Candidate Profile

Tell students about yourself

I’m Siya, a law student from India making the most of my time at Durham. I’m part of the Law Society, as well as the Durham Think Tank and the Negotiation Society, I’m usually somewhere between planning events and debating ideas. Outside of all that, if you’re ever looking for me, I’m probably on my way to grab a coffee, and always up for a good conversation along the way.

If elected, what sort of Officer can students expect you be?

As an Executive member of the Law Society and the Think Tank, I have seen the challenges societies face, especially when coordinating with the SU. With nearly 300 societies to support, clearer and more structured communication is essential. My experience as a school MUN Coordinator, where I managed delegations from multiple schools and streamlined queries through an organised system, helped me gain skills like problem solving, clear communication, leadership and teamwork. If elected some of my ideas are, introducing termly feedback, creating a WhatsApp community with DU Pulse, improving event visibility, and ensuring room bookings are more transparent and efficient for all societies.

Why is this role important to you?

This role is important to me because I genuinely care about the executive teams and members who dedicate their time in building strong and active societies. Their energy should go into creating opportunities for students, not navigating avoidable administrative barriers. The SU should actively support and supplement their efforts by making processes clearer, faster, and more efficient.

I am particularly focused on improving how queries are handled and ensuring that systems accurately reflect which societies are active. Dormant groups should not create confusion, and Instagram should not be the only way students can tell what is running. Clear, reliable information is essential for engagement. I also want to see more students involved with the SU to improve Candidate profile transparency and accountability. Societies should feel heard, supported and confident that the structure around them are designed to help them succeed, not slow them down.

What is your pitch to students?

I am kind, approachable, organised, solution-oriented and actionable. Societies shouldn’t have to struggle with slow responses; you should be able to focus on running great events. I’m standing to improve communication, boost efficiency, and increase transparency in how the SU supports societies.

See Ya to society problems, hello efficiency!