Hello, my name is Egor Purlats. I am an international Ph.D. student in the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering (CPE). My research focuses on developing cleaner technologies for oil recovery in Alberta. However, my driving force has always been advocacy: standing up for myself and for others to create meaningful change.

Three years ago, I joined the GSA Governance and Finance Committee to better understand how the University operates. I later focused on serving my home department, CPE, where I worked with fellow graduate students and developed a clear understanding of what it takes to turn an idea into a well-executed academic initiative. I was subsequently elected President of the Schulich Graduate Association, representing students across seven departments. Together with student associations, we advocated for improved graduate funding. The minimum stipend for incoming students was increased, marking an important first step. However, disparities for existing students remain, and addressing them requires sustained advocacy.

Many international students balance demanding graduate programs with part-time work, limited by off-campus employment regulations, while facing higher tuition and increasing living expenses. Domestic students also navigate rising living costs and economic uncertainty within a globally interconnected North American market. Course-based students contribute significantly to University revenue, yet their structural support, including structured co-op and employment pathways, does not proportionally reflect their financial contribution. Regardless of background, I remain committed to advancing sustainable and equitable funding for all graduate students. I will work with your Faculty leaders, your Representatives, and You to strengthen our community engagement.

I am Jacob Amengor, a Professional Engineer and PhD student in Environmental Engineering, and currently your Vice President Academic on the Graduate Students’ Association Executive Council. My academic and leadership journey have been defined by one core commitment: building strong, accountable systems that serve people effectively and fairly.

As Vice President Academic, I have continuously supported students to navigate complex academic challenges successfully, worked to strengthen transparency in academic processes, improve the efficiency of the grant adjudication system, and ensure that graduate student voices meaningfully influence institutional decisions across the over 16 university committees I serve on. Through this work, I have developed a clear understanding of how the university operates and where strategic advocacy can deliver real, measurable benefits for graduate students.

Beyond campus, I serve as a Water Engineer and Global Water Ambassador with the International Water Association. I have led technical teams, managed complex operational systems, strengthened accountability structures, and supported the delivery of safe water services to hundreds of thousands of people. These experiences have sharpened my ability to make evidence-based decisions, steward resources responsibly, and lead with a clear long-term vision.

My leadership philosophy is grounded in transparency, accountability, and a progressive mindset. If entrusted with the presidency, I will strengthen financial and governance transparency, enhance service delivery within the GSA, and expand supports that advance graduate student well being and academic success. I am ready to lead with experience, continuity, and a steadfast commitment to you and our graduate community.

Noor Ahmad Darwish is a PhD Candidate in Security and Strategic Studies at the Center for Military, Security and Strategic Studies (CMSS). His doctoral research examines Afghanistan, China, and regional geopolitical and economic networks, focusing on how great-power competition shapes institutional development and economic integration in fragile states. He holds master’s degrees in Public Policy and Administration and International Education Management, as well as a postgraduate qualification in Strategic Management and Leadership.

Before beginning his doctoral studies, Noor served as Deputy Minister at Afghanistan’s Ministry of Higher Education, where he led seven directorates and oversaw operational and financial governance for 39 public universities. He also served as Program Director of a USD 55 million World Bank–funded Higher Education Development Program (HEDP), leading nationwide institutional reform, strengthening faculty development and quality assurance systems, expanding women’s access to higher education, and supporting major university infrastructure initiatives.

He has chaired and moderated international conferences and regional seminars across Asia-Pacific, including UNESCO and APQN forums, leading high-level discussions on higher education reform, quality assurance, digital innovation, and institutional capacity building. With over a decade of leadership experience in donor-funded reform programs, Noor has managed large-scale initiatives under results-based frameworks and worked closely with international partners, including the World Bank, UNESCO, USAID, GIZ, and the British Council.

If elected GSA President, he is committed to advancing transparent governance, advocating for sustainable and equitable graduate funding, and ensuring graduate student voices are effectively represented in university decision-making.

I am a Master of Education, Interdisciplinary Studies, student at the University of Calgary with a background in Political Science and over three years of experience supporting students as my professional role. My work focuses on improving student access to academic resources, navigating institutional systems, and fostering inclusive advising practices within post-secondary environments.

In addition to my professional role, I serve as Co-President of the Humanitarian Organization for Providing Empowerment (HOPE), where I lead volunteer initiatives that support vulnerable communities across Calgary through care package drives and collaborative outreach projects. These experiences have shaped my commitment to service-oriented leadership and student advocacy.

As a graduate student representative, I hope to continue strengthening the communication between graduate students and institutional leadership by advocating for accessible services, equitable opportunities, and policies that enhance student wellbeing, engagement, and academic success. My goal is to ensure that graduate student perspectives are meaningfully represented in decision-making processes that directly impact their academic and professional journeys.

I am a first-year Master’s student in Communication and Media Studies, building on my undergraduate degree in Communication Studies from Mount Saint Vincent University. Through my academic and professional journey, I have developed a strong foundation in communication, advocacy, and organisational leadership.

Professionally, I have held administrative roles at the University of Calgary, Dalhousie University, and Cape Breton University, where I gained firsthand insight into how universities operate and how policy decisions impact students. I also had the opportunity to serve on Parliament Hill as a political aide, strengthening my skills in policy analysis, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement.

