UCSA team announced for 2024
The UCSA’s student election results have been released for the 2024 team, after weeks of campaigning from candidates. There was a 24.9% voting turnout, the highest voting turnout in Australasia.
A few need to knows include:
Candidates were able to run for several roles.
If a candidate was the only person going for a role, they still have to receive more votes than votes of no confidence.
If a role remains empty a by-election will be called either this year or next for that position. This is an election for the single position where any student can run for it.
The Results
The 2024 UCSA President was contended by two candidates. Xavier Moir, who had experience on his side being on the UCSA general executive in 2022, and this year as Vice-President of Engagement. And Luc Mackay, who is now the second ever president, alongside current President Pierce Crowley, elected outside of the executive.
The race between the two presidential candidates was tight with 2,164 votes in favour of Luc Mackay and 2,143 votes in favour of Xavier Moir. Only 21 votes difference.
Therefore, your 2024 UCSA President has been elected as Luc Mackay.
“It was a bit of a shock in a sense, I was very excited,” he said.
“Every single day that I woke up at ridiculous hours bussing in an hour and a half from Rangiora was another day that I realised ‘I’m doing this for a reason’.”
Xavier Moir said despite the loss he was excited to graduate and go into “the big wide world” next year.
“I’m really impressed by the strength of the exec across the 15 people,” said Moir.
“It obviously wasn’t what I was expecting or hoping for, but I hope that the UCSA will be in good hands.”
The Vice-President of Academics, who looks after the academic side of university, ensuring all students succeed and get support has been elected as Devana Monguchi. Who won by over 500 votes.
The Vice-President of Engagement, who is second one of the two Vice-Presidents, looking after events, and engaging university students is Parethy Pant.
The Pasifika representative role was created this year by the UCSA, the second ever Pasifika representative for 2024 is Ezra Samy.
The Equity and Wellbeing representative who is responsible for diversity and inclusiveness has been elected as Jharmane Catolico. However, this was a tight vote with her runner up Erin Spencer, who ended up in the Postgraduate role, only 102 votes behind.
The International representative, who is responsible for advocating and looking after the wellbeing of international students is Sadiq Ali Jeddy.
The Postgraduate representative, in charge of representing postgraduate students at UC is Erin Spencer, who was a clear winner at almost 1,000 votes more than her runner up.
The seven candidates who have been elected to the general executive are as follows:
Stella Meikle - 2,074 votes
Dominic Toomey- 1,784 votes
Samantha Plows - 1,721 votes
Silas Zhang - 1,390 votes
Cathleen Wang - 1,364 votes
Jenro Fortich- 1,413 votes
Caleb Banks - 1,434 votes