Candidate Q&A – Leadership Elections 2026

This year we asked YOUR candidates some key questions in order to help you choose who you want to represent you as the President Student Union or President Student Experience next year. Take a look below at their answers and get in touch with them if you want to hear more about their campaign & manifesto promises or to ask them any other questions.  

A reminder the Leadership Elections are for full time Sabbatical Officers who will take their role on the 1st July 2026 to 9th July 2027. 

Voting opened on Monday 2nd March at 5pm and closes on Thursday 5th March at 2pm.  

You can vote through the link sent to your university email address or through clicking the link here https://vote.choicevoting.co.uk/e/lVZGRyx8nb with your ID (that would have been sent in to your University email address).  

President Student Union 

Max Oldridge 

What made you run to be a President of AUBSU? 

What do you perceive to be the biggest challenge facing students right now 

What would you change in your first 6 months 

Why should students engage with the elections and AUBSU 

If you could change one thing at AUB what would you change and why? 

Achilles Smith 

What made you run to be a President of AUBSU? 

I ran because I care about how students experience AUB.  I want the SU to be visible and representative of the student identity at AUB. We’re a creative university, and our union should champion student talent while also making sure everyone feels supported. 

What do you perceive to be the biggest challenge facing students right now? 

I believe one of the biggest challenges is standing out and being visible in an increasingly competitive creative industry. So many AUB students produce incredible work, but it isn’t always seen beyond their course or graduation. The SU should be able to assist with students building confidence in their work and building professional visibility while they’re still studying. 

 What would you change in your first 6 months? 

I’d focus on improving SU visibility, expanding creative opportunities like exhibitions and commissions, and rebuilding community through events alongside bigger socials. Most importantly, I’d prioritize listening and acting on student feedback. 

 Why should students engage with the elections and AUBSU? 

The SU represents your voice. Voting and engaging shapes who makes decisions on your behalf and what gets prioritized. The more students participate, the stronger and more effective the union becomes. 

If you could change one thing at AUB what would you change and why? 

I’d strengthen cross course community. More collaboration shared creative spaces, and inclusive events would break down barriers between courses and create a more connected inspiring university experience!  

 

President Student Experience 

Lily Smith 

What made you run to be a President of AUBSU? 

I have been inspired by previous student presidents and how much change they have made since I started studying here. It really makes a huge difference to the student experience and with the ideas I have stated in my portfolio, I know I will be able to have a positive influence at AUB 

What do you perceive to be the biggest challenge facing students right now? 

Right now, it is definitely the cost of living for students. I understand how difficult and stressful it can be to live in Bournemouth, as living here my whole life I have seen the cost of simple groceries among other things explode. I really want to improve the campus at AUB by starting a gardening club, in order to teach students how to grow herbs and small vegetables at home, as well as trying to create cheaper meal options at the canteen.   

What would you change in your first 6 months? 

Starting in July I will have a lot of planning to do before students arrive in October. I aim to have the foundations built for the gardening club so it is ready to go, as well as already have something in the works for cheaper meals at the canteen and plans to increase library hours during deadline weeks. I will also have the Freshers Fair to coordinate which I cannot wait for! I think this is a very big deal and will be the first display to all the students about my organising skills and creativity in the role. I want to be realistic within my timeframe, but I am an ambitious person. So with everything I have mentioned, by the end of 6 months all my plans will be in motion and will be sorting out all the minor hiccups that comes with building new things. 

Why should students engage with the elections and AUBSU? 

I believe it is the closest students can get to creating instant change at the SU. It is also a lot of people’s first taste of politics, and it can show why voting for leaders that you believe will make a positive difference and align with your views is so important! It is so important to understand why my peers are running and choosing who you believe will make the best impact, as it will directly influence your life at university. 

If you could change one thing at AUB what would you change and why? 

I am a brutally honest person, so if I truly could change one thing straight away, it would absolutely be a free pizza day! While it is a little silly, and probably unrealistic, I do think it would have a positive impact on many of my core values. By bringing people together through free food, it will also aid with the cost-of-living crisis, and a chance to meet new people and strengthen the community. While talking to my friends a lot of people aren’t aware of a lot of the opportunities that the uni has to offer, so by drawing people together, it would also help raise awareness about opportunities that are available, including ones that can reduce the cost of living and be a source of money, such as competitions or jobs for artists. 

 

To find out more about your candidates check out their campaigns this week as well as their manifestos on our website. 

Make your vote, have your say & come along to one of our voting stalls to win a prize.