Meet your By-election candidates below!
Year 0 Students' Officer
Thomas Heasley
Hey! I'm Thomas Heasley, a foundation Fine Art student eager to make friends, solve problems, organise fun and support and create artwork. I'm putting myself forward for this role as though I may be confident and a little too loud now I know what it's like to feel like I can't communicate academic, social or personal issues and get them solved, and I know many of you out there struggle to take the brave step of speaking your mind so I'm here to help! I'm here to validate your issues and do my best to solve them, along with working as a team, assisting academically, organising events and anything else you want to throw at me; I love a challenge and always crave a problem to solve. I'd love to be there for everyone and do my best to make Year 0 as easy as possible and fun. :D
Undergraduate Students' Officer
Kaden Bardell
I want to be the friendly face that undergraduates can come to, to speak about their suggestions or ideas for the university! I want to continue supporting the SU and the community to create a fun and enriching environment for everyone! :)))) I want to create a closer link with our local music venues and allow our students to dive into our rich music scene here in Norwich.
Finley Edwards
Hello all. If elected as a student officer, I will work towards 3 main points which I believe will support students the best.
1) Did you know we had a foodbank? Neither did I! for my first target, I will work towards a more concrete way to donate to the foodbank. This will hopefully help ease the stress some accommodation students may have regarding food and money. Furthermore, I wish to create a space where students can share where they have found cheap food in local shops which may help ease the financial burden for some students. Finally, regarding the foodbank, I wish to set up a method where students can anonymously receive these donations. Overall, this should help all students when it comes to food. Students should never have to miss eating a full meal.
2) Has anyone had difficulty finding spaces to study effectively? I have. And for my second point I want to spread awareness of the various places to study. Making sure students know which locations are available and provide a better way, they can study.
3) Thirdly, have you all noticed a lack of good news? The overwhelming amount of sad news is currently in our media. It can feel scary at times, especially how some news articles make it seem like the world is ending! Well, I would like to try to ease the negative news received by students. This will be accomplished through a weekly newsletter, where good news can be spread. Furthermore, we can use these newsletters to promote different charity events, provide inspiration for students, and more importantly a place where YOU can highlight your amazing work.
Thank you for reading this far, I have tried to keep it as short as possible. Obviously, I go to one part of the university. Therefore, I may lack perspectives and ideas. So please, email me at finn.edwards@student.norwichuni.ac.uk and share anything you feel like needs improving. We can build a better future at the Norwich uni of the Arts. There is no I in team :)))
Madds Hasnip
Hello!!!! My name is Madds, a second year film student, and I'd like to be YOUR undergraduate student officer!
I have been at the university long enough to be very involved in and aware of its social, cultural and educational communities, and I would love to be able to further that for everyone with this position. I frequently work between students and the University by being a student ambassador, and have the communication skills to pass messages between the two groups!
I have spoken with hundreds of students, and heard every single one of their voices and thoughts. I would love to be able to act on these wants and asks, whether it's a request for more student activities, or a demand for action on certain causes.
One of the parts of the university I pledge to reignite and encourage funding towards are the smaller scale bank plain activities throughout the year. The Bank Plain building is such a unique and well designed area that I would love to encourage the use of more frequently! One of my favourite parts of my first year is the more frequent, quieter activities held at Bank Plain, such as their teddy bear collecting day, I also remember walking past a stand that had free condoms, sanitary products, and items to ensure safe travelling at night. I would pledge to create more of these events and free handouts, to improve student wellbeing and overall make peoples day a little better!
Thanks!
Postgraduate Officer
Emma Tapsell
Hello fellow postgraduate students,
My name is Emma, and I am standing to be your next Postgraduate Officer. I’m not running because I want a title — I’m running because I’ve lived our experience, I understand our challenges, and I know how our Students’ Union works to make real change happen.
I bring three years of experience as a student representative, where I’ve listened to concerns, raised issues at department level, and helped shape improvements for students like us. I’ve also served as a Students’ Union Trustee, giving me a deep understanding of how our union operates — its structures, its decision-making, and exactly where the opportunities are to push for meaningful change. But my most important qualification is this: I am one of you. I am a disabled postgraduate student at this university, navigating the same systems, facing the same hurdles, and working every day to make this place work better for people like me.
Postgraduate life is unique. We balance advanced study, research, teaching responsibilities, part-time work, caring duties, and so much more. We are not simply “undergraduates but further” — our needs are different, our timelines are different, and the support we receive should reflect that. Too often, we fall through the cracks. We need spaces that are truly accessible, information that is clear and easy to find, wellbeing support that understands the intensity of postgraduate study, and a community where no one feels isolated or overlooked.
I know what it’s like when barriers get in the way — physical barriers, communication barriers, or systems that just don’t seem designed for you. That’s why accessibility and inclusion will be at the very heart of everything I do. Whether it’s ensuring our study spaces work for everyone, pushing for clearer guidance on adjustments, or making sure events are accessible to all — I won’t just be speaking from a checklist; I’ll be speaking from experience.
Above all else, I want to be the friendly face you feel comfortable approaching. Too often officers feel distant — like people you have to prepare a formal speech for before you can talk to them. That’s not me. You can come and chat to me in the common room, message me online, or flag something in passing. Whether it’s a big concern or something that just feels small, your voice matters. I will run regular drop-ins, keep you updated on what I’m working on, and always listen before I act.