Beyond my professional work, I am committed to community leadership. I currently serve as a volunteer board member of my condominium corporation and previously served on the board of Pride Lunenburg County, an organisation dedicated to advancing the interests of 2SLGBTQ+ people in rural Nova Scotia.

As Executive Labour Officer, I will prioritise transparency, engagement, and clear communication. I am committed to listening to graduate students to better understand their concerns, ensuring our collective agreement is respected, and advocating effectively on your behalf. My goal is to foster a more informed, supported, and empowered graduate student community.

I am a PhD student in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine with a background in community-based and Indigenous research, focused on keeping community priorities at the center of my research. I am also active in graduate student leadership and advocacy. I served as Secretary and Vice President of the Veterinary Medicine Graduate Students’ Association.  

I’ve been grateful and fortunate to work with awesome people and teams. None of what I have accomplished has been individual work, I helped improve communication between students, representatives, and faculty leadership, and worked to make it easier for students to raise concerns through the right channels. I also created opportunities for students to pause from busy schedules and reconnect through community-building events, cultural sharing, and low-pressure ways to have fun. I’ve learned a lot about university processes through volunteering and teaching, and recently led a Faculty of Graduate Studies project supporting graduate course development for incoming students. 

As Officer at Large, I will strengthen communication between graduate students, DGAs, and the GSA so updates, resources, and timelines are shared consistently and concerns do not get lost between levels. I will lower barriers to raising issues in the first place and prioritize follow-up afterward, helping students navigate where different concerns should go and ensuring feedback reaches decision-making spaces in a way that supports solutions. I also want to elevate graduate student wellbeing and mental health at the university level. Above all, I aim to be approachable, listen carefully, and help move student concerns toward action. 

I am Saloumeh Talebloo, a PhD candidate in Human Geography at the University of Calgary. I started my academic journey in Iran with a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, and I did my Master’s in Real Estate and Development in Malaysia. To me, studying and living abroad has shaped not only my academic perspective but also how I view adaptation, belonging, and community.

As an international graduate student, I understand how exciting and, at times, isolating this academic path can be. Participation in student life has been an important part for me in navigating this experience. So, I have kept up being actively involved in volunteer work and graduate student initiatives, alongside my academic studies. I currently serve as Chair of the Events Subcommittee at the GSA, where I contribute to planning and organizing events that foster connection and activities among graduate students. Previously, I also served as Vice-Chair of Communications and Internal Affairs at the Graduate Labour Union. These volunteer experiences helped me solidify my commitment to service and inclusivity.

Looking forward, my plan is particularly interested in raising support for grassroots graduate students’ engagements that aim to contribute thoughtful insights to event planning so that graduate activities are not only well-organized but genuinely responsive to students’ diverse needs and experiences. My passion to make graduate student life more meaningful, connected, and supportive is what drives me to take on this role.

My name is Senyo Okyere, a graduate student in the Sociocultural Anthropology program at the University of Calgary. I bring an interdisciplinary background grounded in a Master of Public Health from the University of Ghana, with additional training in global health, clinical research operations, and emergency first aid. My academic and professional journey spans public health, advocacy, program development, and quality assurance, shaping me into a student leader committed to evidence-based decision-making and community-centered service.

My professional experience includes serving as Chair of the Graduate Student Association’s Mental Health and Wellness Subcommittee, where I lead initiatives that promote wellbeing, community building, and accessible support systems for graduate students. Volunteer work has been a defining part of my leadership. I have coordinated rural healthcare outreach programs, working alongside clinicians, community leaders, and local organizers to bring essential primary healthcare services to underserved populations. My role included mobilizing participants, preparing health education materials, and ensuring culturally sensitive engagement. An experience that strengthened my empathy, patience, and ability to work across diverse teams and identities.

Within the Black community at the University of Calgary Calgary, I have led lively and engaging participatory dance workshop during Black History Month to honor the rich traditions and cultural impact of Black heritage. These volunteer roles continue to inform my approach to community building and student wellbeing.

If elected, I will advocate for (i) stronger bottom-up support for DGAs; (ii) effectively enhance the synergy and opportunities between satellites campuses and the main campus, and (iii) ensure graduate student voices guide policy and program decisions.

Hi everyone! My name is Tasnia Ibnat, and I am a Master of Engineering student in Environmental Engineering at the University of Calgary. My studies focus on sustainability, life cycle assessment (LCA), and environmental remediation; basically, finding smarter and greener ways to solve real world problems.

Before coming to UCalgary, I worked as an industrial intern at an H&M production facility, where I supported wastewater treatment operations and environmental monitoring. I also volunteered in student leadership roles, where I learned how to listen to people, organize teams, and get things done even under pressure.

As an international student, I understand how hard it can be to adjust to a new city and a new system. Many graduate students feel stress about money, immigration questions, and not knowing where to turn I have been through all of it. That experience is not a weakness. It is why I understand what graduate students actually need.

As your Officer at Large, my promise is simple: I will make the GSA easy to find and easy to use for every graduate student not just those who already know where to look. I will show up in your departments, labs, and orientations. I will listen to your concerns and bring them directly to GSA decision making on budgets, wellness, and student services.