It's been an incredibly busy and enjoyable few months. Aside from the election in February, and the normal committee duties of President, I've been working on:

Committee work

• Sitting on the GSA's Governance and Democracy Working Groups, playing an important role in writing our new draft constitution and reforming elections.
• Chairing a committee producing a survey to get your opinions on the GSA and what it should be doing to better serve you.
• Improving cooperation with other bodies
• Building our links with YUSU, partly by representing the GSA on YUSU Council, and passing successful motions within that Council.
• Building closer links with the International Students’ Association, and lobbying the University to allow them an elected sabbatical president.
• Building closer relationships with Lancaster GSA, LSE Students’ Union, and Nottingham University Postgraduate Students’ Association.

Internal Reforms and Assistance

• Supporting Tom Flynn in his excellent work to reform the GSA's financial procedures and ensure legal compliance in all areas.
• Leading a staff restructuring, alongside "the breathtaking" Richard Mitchell. Ultimately this will lead to producing full job descriptions and new contracts for all GSA staff.
• Helping our Sports Officers with organising one-day events and ensuring the smooth running of regular sessions.

Standing Up For You

• Successfully negotiating increased library opening hours during the summer holidays, in particular for the many Masters students whose dissertations will be due around September time.
• Beginning negotiations with the University regarding fairer pay and support for Postgraduates Who Teach, across all departments.
• Lobbying the University to improve provision of childcare on campus whilst refusing to accept declining quality or a move to crèche facilities.
• Consulting you on University proposals regarding e-submission of theses, and on the provision of vegan and vegetarian catering on campus, then taking your concerns to the relevant authorities.
• Setting up groups to explore our future approach to childcare provision, environmental and ethical issues, and finally working with Dan Horsfall and our Academic and Welfare Coordinator to begin planning future campaigns regarding services for PhD students and support for Postgraduates Who Teach.