The ANUSA Explainers: The Executive

The ANUSA Executive are, in many ways, the ones running the show. The Executive communicate directly with the university, while other representatives may not be able to do so as easily. Most of the big events and policy changes are directly influenced.

Due to this, the ANUSA Executive are expected to work long hours, and are paid stipends to reflect this. The President, who has perhaps the most demanding role, earns $44 500. The Vice President earns a maximum of 70 per cent of the President’s stipend, ($31 595) and the rest of the Executive are paid a stipend of a maximum of 40 per cent of the President’s ($17 000).

President

The President’s ‘primary task is to ensure the under- graduate student voice is heard’ across the university. This means that they sit on the University Council – along with beloved Vice-Chancellor Brian Schmidt among others – and many other ANU Committees. Traditionally, the President has also fulfilled the role of Undergraduate Student Representative on the Council, although that is not constitutionally required. Resultantly, they are – with the Vice President – one of the key figures in student advocacy. They are also the official spokesperson of ANUSA and communicate policy changes to the students and media organisations.

The current President is Lachy Day.

Vice President

If the President is a spokesperson for ANUSA, then the Vice is in charge of backstage coordination and communication. While ‘their focus is on internal education matters,’ the role is otherwise very similar to the President’s.

The current Vice is Madhumitha Janagaraja.

General Secretary

Due to their role in running and organising meetings, the General Secretary is perhaps one of the most recognisable members of the Executive. The General Secretary further ‘looks after and interprets the Constitution,’ and ensures the smooth workings of ANUSA’s internal administration. Notably, both the 2020 and 2019 Presidents were the General Secretaries the year previous.

The current General Secretary is Taylor Heslington.

Treasurer

First and foremost, the treasurer oversees the ‘financial affairs of the Association.’ Beyond this, they ensure that money is being spent appropriately, and keep track of funds coming in and out. The Treasurer is a member of the Student Clubs Council.

The current Treasurer is Maddy Wang.

Education Officer

The Education Officer primarily handles ‘the High- er Education policy of the Association.’ They often work in tandem with National Union of Students (NUS) and organise educational campaigns.

The current Education Officer is Skanda Panditharatne.

Social Officer

The Social Officer has, arguably, one of the most exciting roles in the Executive. Students at the ANU can thank this Officer for social events such as O-Week and Bush Week.

The current Social Officer is Sophie Jaggar.

Like all other representatives, the Executive are voted in annually in the term three. They are in office from December 1 till November 30 the following year.

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