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Meet the Team

Faces of Our Movement

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Arya Razmjoo

Presidential Candidate

Arya is a legal studies and Communication major with a background in operations management. He will be overseeing the WUSA reform initiatives. Arya will leverage his experience in the private sector to develop a new strategic plan for the student associations' long-term growth and stability. Learn more about Arya and Check out his plans here: Click Me 

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Katie Traynor

Director & Environment Senate Candidate 

Katie is a Planning major from the faculty of Environment with former executive experience, including being the Chair of UCRU (Undergraduates of Canadian Research-Intensive Universities) and VP of Administration & Human Resources of The Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA). Katie is focused on spearheading an Inclusive University Master Plan and wants to make Investments in MH & Wellness as well as Community Belonging programmes. Katie's focus is Place-making and Sense of Belonging. Learn more about Katie here: Click ME

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Jeff Zhu

Director Candidate 

Jeff is a regularly caffeinated computer engineering student fighting for housing advocacy, accountability, and great student spaces & events. As an experienced member of the Board of Directors involved across campus, he has:

  • Pushed housing as a top WUSA priority (student resources, workshops, legal support, municipal advocacy)

  • Promoted campus life initiatives, including directly reviving $190,000 per year in funding to student groups that was for years collecting dust

  • Held student leaders accountable to students by suspending pay for leaders who don't deliver, mandating publically available work plans, and improving transparency (ex. helping organize WUSA Reform, town halls, and summarizing meetings)

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Tham Sivakumaran

Director Candidate 

​Tham is Psychology major with a minor in Social Development Studies, who has held multiple positions within university administration. Her experience as a student leader, student-facing employee and as an average student empowers her to translate student needs into results the institution understands. Tham's priorities lie in making resources more accessible to students seeking resources for needs such as Academic Petitioning and Mental Health, as well as improving the co-op experience and creating a WUSA that better engages with students and the unique perspective each one brings.

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Alex Chaban

Director Candidate 

Alex, a knowledge Integration major, is passionate about fostering increased interactions among students, WUSA, and the University of Waterloo. Believing in the power of collaboration, Alex strives for a campus environment where students are actively engaged in advocacy. With a keen focus on knowledge studies, Alex recognizes the importance of knowledge-sharing and aims to create an atmosphere where students are well-informed and involved. In pursuit of transparency, Alex advocates for a clearer understanding of how WUSA's new model operates. By promoting openness and clarity, Alex aims to ensure that students have insights into the decision-making processes of their student union.

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Ted Ren

Director Candidate 

Ted, a Political Science major and the current President of the University of Waterloo Debate Society brings a wealth of firsthand knowledge and experience to the table. As a leader of a prominent campus club, Ted is dedicated to leveraging his insights to enhance student life on campus. With a keen eye on the intricacies of the WUSA clubs system, Ted is committed to addressing inefficiencies. Drawing on his experiences as a club president, he understands the importance of a streamlined and effective system to empower clubs and, in turn, enrich the overall student experience.

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Avery Akkerman

Health Senate Candidate 

Avery is a Recreation & Sport Business and therapeutic recreation major with years of community involvement. An executive of the Association of Health Students Undergraduate Members (AHSUM), Avery has been at the forefront of advocacy on behalf of Health Students. Leaving her experience and connections with faculty, she is ready to  make sure the health Students voices are heard loud and clear in the senate 

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Rory Norris

Director Candidate 

Rory is a Biotechnology/Chartered Professional Accountant Major. As a current WUSA officer, Rory has a wealth of experience and knowledge of how both the university and WUSA operate.  Rory hopes to continue the work that he started during his time as president including the development of the new Ombuds office to support students in filing petitions and supporting them in navigating the university policy system, and the new university task force on freedom of expression and respectful engagement. Besides this, he hopes to continue his work concerning the affordability of universities and ensure that student voices are heard. More information can be found on his website here.

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