An update on your incoming Welfare Officer

We have an important update on your incoming Welfare Officer. 

Your officer Elect Rhianna Brown, has decided to step down after receiving an exciting new job opportunity, to which we wish her the best! Because of this, we want to provide you with some news…

We are pleased to inform you that Srini Sathish Kumar has accepted her role as Welfare Officer and will be welcomed to the 26/27 officer team with open arms. 

How did we reach this decision?

After consulting with the Trustees, the Union considered a number of options before deciding to revisit the results of the March 2026 election by redistributing transferable votes. We believe this was the fairest and most transparent way to determine the successful candidate. If you'd like to learn more about the Single Transferable Vote system and how transferable votes work, this short video provides a helpful explanation: 

Following conversations with the second and third placed candidates, the redistribution was completed and the results showed that Srini was elected as Welfare Officer. The full ballot results can be found below:

A full timeline of the events and decision making can be found below.

Timeline of events

31st May - Rhianna Brown tenders her resignation due to personal reasons

1st June - Resignation accepted

2nd June - Leadership approve the decision to re-run the election results as per Bye Law 8.5 and approach the 2nd placed candidate for the Welfare Officer position from March 2026.

3rd June - Election results are re-run by the Deputy Returning Officer (and Returning Officer is informed). The results showed Julie Kapustova as the winner.

4th June - Julie approached and was given time to consider the role.

5th June - Julie declines the role.

8-6th June - Sector research conducted on next steps and advice sought from Returning Officer.

11th June - Leadership review by election options versus approaching the Third Placed candidate for the Welfare Officer position from March 2026. Leadership approve to re-run the election further and recommend to trustees that (having weighed the pro’s and con’s) approaching the third placed candidate is the next best option

11th June- Elections are re-run by the Deputy Returning Officer (removing Rhianna & Julie). It identifies Srini Sathich Kumar as the top candidate. Srini is contacted to gauge interest in taking up the post, should UPSU Trustees agree to this decision

15th June - Srini confirms she is interested if the role were to be offered to her

24th June - UPSU Board of Trustees meet to review the Leadership recommendation and discuss the alternative options. Board of Trustees agree to take on Srini for the post of Welfare Officer, satisfied that there was still enough mandate from the students who voted in the March 2026 election

25th June - Srini accepts post

1st July - Officers officially start in their roles.