Meet our Trustees
As well as our Full-time Officers the board is also made up of the following trustees:
Student TrusteesCo-Opted TrusteesNominated Trustees
Student Trustees
Shubham Kulkarni
Shubham Kulkarni is a Computer Science with Innovation student and an incoming Student Trustee for the 2025 - 2027 term.
As a Course Representative for the Centre of Innovation and Entrepreneurship in his first year, he helped improve the student experience by regularly gathering feedback to strengthen connections between students and staff. Shubham will also serve as Wellbeing Officer for the Chess Society next year, offering his welcoming nature in support of the student community.
With a background in student advocacy and innovation, Shubham is excited to step into the role of Student Trustee and help empower student pioneers.
Lucy Pears
Lucy Pears (she/her) is a third year psychology student and former Student Living Officer.
Previously, Lucy has held a subcommittee co-chair position but has sat across both subcommittees in her time on the board. She is excited to be returning for her third year as a Trustee.
Lucy is grateful to have spent the last two years listening to students and representing your issues at the SU. She is looking forward to building on this experience to embed long term positive change into the SU as a student trustee!
Vedant Jain
Vedant Jain is a BSc Economics and Management student, entering his second year, and an incoming Student Trustee for a two-year term effective June 2026.
During his first year, Vedant actively participated in multiple societies and supported the Accommodation JCR in running events that helped bring students together and strengthen campus life.
As Student Trustee, he hopes to improve student engagement, support practical changes that enhance the university experience, and ensure student voices are represented clearly in decision-making.
Vedant is excited to contribute positively to the SU and wider student community, helping students feel heard, supported and involved.
Wiktoria Kwartnik
Wiktoria Kwartnik is a law student in her penultimate year of studies.
Previously, Wiktoria had served as a Peterborough Youth Councillor where she helped young people to feel empowered. At her sixth form she was the Founder and Head of Debates Committee alongside her role as a Support Buddy for pupils who were new to the school.
Wiktoria is excited to utilise the skills honed from her earlier experiences to serve as a Student Trustee for 2 terms effective June 2026. Also, she is an incoming EDI and Wellbeing Officer for the 93% club!
Co-opted Trustees
Steph Harris
Dr Stephanie Harris is Bristol alumni and a former sabbatical officer at Bristol SU. Steph is currently the Director of Strategy, Insight and Member Engagement at Universities UK (UUK) the representative body for UK universities where she has worked for 7 years in various roles.
The focus of Steph’s career has been higher education policy and influencing, a path that she owes to her own time as a sabbatical officer and Bristol SU. Steph has previous been a trustee at other Students' Union and a school governor.
Helen West
Helen has a strong sense of equality and justice and is passionate about creating a free and fair world in which we can all participate and realise our potential. Bristol born and bred, Helen has a degree and post-graduate diploma in Spanish & French.
Helen has mostly worked in Students’ Unions from full-time elected officer to CEO. She now supports Students’ Unions as interim CEO and offers conflict resolution work.
Helen is an accredited facilitator in restorative justice, a former trustee on the National Executive Committee of UKCISA, and chair of a national Diversity Action Working Group for Students’ Unions.
Allan Allison
Allan is the Vice President for Apprenticeships at QA. Throughout his career he has worked in senior leadership roles across employability, skills and training. Allan now has a focus on strategy, employer and learner engagement, and career diversity in the AI, Technology and Data skills sector. He is passionate about the genuine impact diversity has within the tech sector.
As a Bristol resident of over 20 years he is passionate about the impact of talent and skills in the area – and how student communities are enabled to become future leaders, are supported to fulfill their potential, and have powerful experiences during their time studying and beyond.
Steph Hayle
Steph is a former two-term Sabbatical Officer at York SU and a founding member of the Office for Students 'Disability in Higher Education Advisory Panel', and the Student Minds’ 'Student Advisory Committee'.
Outside higher education, she holds two public appointments, working as a Non-Executive Director for Independent Living Fund Scotland and serving on regulatory panels for the Teaching Regulation Agency, as well as the Nursing and Midwifery Council and General Pharmaceutical Council. She also volunteers as a trustee with The Migraine Trust.
She is passionate about equity, access and attainment for all in higher education, and creating inclusive environments where every student can thrive
Nominated Trustee
Lucinda Parr
Lucinda is the Chief Operating Officer, Registrar and University Secretary at the University of Bristol. After graduating from Goldsmiths College with a BMus, Lucinda secured employment there as an Admissions Officer whilst studying for her MMus in Historical Musicology and has continued to work in HE ever since. Lucinda moved to London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine to become their University Secretary and Registrar. Lucinda is a member of various sector organisations, a member the Children and Young People’s Board, and chairs the Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Task Force on behalf of Bristol City Council.
