EDI Executive Officer Candidates – Inaayah Irshad
With LSU election week in full motion, we are in for a week filled with excitement. This year, the Loughborough Student Leadership election consists of five roles made up of thirteen candidates. There are wide spread roles with EDI Executive Officer being a notable position up for grabs in this year’s election. The sentiment within the role of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Officer (EDI) is of great importance, with a profound focus on heightened support, this role is founded on the basis of prevention, protection, and guidance. A leading candidate for the role of EDI Executive Officer who’s manifesto hones in on and encompasses these very ideals is Inaayah Irshad. Inaayah is currently a third-year Psychology student, with a keen interest in the importance of mental health. Additionally, having avidly worked as a Team Leader at Youth Sport Trust, Inaayah will be bringing fourth the skills she has learned along the way, to the role of EDI Executive Officer. Inaayah took part in an interview, whereby she answered questions to gain further insight into the components of her manifesto.
What are your top priorities for your time in EDI EO?
Strengthening the partnership between the union and student wellbeing, disability, and inclusivity services. I’d like to build a direct line of communication between the union, students, and wellbeing services to ensure quicker interventions when students are struggling. I would also like to establish safe, student-led lived experience groups where students with disabilities, chronic illnesses, neurodiversity, and mental health conditions can openly discuss their experiences at university. I would then work directly with Student Wellbeing to ensure these groups are not just spaces for discussion but platforms for real change, feeding directly into EDI policy improvements within the Union. This helps with looking out for the welfare of our volunteers too!
What good work would you look to carry on from this year?
I look to continue Atlas’ work on the ‘No Strings attached’ scheme that is part of his overall cost of living awareness scheme and ensure that the scheme remains active throughout my time as EDI EO! I will liaise with the company that Atlas is currently in contact with who supply menstrual products to universities, keeping the scheme alive as I know how much period poverty can affect the student population.
What experience have you encountered which you believe improved your ability in the role?
Having first-hand experience of being part of an EDI working group during my placement as a wellbeing support worker has strengthened my ability to advocate for inclusive policies and implement meaningful change. I worked with staff and other placement students to identify barriers to accessibility of mental health support needs; hence the importance of my manifesto point that emphasises building the union’s relationship with student wellbeing, inclusivity, and disability.
Where does your personal drive to take up this position come from?
My personal drive to take up the EDI Executive officer position comes from lived experience. As a woman of colour who has experienced poor mental health during my time at Loughborough, EDI is a massive part of my life. It speaks to the barriers people face when looking to receive support. Ensuring EDI is held to the highest standards at our union is more than just a career for me, it’s about ensuring students know they are more than just the challenges that they face.
What should voters expect from your campaign?
A lot of light-hearted fun and conversations! Please feel free to ask questions about my campaign or even have a general chat! I want to hear what the students have to say more than anything.
If voters would like to get in touch with further questions, are you open to this and how would they go about contacting you?
Yes, I am absolutely open to this! They can contact me on my Instagram @inaayah4edi or approach me if you see me around anywhere!
In the wake of a manic election week, we wish Inaayah the very best with her campaign. Make sure to keep your eyes peeled around campus for election related activities this week, such as campaigning teams and mascots etc…Voting opens at 8am on the 3rd of March, via the LSU app, and closes at 5pm on the 5th March. Happy voting!
