International Relations Society: President

As your committee member (hopefully president) for the year I plan to continue the much beloved events that IR society takes pride in, like the visit to the Global Peace Summit in Bangkok and the IR society film festival which saw great growth from the previous edition with the inclusion of introductions by professors and guest speakers for the films. The particular strong points of these events, that of traveling as well as combining social and academic events as a means of deepening understanding of international relations and fostering intercultural awareness, are aspects which I seek to expand on in the next year.

My key proposals are the initiation of another trip, this time to the Athens Democracy Forum, to expand the repertoire of trips available to members; the continuation of the film festival with an expansion to more experts to offer additional insights to the films; and more panel and expert talk events. Of particular importance, and involving the most work, are the trip and the talk events. The talk events, with enough speakers, have the opportunity to be some of the most engaging and useful events for members who wish to engage deeper with certain issues and also see inside the black box of work and research in IR. The pool of possible speakers and therefore opportunities for insight and even perhaps networking remains wide and untapped. The same goes for events like the Athens Democracy Forum. All that is needed is the motivation to organise these events.

 I am applying for the role of President of the UCL International Relations Society because international relations is not only an academic interest of mine, but something that has shaped my life from an early age. Having grown up within a diplomatic environment and spent time across multiple international contexts, I have developed a first-hand understanding of how global politics operates not just in theory, but in lived experience. I am deeply committed to fostering a society that is both intellectually rigorous and genuinely welcoming. While I have not yet taken on additional extracurricular leadership roles at UCL, this places me in a strong position to dedicate the necessary time, energy, and organisation that the presidency requires. I am known for being confident, direct, and highly organised, but also approachable and open-minded, qualities I believe are essential for leading a collaborative and ambitious student society. Outside of UCL, I regularly attend IR-related events, including conferences at Chatham House, embassy gatherings, and talks by leading figures in the field hosted by institutions such as LSE and King’s. Serving as President would allow me to exercise my leadership skills and institutional understanding that align with my long-term goal of working for the FCDO. I would be honoured to take on this responsibility and to represent a community of students who share the same commitment to understanding the world