We face huge challenges, but we can and must be the strong and confident union all our members need. I said more about these challenges in the presidential address I gave to Congress 2022, [here]. I served as UCU’s UK President from 2020-22, stepping into the role early following the devastating loss of our President Elect, [Nita Sanghera], in 2020.

I also spoke in depth to the Guardian [here] about how the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic intensified and exacerbated struggles faced in workplaces across our post-16 FE and HE sectors in 2020.

I’m now the Immediate Past President of UCU (UK) and the Past President of my branch, University of Leeds UCU. I’m an academic-related / professional services member working in widening participation. UCU became my lifeline when I joined as a casualised postgraduate in 2009 and got involved in work to transform our bargaining agenda to include the [fight for secure work] for all. I spoke out about my experience of casualisation in the [Guardian] in 2013.

I have over 13 years experience organising at UK level, as well as local branch work (including as a branch president). I’m a skilled and experienced negotiator and have represented members’ concerns at local and UK level to improve policies, stop detrimental changes to terms and conditions, and to safeguard workers’ rights.

Chairing large committees, Congress, and member meetings means I am good at explaining our complicated structures, and at navigating difficult discussions to work together with people who do not always agree on every detail. I work very hard to develop confidence in members, to encourage everyone to recognise we all have skills and valuable contributions to make. I have built trust and understanding across the union, engaging with media and social media to build public understanding of our campaigns.

I seek re-election to our NEC as an unaligned candidate, to continue serving UCU members, and to encourage as many as possible to join and to get involved.