Thursday 23-03-2023 - 14:30

In Conversation With: Jack Ballingham, Opportunities Officer 

Meet Jack Ballingham, the Opportunities Officer at the Students' Union. After graduating in International Relations in 2021, Jack was elected twice for this role. Reflecting on his choice to become an Officer, Jack recalls how he was displeased with responses to student issues. He wished to initiate change and participate in formulating better solutions, thereby improving the student experience at the University. He believes in proactive involvement as the key to creating a meaningful difference. Having had an enriching experience spearheading multiple impact-based campaigns, he wished to continue bringing about effective change. With such motive at heart, he stood for elections twice in a row, garnering immense support from his voters. 

Since his first round of campaigning took place during the pandemic, Jack recalls the crucial role played by social media. He remembers relentlessly campaigning on Facebook from his home. Though convenient, virtual campaigning seemed distant and strange to Jack. He prefers the method of in-person campaigning that he adopted during his second time running for the position. Meeting up with people face to face, handing out leaflets and engaging with them and their perspectives proved to be an enriching experience for him. Jack mentions that such a form of campaigning allowed him to gain more insight into the issues faced by his fellow students and work towards solving them.  

Reflecting on his win in both elections, Jack narrates feeling sheer happiness and relief. While for his first try, he stood uncontested, he faced good competition the second time around. Contesting elections alongside another candidate allowed him to state his mandate and recognise how many people believed in the causes he rallied for. He credits this experience to be truly satisfying and rewarding. 

On being asked about his work this tenure, he speaks positively of the work done on the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech Bill). He is proud of how the Students’ Union has made an impeccable impact on this debate nationally, having influenced the decision at a legislative level at the House of Lords. It was a moment of great pride for him as a student representative to have talked to the members of the House of Lords who were Durham alumni. 

Additionally, he credits the housing consultation as one of the most interesting projects that he has been involved with. He has been deeply engaged with housing market research and has interacted with multiple students’ unions across the country on the topic. He finds it intriguing how different unions are tackling the same problem of student housing in their unique ways. With such extensive networking and research, he has been able to learn a lot of invaluable information that will be channelised into the housing guide to be published soon. Eager for its release, Jack hopes that the housing consultation document proves useful for students. 

With one term left in his tenure, Jack is grateful for being able to stand up for students, voice their concerns and work for their betterment. He is appreciative of the time he has spent working as the Opportunities Officer at the SU and the many learnings that have come along with it.