CAPA elects new team of office bearers for 2017

Media release: CAPA elects new office bearers for 2017

28 November 2016 – The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) is pleased to announce the election of a new team of office bearers for 2017.

The incoming team will be headed by Peter Derbyshire of the University of Western Australia, who plans to prioritise the issue of student poverty.

“I intend to lobby for income support for all postgraduate coursework students, and for research students who do not have scholarships. I will also work towards increasing CAPA’s research and engagement capacity across the sector,” he said.

The CAPA Equity Committee will be led by Vice President (Equity) Vibol Hy.

“CAPA Equity with its new committee is ready to represent postgraduate students at a national level to push for greater equality in education. Issues such as mental illness, discrimination and financial hardship disproportionately affect students that come from equity groups,” he said.

“CAPA acts as a national body that will lobby for all postgraduate students that face disadvantage. We think it is vital to support postgraduate students that are most vulnerable in the university sector. CAPA Equity will be launching national campaigns fighting for student rights and ensure universities are held accountable for inequitable practices.”

The CAPA National Operations Committee, which coordinates national campaigns and promotes engagement with affiliates, will be under the leadership of Vice President (National Operations Committee) Dylan Styles.

Speaking on behalf of the National Operations Committee, Dylan Styles said, “We are excited to support our postgraduate contingent with lobbying and engaging with university and government groups, in order to build quality student representation. We aim to play an active role within the state elections being held in 2017. We look forward to building campaigns around the welfare of postgraduate students, including on accessible accommodation for students and securing transport concession cards for all domestic and international students nationwide.”

All positions were filled in the CAPA elections, with the exception of Queer Officer, for which a by-election will be held.

The new team, who were elected at the Annual Council Meeting hosted by Sydney University Postgraduate Representative Association, commence their term on the first of January.

 

Full list of 2017 CAPA office bearers:

Executive committee:
National President: Peter Derbyshire
Vice President (National Operations Committee): Dylan Styles
Vice President (Equity): Vibol Hy
General Secretary: Natasha Abrahams
Policy and Research Advisor: Simon Burnett
Media Officer: Rebecca Johnson

Equity Committee:
Disabilities Officer: Joanne Ruksenas
Women’s Officer: Joanne Ruksenas
International Officer: Alex Yao
Queer Officer: Vacant position, pending by-election

National Operations Committee:
Western Branch President: Diane Smith
Eastern Branch President: Anish Saini
South East Branch President: Swathi Shiva
Central Branch President: Richard Matthews
Northern Branch President: Brittany McCormack

Note that the position of NATSIPA Liaison Officer, who sits on all committees, will be elected at the NATSIPA ACM early next year.

ENDS

For comment: Peter Derbyshire, current Western Branch President and incoming National President, CAPA, westbranch@capa.edu.au

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