Zelin Shao – Candidate for CGCU President
Hi, I'm Zelin, and I am an incoming PhD student in Civil Engineering.
I have over three years of experience within CGCU, having served as Alumni Officer in Year 2, Treasurer in Year 3, and Vice President in Year 4. Through these roles, I have gained a comprehensive understanding of how CGCU operates — from finance and sponsorship to large-scale event planning and committee coordination.
I'm ready to lead from day one and build upon the foundations we have already established.
In my first year, I co-founded CGCU Makeathon — starting as a small pilot initiative with limited funding and participation. Over the past three years, I have remained part of its core executive team, helping it grow into Imperial’s unique hardware-focused robotics prototyping and entrepreneurship competition.
Makeathon represents what CGCU can achieve at its best: technical depth, innovation, and real-world application. My goal is to scale it further — strengthening industry partnerships, expanding its reach, and creating even more opportunities for students to build, test, and lead.
Beyond that, I'll work more closely with engineering societies to support joint events. By improving sponsorship and financial planning, I aim to reduce costs and provide more affordable events for students.
From an education perspective, I'll work with departments to promote a fairer balance of coursework and exams, particularly during busy recruitment seasons.
My goal is simple: a stronger, more connected CGCU — with meaningful opportunities, fairer support, and lasting impact for every engineering student.