VP ACTIVITIES CANDIDATES

Ata Rahoojo(he/him)

Energy | Execution | Experience

Why are you applying for this role?

I’m applying again because I’ve built something this year, and I’m not done with it. Being VP Activities hasn’t just been a title for me. It’s been constant conversations with society presidents at 11pm, last minute problem solving before events, planning meetings, filming content, launching ROGUE nights, DJing at events, all whilst showing up the next day at 9AM. This year was about learning the systems. Now I don’t need three months to settle in. I already know the venues team, the managers, the directors, Blades, Rebels, VTeam, societies, and more importantly, they know me. I’m in the middle of long-term projects that I’ve invested months into, and we're not finished! Most importantly, I care about being accessible. Societies don’t operate 9-5, and neither do I. One text away. I’m applying because I know what this role requires, I’ve proven I can deliver, and I’m ready to level it up.

What skills and experience would you bring to the role?

And in the daytime, I’m already a Trustee sitting on the Trustee Board, chair the Audit and Risk Committee and the Union Performance Committee, and am a member of SU Council, held accountable by Student Community Officers, regularly reporting on progress and ensuring transparency across projects. I sit on the Senior Leadership Team, participate in planning Derby Day, sit on the panel of reviewing new societies, and am a member of Senate and the Student Experience Committee. That's not all. I’ve volunteered and worked with V-Team, taken part in the HSC nursing campaign, and when needed, I can MC, host, or DJ an event. I’ve trained in GDPR, finance, team building, community organising, and building strong relationships with university staff. It’s not just the parties or the nights you see, there’s a lot that I do that goes on behind the scenes.

Why are you applying for this role?

I’m running because university should be more than deadlines and expectations; it should be alive. University isn’t just about earning a degree. It’s about the friendships we build, the risks we take, and the experiences that shape who we become. When I started university, I felt overwhelmed and alone. The pressure was constant, and balance felt impossible until my friends helped me rediscover confidence beneath the doubt and fear. I know how easy it is to feel invisible, and I refuse to let that be any student's experience. I want you to walk across that graduation stage not just with a degree, but with stories that shaped you, friendships that strengthened you, and memories you will carry for life. I’m not running to maintain. I’m running to raise expectations for student life and make this campus part of your story long after graduation.

What skills and experience would you bring to the role?

I bring both heart and execution. I’ve served twice as an exec for the Nigerian Society, three times with Rebel Student Media earning an Outstanding Contribution award, and I’m now President of the African Caribbean Society, one of the largest on campus. In every role, I’ve helped turn ideas into packed rooms while building stronger societies. At Rebel, I became the first DJ on student radio and helped build live DJ spaces for students, from Rebel to SU Bar, mentoring others to step confidently into those roles. I don’t just take part. I create momentum. Because no student should feel like they’re on the outside looking in. As a former Student Rep, Ambassador, and volunteer, I’ve worked closely with the SU and University to deliver tours and events across campus. I know how to have fun and how to create spaces where everyone else can too. Dependable. Diverse. Driven.