Being your Postgraduate Officer means standing up for every single one of us — part-time, full-time, international, disabled, quiet or vocal — no one gets left behind. I will use my trustee knowledge to hold our union to account, my experience as a rep to amplify your voice, and my lived experience to ensure our university truly understands what we need to thrive.
You deserve an officer who listens first, understands deeply, and delivers with experience.
BAME Students' Officer
Alushe Nghilundilua
Having been President of ACS for two consecutive years, I've come to understand the importance of building a strong, welcoming community. This year, creating that sense of belonging for African and Caribbean students has become a real passion of mine.
As BAME Officer, I want to take this further by bringing together the wider BAME community, creating opportunities to share experiences, celebrate our cultures and have meaningful conversations. I believe it would be beautiful to see our different cultures and connections celebrated throughout the university, helping every student feel represented and included.
Mahmouda Ali
Hey! I'm a year 2 acting student, half Pakistani half Iranian. I would love to create a safe space for people of colour, and make you all feel heard and seen. I want to educate people about different cultures but in a fun and exciting way! I want everyone to feel included, and be able to express themselves. I will always speak up if there is a serious matter, and I will always be there to listen if you need someone to talk too. I want to create the best uni experience for each and everyone of you 🌟🤍.
Abirich Turay
No manifesto provided.
International Students' Officer
Rahul Marballi
I'm Rahul, an international student from India and many of you probably already know me (many more don't and I hope that changes at some point, say hi if you see me around the city!). Personally, I didn't have much issue adjusting to student life here as I've had experience moving to a different country before, but I don't know if others - especially students who haven't been abroad before - have had the same experience. I know many have probably spent hours researching to be prepared like I did, but more support from the universities side would be beneficial as well!
I would also like to provide support in place in case international students face differing treatment, especially when it comes to academics. I believe I am well suited for the role, as a student ambassador and representative, which have given me experience advocating for others and communicating clearly in professional settings.
If you think I would be a good fit for the position, please vote for me!
Disabled Students' Officer
Rosie Doherty
Hello! I’m Rosie Doherty, a first-year Animation student and former Year 0 Student Representative. I’m running for Disability Officer because, having faced accessibility challenges myself , I want to make sure disabled students are listened to and their needs are taken seriously.
My Main aims
-
Honesty about accessibility. Include clear information about building accessibility and any potential barriers in course descriptions.
-
Equal access to learning. Ensuring disabled students’ needs are considered when allocating rooms, planning lessons and organising events.
-
Better communication and representation. Give disabled students an approachable officer who listens to their concerns and represents their interests.
1. Honesty about accessibility
We pay for the privilege to study here, yet accessibility information is sometimes vague or misleading. In Year 0, I saw how buildings such as West Garth is inaccessible to disabled students. Even buildings with lift are still difficult especially when lifts frequently break down. This is why I want accessibility information to be clear from the start.
I recognise that listed buildings cause challenges for improvements, but students deserve accurate information about what to expect. Accessibility details should be included in course descriptions on the university website, clearly stating which buildings students will use and any barriers they may encounter.
2. Equal access to learning
I’ve missed classes and events because I couldn’t access the rooms. Accessibility should be addressed proactively, not only after issues arise.
I understand lecturers may not control room availability, and my concerns are with the wider system, not individuals. However, lecturers and course teams should still consider disabled students’ needs when planning lessons and booking rooms. Every student deserves equal access to education and the opportunity to fully participate in their learning. This means considering accessibility from the beginning, rather than leaving disabled students to deal with barriers after decisions have already been made. If accessibility barriers cannot be avoided, students should be informed in advance and offered suitable alternatives.
3. Better communication and representation
I want disabled students to feel comfortable approaching me with concerns, questions, or ideas, particularly if they’re unsure who to speak to at university. As Disability Officer, I want to listen to students, raise concerns with relevant staff, and follow up so students stay informed. I also like to organise events where disabled students can meet, share experiences, and discuss ideas.
Last year, I was awarded Best Year 0 Student Rep, which gave me experience raising concerns and representing my peers. Over the summer, I worked with the Disability Team to address concerns about university emails sent to disabled students. I also collaborated with other students to review the Student Disability and Inclusivity Policy and provide feedback.
I don't just want to speak for disabled students. I want to work with them and advocate for their needs. I promise to listen, raise concerns, question decisions, and be transparent about what I can achieve.
How does voting work?
NASU uses the ATV (Alternative Transferable Vote) system for its elections. You will be asked to rank the candidates in order of preference (i.e. your 1st choice, 2nd choice, 3rd choice and so on).
If you wish, you can just select your 1st choice for any of the ballots and leave it at that, however by ranking your preferences for all of the candidates, you are giving your 'next favourite' options a better chance of winning if your preferred candidate is eliminated. You can also stopping ranking at any point if none of the remaining candidates are ones you like. Here is a video explanation of the voting system.
For the part time officer roles, you must belong to to group which that Officer represents to vote in the election (eg. you must be an undergraduate student to vote in the undergraduate officer election). If you cannot see an election in which you should be able to vote in, please email us and we can fix this. You can vote in as few or as many of the elections, in which you are eligible to vote in, as you want.
All elections also give you an option to vote for Re-open Nominations (RON) if you don’t like any of the candidates available to you.
