President tells all! What it takes to be on the Executive team of a UNSW society
TOP TIPS
By Nathan Gock-King, 4th year Advanced Science (Psychology)/Engineering (Civil Engineering) student
How long have you been a member of the UNSW Science Society?
I have been a member of SCISOC for 2 years as of right now (October 2021), in many different roles!
How big is the executive team?
At the moment, the executive team consists of 9 people.
What is your role in the Executive Team?
I am currently the UNSW Science Society President.
As an Executive, what do you get to do?
It would depend on the role!
In general, all executive team members get a significantly weighted say in the direction of the society. Execs attend weekly board meetings to check in with each other and hear about where each portfolio is at. Each Vice-President carries out their vision for their respective portfolio, which is refined and shaped by the President.
The Treasurer and Secretary also have additional responsibilities to their own portfolios of Human Resources and Finance respectively, while the Arc Delegate handles any Arc-related tasks and liaises with the governing student organisation.
Is this your first role in the Executive Team?
In 2019, I was elected as the Arc Delegate, before taking on the role of Publications/IT Director in early 2020. Later that year, using the experience gained from my time as both executive and director, I was voted in as the 2021 President, which is the role I currently have at the time of writing this.
How often do you meet? What kind of commitment is required of Society Executives?
The executive board meets once per week and the commitment required depends on the role. For example, the President has a constant high workload, while the Arc Delegate would have more intermittent work, depending on the time of year.
What is your favourite part of being in the Executive Team?
By far the people! The people are the best part of the executive team, and honestly the best part of Society life in general. I’ve made so many friends through my time in SCISOC, some of which are my closest friends, and who I would not have met if I had not joined the Science Society as an executive. The internal committee, as well as the community we create through our events such as camp, is what makes being an executive such a rewarding and fun experience.
As an Executive, what kind of impact have you made at the UNSW Science Society?
I feel like as the President of SCISOC, I have affected a lot of peoples’ uni lives, and that feeling is the best feeling. I love to hear stories from people about how they met their best friends at an event I’ve played a part in organising, or how our camp was the event that helped them get out of their shell upon starting uni.
My goal as the President is to make a difference in as many people’s lives as I can, the same way my life was changed when I attended SCISOC camp myself in 2018. I am now nearing the end of my tenure and I can honestly say that I have achieved that goal. Whether it be someone I’ve directly led and trained on the executive team, or simply someone attending one of our events and leaving it with a new friend, the impact I have made is something I think about every day and it is one of the most satisfying parts of being an executive.
How do you join the Executive Team? Do you have to get voted in?
Yes! To join the executive team, as per Arc guidelines, a vote must take place. This typically happens at an Annual General Meeting near the end of the year and is a place where anyone can nominate themselves for an executive position. A speech and Q/A follow this, then voting takes place between the candidates.
How long do you hold an Executive position for?
Usually, an executive position is held for around a year, as the next year’s team is voted in at the Annual General Meeting. However, it is possible for someone to hold a position for longer if they decide to run for the same role again and are subsequently voted in. If someone does decide to stay on as an executive, it is, however, rarely the same position they have previously held.
This may be due to several reasons, for example, the fact that someone else may want to experience having that position, or simply the fact that they would not gain any more skills than the ones that have already gained in that role. Regardless, this is up to the individual, and usually, an executive position is chosen to be held for a year before moving on.
What is your top tip for commencing students looking to get involved in societies?
Attend events! As scary or potentially intimidating that it might be to get over that initial hurdle, attending society events is the best way to not only have fun but also to get to know the committee better and potentially have an advantage when applying or nominating yourself for a role on the committee.
Speaking from experience, we society executives make these events for you guys to enjoy yourselves at, upskill, or meet new people. By attending as many events as possible that interest you, you will get a lot more out of your university experience. And if you’re looking to get involved in SCISOC, as an external member you can attend the events that we organise on a regular basis. If you’re interested in joining our team, we have recruitment periods for director and subcommittee roles throughout the year, as well as for camp leaders prior to our flagship orientation camp.
No matter how you slice it, staying up to date and attending events is the best way to get more involved in any UNSW societies, meet new people, and make the most out of your time at uni!
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