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Meet the Current Team

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About Student Elections/council

Building the Student Leadership Team

The BCIT Student Association is powered by a dynamic team of student leaders. We’re talking about the Student Council, a group of 42 dedicated individuals— 12 elected Executives and 30 appointed Councillors—who work together to enhance campus life. They’re the driving force behind the Student Association, advocating for your needs and making real change happen.

Want to know who’s currently leading the charge? Meet your 2025/2026 BCITSA Executive Board!

Curious about what it’s really like to be a student leader? Your Executives are an open book! They’d love to chat about their roles and answer any questions you have. Book a meeting with them today!

What’s in it for you (besides the immense satisfaction of making a difference)? Student leaders enjoy perks like a monthly honorarium, dedicated office space, sweet discounts at BCITSA businesses, and, most importantly, the chance to develop killer leadership skills that will look amazing on your resume. Ready to step up and make your mark?

How to Vote in the BCITSA Student Elections

Help decide who will shape your student experience next year. Voting takes less than 3 minutes!

Deadline to Vote: April 4th at 12:00 PM—don’t miss out!

Step

01

Check Your BCIT Email

Check your my.bcit email for a voting link from BCITSA Elections.

Step

02

Access the Voting Website

Login with your BCIT credentials to access the online voting form.

Step

03

Pick Your Representatives

Choose the candidates you would like to see on the Executive Board.

Notice of Nominations

February 20, 2026 @ 12:00pm

Nominations Open

February 23, 2026 @ 12:00pm

Nominations Close /Application Deadline

March 6, 2026 @ 2:00pm

All Candidates Meeting / Campaign Start

March 17, 2026 @ 5:00pm

Start of Voting

March 23, 2026 @ 12:00pm

End of Campaign & Voting

March 27, 2026 @ 12:00pm

Winners Announced

March 27 2026 @ 3:00pm

Post-Campaign Form Submission Deadline

March 27, 2026 @ 3:00pm

Campaign Material Removal Deadline

March 27, 2026 @ 5:30pm

More Information

Positions, Responsibilities & Eligibility

All Student Executives must attend all scheduled Executive and Council Meetings, stay informed, inform students of all things BCITSA, maintain a minimum GPA & course load during their term, and submit bi-weekly progress reports.

Positions Available

The President chairs the Board & is responsible for leading the Council and Executive team.

President Duties (1)

  • Chairs the Council and Executive meetings
  • Is the official spokesperson for the BCITSA
  • Ensures that the Executive Members are fulfilling their duties
  • A voting student representative on the Board of Governors

The four (4) Vice Presidents perform specific duties and tasks that contribute to overall student development.

VP Finance & Administration Duties

  • Chairs the Bylaw Committee and Finance Committee
  • Assumes responsibilities of President in their absence
  • Ensure financial reports are submitted to Council and the AGM
  • Represents the BCITSA in any health & dental negotiations

The four (4) Vice Presidents perform specific duties and tasks that contribute to overall student development.

VP External Duties

  • Chairs the Advocacy and Policy Committee
  • Promotes and maintains good public relations with surrounding communities
  • Liaises with Ministry and Government regarding issues that affect BCIT
  • Represents BCITSA on the BCIT Alumni Board and any lobbying efforts

The four (4) Vice Presidents perform specific duties and tasks that contribute to overall student development.

VP Student Experience Duties

  • Chairs the Clubs Committee and Selection Committee
  • Handles student issues and concerns, academic and non-academic
  • Liaises with BCIT on all matters affecting student life
  • A voting student rep on Education Council

The President chairs the Board & is responsible for leading the Council and Executive team.

VP Equity & Sustainability Duties

  • Chairs the Equity & Sustainability Committee
  • Advocates for increased equity and inclusivity on campus
  • Champions sustainability initiatives
  • Promotes BCITSA alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goals

The seven (7) Chairs perform duties and tasks specific to the School or Campus they represent and focus on issues specific to their School or Campus.

Chair Duties

  • Organizes and chairs Set Rep meetings
  • Appoints Student Councillors from their School
  • Liaises between Council and their respective School

The seven (7) Chairs perform duties and tasks specific to the School or Campus they represent and focus on issues specific to their School or Campus.

Chair Duties

  • Organizes and chairs Set Rep meetings
  • Appoints Student Councillors from their School
  • Liaises between Council and their respective School

The seven (7) Chairs perform duties and tasks specific to the School or Campus they represent and focus on issues specific to their School or Campus.

