Hello everyone I am Kaeda Hipkiss my pronouns are they/them, last year I was VP (Welfare) but this year I am very pleased to say that I am Union President.
Hello everyone I am Kaeda Hipkiss my pronouns are they/them, last year I was VP (Welfare) but this year I am very pleased to say that I am Union President. When I enrolled at the University of Derby I was on the programme Primary Education with QTS however I transferred programs partway through my studies and moved to Special Educational Needs and Disability.
For a little more information about me, I am a huge nerd I love videogames, boardgames, DnD, and Warhammer, for the last 3 years I have attended the UK Games Expo which is amazing! I also do love a good musical some of my favourites are Heathers, Hamilton, Six, and 35mm The Musical. One of my other interests is photography, I love taking photographs of nature and other interesting things.
I ran for the role because I have really enjoyed my first term as an officer and the opportunity to support students. I have not heard of any other job like it, the experience has been amazing so far and has given me such a diverse range of experiences. I am really excited for the opportunity to focus on new objectives and goals particularly in supporting arts student with fundraising for their degree shows.
My aims for the year are:
Mental Health & Stress: Promote advice services, expand in-person support, raise awareness of responsible AI use, and encourage better student work–life balance.
Redundancies: Support affected students, ensure clear communication, and keep the Student Protection Plan updated.
Transport & Safety: Campaign for improved bus access and routes, explore Park & Ride options, enhance walking safety, and provide a student Safety Pack.
Finances: Support creative fundraising efforts and campaign for improved student finance system.