Executive Nominations for 2011

PRESIDENT

Alex Soobratty

Being the Medical Aid Projects hospital liaison has certainly groomed me for the job as President. For one, I’ve worked closely with the current president learning the details and the ins and outs of the job. Arthur’s done a fantastic job and he shows true enthusiasm and initiative, I only hope I can achieve half of what he has. Thankfully, he’s eager to pass on his knowledge to the next generations and I’m equally eager to learn. Secondly, my role as hospital liaison has already shown me a glimpse of how a leadership role works and I’m certain I can apply what I’ve learned there to the president’s job. Involvement with TIME is something I’m excited about and my commitment shows itself in my level of involvement with various levels of its workings, from fundraisers to Projects. Becoming TIME’s president is a natural expansion of the job I already hold and is a reflection of my willingness to participate in improving global health.

VICE-PRESIDENT

Steve Brennan

My name is Steve Brennan and I am running for the position of Vice President of TIME for the 2011 school year. I’m interested in this position for two main reasons. First, it fits with my commitment to global health issues as a whole and second, with my desire to see TIME continue as a successful student organization. For this past year I have had the great privilege of being the 1st Year Convener for the Medical Aid Project team and this position has allowed me to see just how hard the people in TIME work and how they carry a vested interest in seeing that global health issues are not only addressed through aid projects, but also here at UQ through continued education. To work with a group of people that share my same passion for global health is quite inspiring, and it is with this feeling that I would like to continue on the TIME executive and help make more of a difference in the other projects that TIME operates.

I feel that the skills that I can bring to the TIME executive are ones of past leadership and knowledge within TIME itself as MAP convener, but also from my previous work experience as a Social Worker being involved in many health care teams, working with limited resources, and with many different personalities. I think my personal qualities of level-headedness, open-mindedness, and having a good sense of humor would serve the TIME executive of 2011 well and help us grow as a student organization.

Dan Henbest

As an international student, international medicine is clearly important to me. I think we are finally arriving at a point where the world can be considered as a whole, rather than divided amongst nations, and it that it will be through the efforts of healing and caring that this will be realized. That being said, the health disparities across the world are atrocious, and it seems inane to enter into a profession of caring without addressing such disparities. Personally, I cannot justify pursuing a career in medicine within the bubble of one city, one state, or even one nation. And I believe that the focus on global health care should begin at the very beginning of one’s career—now, while we are still learning. That is why programs such as TIME are so important and why I intend to continue supporting it.

I am applying for Vice President because I would like to remain active in all the programs associated with TIME. I think one of the things that are critical to the continued success of TIME is inter-program communication. Also, it seems that there are a lot of students that are interested in helping out and who would like to participate in global health who simply do not have the opportunity or who do not know how. This is a largely un-tapped resource that I would like to see utilized more in the future. Lastly, I would like to help bring TIME into a more active role in supporting global health beyond the Medical Aid Project.

Having operated as student liaison over the course of this past year, I believe I am in a good spot to act as Vice President in the coming year; many of the students are familiar with me and my role as a member of TIME. As I understand there are a number of people from the Medical Aid Project running for positions, we have already formed a relationship that will put us in good stead to act as leadership in the future, as well. With the exception of MAP and a few sports teams, I have had limited leadership experience in the past, but having some teaching experience, I am used to managing and organizing groups of people.

TREASURER

Steve Sato

As a first-year MBBS student I have thoroughly enjoyed being a member of TIME and in particular, being involved with the Medical Aid Project as a hospital liaison. The opportunity to attend the Global Health Conference in Hobart this year inspired me and bolstered my desire to be involved in Global Health initiatives and to take my involvement with TIME to a higher level. As a member of TIME, my goal is to be a successful contributor to the promotion and sustenance of health equality in Australia and around the world. I feel that as a member of the TIME Executive I will be on the front lines of decision-making and opportunities to uphold Time’s values and further its mandate.