Chair Duties

  • Organizes and chairs Set Rep meetings
  • Appoints Student Councillors from their School
  • Liaises between Council and their respective School

The seven (7) Chairs perform duties and tasks specific to the School or Campus they represent and focus on issues specific to their School or Campus.

Chair Duties

  • Organizes and chairs Set Rep meetings
  • Appoints Student Councillors from their School
  • Liaises between Council and their respective School

The seven (7) Chairs perform duties and tasks specific to the School or Campus they represent and focus on issues specific to their School or Campus.

Chair Duties

  • Organizes and chairs Set Rep meetings
  • Appoints Student Councillors from their School
  • Liaises between Council and their respective School
  • Acts as chair of the Student Spaces Development Committee

The seven (7) Chairs perform duties and tasks specific to the School or Campus they represent and focus on issues specific to their School or Campus.

Chair Duties

  • Organizes and chairs Set Rep meetings
  • Appoints Student Councillors from their School
  • Liaises between Council and their respective School

The seven (7) Chairs perform duties and tasks specific to the School or Campus they represent and focus on issues specific to their School or Campus.

Chair Duties

  • Organizes and chairs Set Rep meetings
  • Appoints Student Councillors from their School
  • Liaises between Council and their respective School

Candidate Eligibility:

  • Be a member in good standing with the BCITSA;
  • Be enrolled in a full-time program OR at least three Flexible Learning courses;
  • Have a minimum of sixty-five percent (65%) previous term GPA (any candidates with no GPA at all should contact the Elections Administrator);
  • For candidates from ATC, must have a minimum of ten (10) months left in their consecutive study period as of June 1;
  • Not have previously been impeached by Council

Candidates may request, under the Bylaws, that the Elections Committee waive or relax the GPA, course load, or ATC requirements. Please contact elections@bcitsa.ca for further information.

Candidates

2025/2026 Executive Board Candidates

Before making a decision, take a look at all the students running for executive positions at BCITSA this year. See what they each have to offer as potential student representatives.

Cora Bell

President

Cora Bell

President

Cora Bell is in her final year of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at BCIT and currently works as an employed student nurse in postpartum. As the President of the BCIT Student Association, she brings a passion for advocacy and policy, having previously served as VP External and a health sciences councillor. She’s committed to making student voices heard, lobbying the provincial government for improved post-secondary funding, and working on strengthening BCITSA Bylaws and accountability for student leaders. Beyond her busy academic and leadership roles, Cora enjoys hiking, cycling, and traveling. She recently became the proud owner of a border terrier. You can reach her at president@bcitsa.ca for a chat.

Adam Matthews-Kott

VP Finance & Administration

Adam Matthews-Kott

VP Finance & Administration

Shervin Laghaie

VP External

Shervin Laghaie

VP External

Shervin Laghaie is the Vice President External at the BCIT Student Association and is currently studying Occupational Health and Safety. With over 11 years of experience in corporate leadership within the telecom industry, he brings a people-first mindset, strong communication, and strategic thinking to his role. He’s passionate about building safe, inclusive, and empowering environments and ensuring student voices are heard beyond BCIT, particularly on issues like affordability, housing, transportation, mental health, and career readiness. As VP External, Shervin focuses on strengthening relationships with government, industry, and other student associations. Outside of his studies and work, he’s a music lover who enjoys playing guitar, hiking, reading, and finding new ways to connect creativity with community. He’s always eager to connect with students to hear their ideas and questions.

Pratham Pannu

VP Student Experience

Pratham Pannu

VP Student Experience

Huy Tuan Tran

VP Equity & Sustainability

Huy Tuan Tran

VP Equity & Sustainability

Huy Tran, an international student from Vietnam, is pursuing his Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering. As a former peer mentor, he understands the challenges new international students face, having personally navigated the stress of adapting to a new country, language, and the demanding BCIT academic environment. He’s driven by a lifelong passion for building and designing, from a mini-projector with his grandpa to a kayak lifting system. As the VP of Equity and Sustainability, Huy is dedicated to fostering a more sustainable and inclusive engineering field and campus community. He emphasizes that “no matter who you are, where you’re from, or how you identify, you belong” and strives to ensure all student voices are heard and valued at BCIT.

Ethan Van Dyk

Chair, School of Business + Media

Ethan Van Dyk

Chair, School of Business + Media

Ethan Van Dyk proudly serves as the Chair for the School of Business + Media, representing over 13,000 students. He’s currently completing his Bachelor of Business Administration after earning a Diploma in Marketing Management. His background in sales, hospitality, and digital marketing informs his advocacy for students, focusing on service, strategy, and community to ensure their voices are heard and needs prioritized. Ethan is committed to making the Student Association enhance every student’s experience. Outside of his busy schedule, which often involves a lot of coffee, he enjoys working out, going to the beach, and hosting dinner parties. He encourages students to reach out via email or in person if they have questions, concerns, or simply want to chat.

