School Representatives

Hi, my name is Amelia Warburton and I’m a third year Acting student. I’m the representative for the School of Arts and Media. I started acting after being an orphan in my school’s production of Annie and have wanted to be an actor ever since. This summer I spent three months working and travelling in Canada!

I became School Rep because it’s important to me for every student to have a voice. Especially for students whose careers will be in industries as underfunded and underappreciated as the arts. Our school is incredibly diverse, and I want them all to be heard.

One thing I hope to achieve during my time as Arts and Media Rep is to continue the progress made last year to improve the space that was once the Media Factory Cafe, and to turn it into a more functional space that will be useful for all students.

One piece of advice I’d give to a new student is to throw yourself into your course and student life. Finding your community and friends will come with time and putting yourself out there!

Hi, my name is Michael Paterson. I'm a second-year Business and Management student. I decided to run to be the Business School representative because I had already been the course representative last year and saw I could make a difference, and this was an opportunity to make a much bigger impact than before.

One thing that is important to me, alongside the students having a voice that is heard and listened to, is that they are getting value for money from the course, and that the opportunities available match what they are paying for.

One goal I want to achieve is to ensure the university improves overall, so that each student can have a first-class experience and education that will set them up nicely for the future.

My advice to any student is to find out what they are good at. For example, I am interested in project management and, as such, I am focusing on it as an extra, so I can have a promising career in the field when I leave. But I would also say get involved with the union so they can enjoy this short but significant time in their lives.

Hi, I’m Gbemi Talabi, a second year computer science student in the School of computing and engineering.

I chose to become a School Rep because I want to make sure students have a say in shaping their uni experience, and I think it’s really important that everyone feels included.

This year, I hope to strengthen communication between students and staff by ensuring feedback is acted on quickly and effectively. I also want to support students’ career development by promoting employability opportunities such as workshops, networking events, and employer talks, while making sure students are aware of the resources already available to them.

My advice would be to use your time wisely: balance your studies with getting involved in societies, events, and networking. University goes by quickly, so making the most of both the academic and social opportunities early on will really help you get the best experience.

Here’s my uni email address oftalabi@lancashire.ac.uk don’t hesitate to drop me a message.

Hi, I’m Joe Kaczmar, a second-year Social Work student in the School of Health, Social Work and Sport. I came to university as a mature student after my lived experiences made me reflect on the direction of my life. Before starting my degree, I was an experienced people leader, and I’m now really enjoying the challenge of academia. I’m also involved in student initiatives such as supporting the new Social Work Society.

I chose to become a School Rep because I care about ensuring that student voices are listened to and acted upon, particularly across such a large and diverse school. This year I hope to strengthen academic support and resources, improve communication and engagement across all courses, and help students prepare for their future careers through employability opportunities, internships and work experience.

One piece of advice I would give to a new student is: don’t be afraid to ask for support early on. University has so many resources and people ready to help — reaching out sooner rather than later makes the whole experience far more rewarding and manageable.

You can reach me in-person whenever you see me, or use my University of Lancashire email address which is jkaczmar@lancashire.ac.uk.

Hi, I’m Louise Pickervance, a third-year Law with Business student in the School of Law and Policing. In addition to my role as a school representative, I continue to mentor first-year law students.

I became a School Rep because I believe students should have a voice in shaping their academic experience. Too often, great ideas go unheard simply because students don’t know how to navigate the system — I wanted to change that.

By the end of this year, I hope we have created a culture where Law & Policing students don’t just feel heard — they feel empowered to lead change.

One piece of advice I would give to a new student in my school is: talk to people. Ask your lecturers, peers, and others in the industry what they love about the subject, what kind of work they’re interested in, and where they see themselves going.

You’ll find that hearing different perspectives helps you understand the subject more deeply, and it can also make you feel more confident about where you’re headed.

Hello everyone! I’m Sherin Mubarak, a 4th-year medical student in the School of Medicine and Dentistry. I’m currently serving as the School Representative for the School of Medicine and Dentistry.

I chose to become a School Rep because I’m passionate about helping students have their voices heard and ensuring that the student experience is as smooth and fulfilling as possible. This year, I hope to work closely with both students and faculty to address concerns, improve communication, and contribute to positive changes in the school. Outside of my studies, I enjoy playing badminton and chess, so feel free to reach out if you want to play a game!

