Public Affairs and Social Service Society: Public Affairs Officer

Hi, I'm Ariel, a Year 1 Biomedical Sciences student, your proposed PAO for 2026-27. My previous experience of 6 years in debating has equipped me with a thorough understanding of key debate strategies as well as the preparation necessary for debate and public speaking competitions. I gain immense satisfaction when I can be vocal about my thoughts, logically articulate them and rebut the opponent team effectively. To me, it was a pity that I could not participate in Chinese debates since I moved to the UK at age 15. PA activities in the past year, especially the LSE Forum, were full of emotional moments which reignited my passion for public speaking and debating. They have also enabled me to regain confidence in my delivery and presentation. I am keen and ready to take up the leadership of the PA team, with a mission to inspire and empower next year's subcommittee members the way I have been inspired and empowered this year. 

Hiya! It’s Ivan from Macau studying Biochemistry. To be very honest, it would be completely true to say my life would be completely different had I not joined this society with uncertain thoughts back in October. Candidly, being in the PA department assiduously led by the ex-PAO over the past months reconstructed my attitude towards the world. Via participating in various externals, I became more curious about affairs which are and had been occurring around the globe – something I had totally neglected the last 18 years of my life having been a ‘book-sniffer’. I also became interested in debate, something I once thought was just verbal altercation – turns out it is a fun, constructive forum where individuals express their opinions on a topic. Never would I think I am going to learn so much being part of the PA community the moment I signed up for the sub-committee on impulse! Of course, a large amount of this inspiration came from the ex-PAO, who acted as our ‘leader’ and an important friend of ours rather than a ‘boss’ in the past months, making all this time fruitful and full of laughter. After this fulfilling year, it is my aspiration to succeed the meticulous and kind leadership of the ex-PAO and carry on to be the next figure who will inspire more people in the PA department to come – to both question and be curious.