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Nominations: Nominations closed

Voting: Voting scheduled

Network committee members actively support Student Officers that convene their network, and assist with the over-all decision making processes within the network. 

As Welfare Officer you will: 

  • Advise, coordinate and contribute towards welfare issues related to the Network

To vote for this position, you must self-define as a LGBTQ+ student.

Read the role description here.

Candidates

Gio Whitmore (Any/She)
Welfare in practice, not just principle.
What do you hope to achieve in the role if you are elected?

I aspire to support and foster a space where no one feels they have to navigate the weight of their identity or uni life alone. I know the depth of both finding community and facing misunderstanding. My goal is to use that lived experience to ensure our spaces are genuinely safe, intersectional, and supportive for everyone. I want to bring proactive, grounded care here, collaborating with other officers as a resilient pillar of support to bring tangible results and lasting safety to our spaces where people feel seen, supported, and able to show up as their whole selves without fear. 

What will you bring to this role (e.g. experience, skills or qualities)?

I bring professional experience in public-facing welfare alongside a lifetime of navigating and advocating for safe spaces. As a fitness trainer, I worked closely with people from all communities and identities learning how to listen actively, assess individual needs, and foster genuine safety and trust. I'm skilled at providing non-judgmental support ensuring everyone feels valued and cared for. This practical background, combined with my lived experience as an openly intersex lesbian, means I understand both the theory and reality of what makes a space truly inclusive and supportive. 

Please summarise why students should vote for you.

I'd be thrilled if students voted for me because I understand that sustainable welfare is built on genuine care and collaboration. I’ve spent years learning how to notice when people are struggling, how to hold space for people in a calm and practical manner (including through difficult conversations), and how to offer grounded support. I want to bring all of that experience, empathy, and commitment to this role to ensure our society is not only strong in its action, but unwavering in its support for each other.