Meet the Sabbs

Students' Association laws passed this year formally rename the Sabbatical/Executive Officers the "President Team."

Image courtesy of the University of St Andrews Students’ Association

President of Student Opportunities — Robert Moran — PresOpps@st-andrews.ac.uk

Robert “RoMo” Moran is entering his second year as the President of Student Opportunities at the St Andrews Student Union. He has spent the past year transforming how the Union supports student activity, building new structures designed to last well beyond his time in office.  Over the last twelve months he has led the activation of  an Activities Team with society liaisons, created a new Employability Team to work with the Careers Centre, and restructured the Opportunities Executive into a board-like group of ordinary students that hold Union leadership  to account.

"The coming year is a very exciting time as we open our new pub, The Red Gown, which, as my first manifesto pledge, will see the Union return to consistent profitability for the first time in almost a decade — profits that are spent on students through representation, advocacy and our student activities."

Moran's remaining four pledges will occupy his final ten months in office. Chief among them is a St Andrews version of JobShop, a scheme run by students' unions across the UK that supports student employment alongside studies. "I want to perfect it for St Andrews," he said.

Societies could, for the first time,endorse candidates in this October's Rectoral Elections. "If this goes well, I plan to extend this right to all Union elections, as our affiliated groups should be able to use their voices to get the representation they deserve."

"Real change in institutions like ours does not happen in a single year," he said. "My focus for the year ahead is simple: to deliver unprecedented levels of support for societies, to create clear pathways into employment and opportunity, and to ensure that every student — undergraduate and postgraduate alike — can find their place within a Union that works for them."

Positions across the Activities and Employability Teams are open now, with more information available via @YourUnionActivities and @YourUnionEmployability.

Athletic Union President — Aidan Horsburgh — aupres@st-andrews.ac.uk

Aidan Horsburgh is the newly-elected Athletics Union President. Raised in a military family that moved between England, Germany, Canada and Scotland, Horsburgh says sport was the one constant through every relocation. Hornsburgh takes the mantle from previous AU President Amy Gordon, whom he completed the Three Peaks Challenge alongside last year.

"Sport has had such a positive impact on my own life, and I want to help ensure it can do the same for others." 

With over 40% of the student population involved in club sport and the AU coming off its highest-ever BUCS finish, Horsburgh's two priorities this year are to strengthen the sporting community and improve accessibility. "I want to encourage greater collaboration between clubs, creating more opportunities for teams to support one another and for friendships to develop beyond individual sports."

Having interned in the Social Sport programme for the past two years, Horsburgh wants to expand its reach "so that every student is aware of the opportunities available, whether they're looking to compete, stay active, or simply try something new."

"Above all, I want to be a visible and approachable President," he said. "I will listen, engage, and advocate for our students, ensuring that every voice within our sporting community has the opportunity to be heard."

President of Education — Emily Bannister — PresEd@st-andrews.ac.uk

Emily Bannister returns for a second term as President of Education, representing students on learning, teaching and research. Originally from Chorley in Lancashire, she came to St Andrews to study Art History before moving through the Union's academic representation system — from Class Representative to Academic Representation Intern to Arts and Divinity Faculty President.

Bannister oversees a structure of 440 academic representatives working across every degree programme. "My calendar is jam packed with university committees and meetings with students, so I am well-placed to coordinate and escalate concerns related to your learning and research experience."

Last year's focus areas included study spaces, over-crediting, hidden degree costs, and national education policy on AI and compassionate communications. This year she will prioritise the assessment experience — "increasing feedback and past papers, improving marking criteria and AI clarity, implementing an essay bank, and fighting for more consistent extensions" — alongside continued work on over-crediting through the University's Curriculum Delivery Review.

She also plans to strengthen support from academic advisors, improve the module catalogue, and make the Union more accessible through an Annual Members Survey and stronger postgraduate representation routes. "Expanding student representation," she said, "to ensure every student has a student rep in their corner."

President of Union Affairs — Amy Elvins — PresAffs@st-andrews.ac.uk

Amy Elvins is the Union's President of Union Affairs, responsible for ensuring that the Students' Association's services — from accommodation to environmental sustainability — work for students. "My core mission is to ensure that our Students' Association effectively represents you," she said. "I will do this through dialogue, by meeting students in their spaces, listening to their experiences, and showing up for the issues that matter most to our community."

Elvins says the President Team is focused on ensuring all voices are heard through student forums, including the All-Student Forum, and through direct engagement with students across campuses and communities. "Not all students experience university in the same way," she said. "So, if you see me — or any member of the President Team — around town, come and have a chat. Let us know what you love, what could be better, and what we could be doing to support you."

President of Wellbeing and Community — Bartosz Rogala — PresWell@st-andrews.ac.uk

Bartosz Rogala, a Geography and Sustainable Development graduate, is the Union's President of Wellbeing and Community, leading the Union's work on students' mental, physical and sexual health as well as equality, diversity and inclusion across the community. "My time here has been one of the most meaningful chapters of my life," he said of his decision to stay on in St Andrews after graduating.

A key priority is establishing a Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Forum within the Students' Association. "Recognising both my position and my limitations in this work as a white man, I want this forum to be shaped by a diverse range of voices and experiences," he said, inviting students to get involved.

Bartosz credited the Union's officers and student leaders for the breadth of work under the "Wellbeing and Community" remit, and said strengthening their representative structures will be his major focus this year. "Together, we are working to create a St Andrews where students can find their community, have their concerns heard, and access the support they need to thrive. See you around town, legends!"