Celebrating National Trustees’ Week: Meet the People Shaping Aston Students’ Union 🎉
At Aston Students’ Union, our trustees play a crucial role in ensuring the Union remains student-led, well-governed, and focused on creating positive change for every Aston student.
From current students to experienced professionals, each trustee brings a unique perspective, helping guide the Union’s strategy and champion the student voice. Here’s what motivates them, and what they’ve learned along the way!
Why They Became Trustees
Every trustee’s journey starts with a shared desire: to make a difference. Whether it’s amplifying student voices, applying professional skills, or simply giving something back, their motivations reflect the diverse strengths that make Aston SU’s board so effective! 💪
For Dhanusha Reddy, a PhD researcher, joining the trustee board was an opportunity to connect her academic expertise with her passion for education and governance.
“I became a Student Trustee to ensure students' voices shape meaningful change and to strengthen the Aston Students' Union's governance. The role helps me enhance the student experience while building leadership skills for my future. As a PhD student, I currently research property law and crypto assets, and I hope to one day expand my research into corporate governance to create positive change in the education sector.”
Lee Marsham, Councillor & Chair of the Planning Committee for Birmingham City Council, wanted to give something back while continuing to grow personally.
“Being a trustee is a great way of being involved, giving back, but also learning things yourself.”
For Callum Roberts, Head of the RVC Students' Union, the role offered a chance to broaden his experience and apply his skills in a new setting.
“I was keen to expand my experience in the sector by learning more about another Students’ Union and to apply my skills and knowledge in a new context.”
The Best Parts of Being a Trustee
Trustees don’t just shape policy — they build relationships, gain insight, and see the real-world impact of their decisions. The experience offers opportunities for growth, collaboration, and reflection, helping each trustee strengthen both the Union and themselves! 🤝
Callum Roberts says the relationships and real-world impact make the role particularly special, while also learning valuable leadershop lessons:
“The personal relationships with other trustees that you develop, seeing the hard work of officers and trustees come to life and have meaningful impact — it’s really refreshing to break up your own work by looking at something else with fresh eyes... I’ve picked up something from all the different Chairs — how they approach situations, manage meetings or crises, and bring new ideas I can apply to my own work.”
Sayeed Farooq, President Sport & Activities at Aston Students' Union, reflects on how the experience has deepened his understanding of leadership:
“Being a trustee has shown me how vision, strategy, and accountability shape real impact. I’ve learned that true leadership means not just driving success, but also having the courage to question and hold the right people accountable when things don’t feel right — always leading with integrity and purpose.”
For Kushaf Sohail, President Union Development at Aston Students' Union, it’s about meaningful contribution and learning from others:
“Being a Trustee at Aston Students’ Union has been an incredibly insightful experience. It’s allowed me to connect with people from diverse professional backgrounds and see how different viewpoints and experiences bring real nuance to decision-making. It’s rewarding to contribute to discussions that shape meaningful change for students.”
First-Time Trustees Making a Difference
Every board benefits from fresh ideas — and Aston SU’s first-time trustees bring exactly that. With enthusiasm, curiosity, and a genuine passion for student experience, they’re helping shape a more inclusive and forward-thinking Union for the future! 🙌
Arun Shoker, Project Worker at Barnardo's, is passionate about giving young people a platform:
“I am a strong advocate for young people and giving them a voice and opportunities. Therefore, I became a trustee to ensure that the SU is doing just that. The best bit about it is being able to see the different initiatives the University and the SU do and the impact they will have. I have learnt a lot about how a trustee board works, as this is my first time as a trustee.”
Celebrating Leadership and Service 💛
As we celebrate National Trustees’ Week, Aston Students’ Union would like to thank all its trustees, past and present, for the invaluable role they play in guiding the organisation and amplifying student voice!
Their dedication reminds us that strong governance and compassionate leadership go hand in hand — and that when students and professionals work together, incredible things happen! 🎉