Investment Society: Welfare Officer

Hi everyone! I am Elina, a first-year Biomedical Sciences student, and I am running to be your Welfare Officer to help make our society a place where everyone feels included, supported, and comfortable.

A key strength I would bring is listening to and representing members' concerns. As a UCL Students’ Union Academic Representative, I collect student feedback and raise priorities in meetings with staff to improve the course experience. This has taught me to listen carefully, communicate clearly, and follow up responsibly.

As Events Officer at the Healthcare Business Society, I organise speaker events and coordinate logistics with committee members and guests. I plan ahead so events run smoothly and feel inclusive for everyone.

Dance has also shaped how I work with others. I was selected as one of five dancers to perform for Brigitte Macron and Peng Liyuan, and preparing for that meant teamwork, discipline, and delivering under pressure.

Finally, I care a lot about well-being and community. I led a fundraiser for Alzheimer’s Research UK and raised around £800. I loved seeing people come together for a good cause.

My goal is to make sure everyone feels comfortable speaking up. If elected, I will keep an anonymous feedback form open and do quick check-ins after events so members can share concerns, and I will follow up on anything raised. I would really appreciate your vote, and please feel free to say hi if you see me around!

I genuinely care about the culture, inclusivity, and wellbeing of UCL Investment Society’s members. Over the past year, I’ve seen first-hand how intense and competitive finance-focused environments can be, and I believe the Welfare Officer plays a crucial role in ensuring the society remains supportive, balanced, and welcoming to everyone.

UCL courses can be a pressure cooker. Between the constant noise about Spring Weeks and the looming shadow of the upcoming midterm, it’s easy to feel like you’re only as valuable as your next internship offer. I’m standing for Welfare Officer because I’ve spent too many nights feeling like I was the only one struggling to keep my head above water.

Last year, I hit a wall. I was balancing a heavy workload with personal stress, and the "hustle culture" in our department made me feel like admitting I was burnt out was a sign of weakness. It wasn’t. But it took me a long time to realize that most of us are feeling the exact same way behind the polished LinkedIn posts. I realized that while this society is incredible for careers, we’ve neglected the "human" part of being a student.

This gap is where I want to step in. I’m not just proposing more ‘wellbeing emails’ that get lost in your inbox; I want to build a tangible support network within our society that acknowledges our pressures.Nobody should feel like they’re navigating it alone. My focus will be on creating regular ‘Low-Stakes Socials’—spaces where the only requirement is to show up as you are now.

I want to change the narrative from "surviving" the degree to actually enjoying it. My goal isn't just to signpost you to a website; it’s to build a community where we actually look out for each other.