x
If you could have one wish granted for every student at The University of Sydney, what would it be?
That they don't face marginalisation, discrimination or harrassment, on or off campus.
What is something you can’t live without and why?
Books. There's power in ideas. I wouldn't be much without Toni Morrison, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Virginia Woolfe or Dr Seuss.
Jane Drummond - Senate Appointed Director
Contact: drummond_jane@hotmail.com
Position: Senate-appointed Director
Other Positions: Member, Remuneration Committee.
What are your favourite things about the USU? Everything! The broadness and diversity of what USU offers makes it so special. There is something for everyone to get involved in.
If you could have one wish granted for every student at The University of Sydney, what would it be? A USYD jacaranda snow globe.
What is something you can’t live without and why? The news. I just need to know what's happening in our world.
Marie Leech - Senate Appointed Director
Position: Senate-appointed Director
Other Positions: Member, Remuneration Committee.
What are your favourite things about the USU? It provides many and diverse opportunities to be involved in Uni life beyond the lecture theatre, opportunities that range from fun to fulfilling to fantastic.
What is something you can’t live without and why? The search for the meaning of life, the universe and everything via interactions with family, friends, politics, religion, socialising, the music of Richard Wagner, social justice, literature, and much more.
If you could have one wish granted for every student at The University of Sydney, what would it be?
That their experience at The University of Sydney would be such that it would be remembered forever as one of the happiest and most enriching times of their lives.
Connor Wherrett - Immediate Past President
Contact: c.wherrett@usu.edu.au
Position on Board: Immediate Past President
Other Positions: Member, COVID-19 Response Committee; Member, Remuneration Committee; Member, Electoral Committee.
What are your favourite things about the USU?
Revues! Campus comedy! Anything that makes you stay back at university after class and enjoy yourself.
If you could have one wish granted for every student at The University of Sydney, what would it be?
To have the original Jacaranda back. 1928-2016 may she rest in peace.
What is something you can’t live without and why?
Consistent laughter and jokes. No matter how dire the situation, the ability to laugh at what’s happened and at yourself is SO important.