My one piece of advice for new students in our school is stay curious, ask questions, and don’t be afraid to reach out for help—everyone’s learning together, and support is always available! Most importantly, take things one day at a time, have fun, and make the most of your time with your peers—it goes faster than you think!

I’m always happy to connect with students, offer advice about the course, or provide support whenever needed. Feel free to reach out to me anytime at smubarak@lancashire.ac.uk.

Hello, my name is Kashif, and I am studying my final year of the best course in the world ‘Children & Young people Nursing’. I chose nursing just as you have done to heal and inspire future generations of this country. I have worked in the adult sector of healthcare as a senior healthcare assistant and learnt about many different health issues of patients especially the elderly. The exams we study for is not just for the sake, but it is for the lives of the patient’s that will be in our hands, and we must always look for opportunities to develop our nursing skills.

I am proud to be this year’s school representative for nursing and midwifery in the University of Lancashire! I am also a member of the RCN (Royal College of Nursing) - If you aren’t, check out their useful website to become a member 😊 p.s. It’s worth it!

I chose to commit to this role as I felt like a change is needed and our voices should be heard from students like ourselves. Also, I always wanted to have an influence in developing a network of knowledge in nursing as we all seem occupied in placement and academic work. I will hopefully ensure new changes are applied and students will be more confident in their development as a student with the help our colleagues and lecturers. It feels safe to say we have all experienced the moment we realise our placement is allocated and we do not know what to expect.

... 🥁 Drum roll 🥁... Tips for placement will be released and being able to tackle issues will be also highlighted to seniors quicker than usual. I also will push for our simulation placements in university to become more realistic than ever with the use of virtual reality/AI. There will be more workshops and resources designed to help your studies whilst on this programme. In addition, I will push for an increase in more wellbeing and mental health support to be available for all students. I aim to implement the manifesto I had made prior to me being elected this position which I should mention a big ‘THANK YOU’’ to those who voted.

A piece of advice I would like to share for new students studying nursing & midwifery is:
“If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” 😊
Martin Luther King Jr.

I hope your journey is a successful one and wish you all the best! Feel free to contact me via teams if you have any questions: KAli15@lancashire.ac.uk.

Information coming soon.

Hi, I’m Safurah, a second year Clinical Psychology student in the School of Psychology and Humanities! I’m currently President of the Psychology Society, where I’m always planning and organising a variety of social events to help bring students together and create a real sense of community. Outside of university, I work with children with disabilities and additional needs, which I find hugely rewarding. In my spare time, I love reading, baking and advocating for mental health / wellbeing.

I chose to become a School Rep because I believe every student deserves to have their voice heard. University can sometimes feel overwhelming, so I wanted to be someone who helps bridge the gap between students and staff, making sure concerns, ideas and feedback are listened to and acted upon. For me, being a rep is about creating a supportive environment where everyone feels empowered to get the most out of their time here.

In this role, one of my main aims is to improve both the academic and wellbeing experience for students. I want to work with staff to explore more content-focused sessions and opportunities for career development, while also helping students gain access to practical experiences through placements, partnerships or skills based activities. At the same time, I am passionate about advocating for mental health by promoting better accessibility, wellbeing initiatives such as workshops and peer support, so students feel both academically and emotionally supported. Ultimately, what I want to help create an inclusive, balanced and engaging environment where ALL students can thrive.

One piece of advice I would give to a new student is to get involved as much as you can - join societies, attend events and try new opportunities such as volunteering, even if they push you out of your comfort zone. The academic side of university is important of course, but finding a balance between studies and student life is what really makes the experience memorable. Getting involved outside of lectures not only helps you build confidence and friendships, but it also develops transferable skills such as teamwork, leadership and communication, which will be invaluable in your future career.

My email is shans2@lancashire.ac.uk so please don’t be afraid to reach out I’m always here to listen and support students - your voice matters :)

Hi! I’m Georgia Holt, School rep for the School of Veterinary. I’m a 3rd year BVMS student and sports scholar, with a previous degree in Biomedical sciences.

I chose to be a school rep due to the veterinary school being so new, we needed a voice to speak with lecturers about any issues and positives we have to grow our school to be the best it can be.

This year I’m hoping to continue collating feedback from all courses and ensuring the student voice is championed and heard by our wonderful staff.

Advice for new students: cuddle every animal you can, don’t put too much pressure on yourself and it’s okay to make mistakes!

My emails and Teams messages are always open (ggholt@lancashire.ac.uk) — please don't hesitate to reach out or grab me if you see me!