Lee Fernandes

I'm Lee, currently in my 4th year intercalating in Management. Over the past academic year, I've served as the ICSMSU RAG Chair. Through this role, I've gained valuable experience in creating new volunteering opportunities, such as the ICSM RAG Own It health literacy program in secondary schools, and in organising successful academic events for ICSM, like the Medicine Far & Beyond conference, which attracted over 400 students from 4 medical schools. Outside of ICSM, I'm a founding member of In2MedSchool, the UK's largest WP charity, and have served on the Royal Society of Medicine Student Section executive committee.

Having been a RAG Chair in 23-24, I have a good grasp of the challenges faced when running a Volunteering and Academic society. Here are some identified problems and proposed changes:

1. Busy conference calendar: I aim to encourage and support societies to host events in Term 1 to reduce crowding in January. I will also create a shared V&A calendar to minimise overlap.

2. Difficulty in finding speakers: I will take an active role in helping connect committees with alumni and produce event guides to assist CSPs in reducing costs.

3. Limited ad-hoc volunteering options: I will collaborate with RAG and other CSPs to establish monthly volunteering opportunities that do not require long-term commitments.

4. Lack of societal cohesion in the V&A sector: I aim to work with the SU to secure funding for a greater variety of events.