Nithilan Sivanand

Hi, I’m Nithil, a 4th year medic! Throughout university, I’ve seen how much effort societies put into academic support and volunteering and how often that effort is limited by structural challenges rather than motivation. As Vice Chair for Volunteering & Academics, I want to strengthen the systems behind the scenes so students can access high-quality opportunities without unnecessary barriers.

Our societies run amazing events, but too often they’re competing for the same dates, rooms, and audiences. I want to make things run more smoothly so committees can focus on delivering great teaching and meaningful impact, not battling admin.

Conference clashes and oversaturation help no one. I’d introduce better cross-society calendar coordination to reduce overlaps and improve attendance. Spacing large events more strategically would mean stronger turnout and better experiences for everyone.

I also want to support societies with clearer long-term planning: from room bookings and grant deadlines to Union processes, alongside practical help with logistics like risk assessments and approvals. Less last-minute stress, more high-quality events.

There’s huge overlap between societies so let’s collaborate more. I’d encourage joint conferences and shared teaching series, with clearer pathways for co-hosting.

Finally, I want to review Union storage and explore a shared equipment system for items like CPR manikins and suture kits, supported by clearer inventory tracking.

Together, we can make it easier to run great events and reduce unnecessary stress for committees.