I am interested in the TIME Executive Treasurer position. Having been involved with numerous non-profit organizations, I appreciate the importance of balancing budgets, overseeing finances and helping to ensure that TIME maintains the capital and resources needed to carry out its aims and objectives. I feel that my organizational and computational skills would be an asset for this position. I look forward to being involved in the planning and running of various fundraisers and events. I would welcome the challenges and learning experience that this position would bring, and feel that I possess the skills and drive to be a successful TIME Treasurer and member of the TIME Executive.

SECRETARY

Mary-Clair Yelovich

I am eager to maintain my involvement with TIME next year, and am interested in doing so through the role of TIME secretary. My experiences co-managing the Manali Medical Aid Project this year (which included the responsibilities of maintaining correspondence with the Lady Willingdon Hospital, taking notes during meetings, and drafting official announcements and emails) have, I believe, prepared me quite well for the similar responsibilities that I would undertake as TIME secretary. I also have experience with the responsibilities required for an executive position from my undergraduate experiences as VP of the Women in Science and Engineering Club and as Fundraising Coordinator of the Biochemistry Departmental Student Council. Feel free to approach me with any questions!

LIAISON OFFICER

Dave Sparks

For me, issues pertaining to global health appear to be adequately represented and discussed in the wider undergraduate student community, although there is always room for improvement. It is these issues in which even minor efforts on behalf of students can make larger, and most importantly, lasting effects. In my role as the student representative on the Academic Board for 2010 I was able to see first hand the capabilities of my own and other students’ ideas and perspectives, along with the followings of these perspectives into active consideration and action by the non-student members of the board. I am a well-spoken, direct and enthusiastic speaker on topics pertinent to roles which I have engaged with throughout my schooling and undergraduate experience. My experience in global health agendas relevant to TIME is not strong, although it is for this reason that I have chosen to apply for the Liaison Officer position. In this role, I hope to greatly increase my understanding of global health topics as they are applicable to the undergraduate student body, expand and broaden the agenda of TIME both within the GHN and also the wider student community and also to advocate for global health issues on a larger scale so that better understanding and awareness can be acquired for the multitude of undergraduate students at UQ.

SPONSORSHIP OFFICER

Rachael Campbell

I chose to study medicine to be involved in global health and be able to travel to different countries equipped with the skills to help others. As I result I was very excited when I found out in first year that UQ had its own student global health group and I am keen to be involved in the TIME executive as sponsorship officer in 2011.

I started first year medicine in 2009 but had to defer due to illness in July of that year. Prior to that though I was very heavily involved in TIME. I was one of the conveners of the trivia night, a member of the Global Health Conference academic committee and part of the Medical Aid Project team. My involvement in these activities has prepared me for the tasks entailed in being sponsorship officer. I am organized and experienced in the responsibilities that such a position will involve.

In 2008 I traveled to Peru for 3 months to undertake volunteer work. I was able to fundraise a substantial amount of money to take across with me to donate to an orphanage and school. This was done by organizing certain events and approaching various contacts for sponsorship. I believe this experience will assist me in functioning as sponsorship officer for TIME. I have the communication skills required for ongoing contact with sponsors and I believe that I also possess the lateral thinking skills required to find new sponsors.

IMMEDIATE PAST EXECUTIVE

John de Laat

I have always enjoyed working with TIME, whether selling tickets and drinking beer (usually not at the same time) at the social events or arranging and participating in our advocacy and direct action avenues. I have been proud this year to be counted as part of the executive of TIME because I firmly believe we are one of the most worthwhile and important groups in the university.

Global health is everyone’s business and everyone’s responsibility.

I think a lot of students at UQ agree with this statement but lack the information needed to guide their actions, or even to prompt them to act. If TIME, whether through a touching seminar or a socially conscious dinner, can instill the drive to take action then we are one step closer to a better society. The global health conference in 2009 had a theme, that positive global change comes from a million small positive changes worldwide. This is how I see TIME, as one of the parts of the whole, and as such I want to continue my work with such a positive organisation.

As the past executive I hope to help the executive of 2011 to continue the positive actions TIME has always represented. I will provide information, support (both moral and physical) and, hopefully, communicate the ethos of TIME to the new executive. In the same way that our current past executive member, Tiffany, has been a source of warm encouragement and cool answers I hope to assist TIME in continuing to contribute to the positive global change that needs to happen.