Polina Omelyantseva

Chair, School of Computing and Academic Studies

Polina Omelyantseva

Chair, School of Computing and Academic Studies

Polina Omelyantseva, a CST student planning to enroll in the BScACS program, is the Chair of Computing. With prior experience as a Set Rep and Club Executive, she is deeply committed to improving student life within the School of Computing and across BCIT, with exciting plans for the year, including an anticipated Hackathon. She’s passionate about programming, especially low-level C. In her free time, Polina enjoys playing roguelite games and crocheting, often accompanied by her beloved black cat and an audiobook. She joined the Executive Board confident in her ability to bring about positive change and encourages students to contact her via email at chaircomputing@bcitsa.ca or on Discord (ytyz) with any comments or suggestions.

Ja Mu Ku

Chair, School of Health Sciences

Ja Mu Ku

Chair, School of Health Sciences

Jamu Ku is the Chair of the School of Health Sciences and is currently in her third year of the nursing program. As a half-Korean, half-Filipino individual, she embraces both cultures and enjoys activities like bouldering, golfing, surfing, and snowboarding, as well as exploring new restaurants. She is a highly sociable person, dedicated to supporting students and enhancing their lives. Jamu joined the Board to foster a more connected and supportive student community at BCIT, particularly for health science students who can find the program intense and isolating. Her goals include collaborating on a Healthcare Expo for leadership opportunities, creating a peer mentoring program for various health science programs, and organizing social events to build community. She encourages students to reach out with any questions.

Nina Lu

Chair, School of Energy

Nina Lu

Chair, School of Energy

Nina Lu, an Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology student, is the Chair of the School of Energy. Driven by a passion for innovation and community, she understands the challenges BCIT students face and is committed to ensuring no one is left behind. With a background in audio engineering and extensive experience organizing large-scale events, she excels at leading under pressure and delivering results. Nina’s top priority is fostering stronger connections across programs and creating opportunities for SoE students to network, collaborate, and innovate beyond their specific majors, aiming to establish a collaborative workspace. She is dedicated to listening, speaking up, and taking action on issues related to instruction, student wellness, and fairness, believing that “real change starts with action.” You can connect with her on LinkedIn.

Abdul Aziz Ansari

Chair, Schools of Transportation, Construction & the Environment

Abdul Aziz Ansari

Chair, Schools of Transportation, Construction & the Environment

Abdul Aziz Ansari is the Chair of Transportation Construction and the Environment (SoTCE) and a fourth-year student completing his Bachelor’s degree in Architectural Science. He joined the board this year to leverage his past board experience to effectively serve the student body. In his limited free time, Abdul enjoys playing sports, hiking, and studying history.

Elena Jou Luo

Chair, Downtown Campus

Elena Jou Luo

Chair, Downtown Campus

Marisa Price

Chair, Specialized Transport Campuses

Marisa Price

Chair, Specialized Transport Campuses

Marisa Price is your 2025-2026 Chair of Specialized Transport Campuses, currently in her second year of Marine Engineering at BCIT’s Marine Campus. Before attending BCIT, she gained valuable experience in the marine industry, working in crew management, deckhand, and mechanical assistant roles, which she now applies to her executive board position. She previously served as the BMC Specialty Councilor, gaining insight into BCITSA’s crucial role in student life. Marisa is passionate about ensuring the needs of satellite campus students are well-represented. When she’s not immersed in her coursework, she prioritizes spending time outdoors, enjoying activities like hiking, skiing, or kayaking, and can often be found reading a book.

Committees

The CRO and the Elections Committee

It is the role of the Election Committee to oversee the smooth operation of the BCITSA elections & by-elections in conjunction with the Elections Administrator. The Election Committee is chaired by the CRO (community relations officer). Errors in the interpretation of the bylaw may be appealed to the Appeals Committee, whose decision is final and binding. The Election Committee is mandated to ensure that the election process invites the participation of the electorate and ensures both fairness and transparency for each of the candidates.

Elections Committee & Appeals Committee

Call for Applications

Are you interested in helping your BCITSA administer elections and by-elections? The BCITSA is recruiting applicants for paid student positions on the Appeals Committee. 


Please submit your resume to jobs@bcitsa.ca

Appeals Committee (3 Positions)
Elections Committee (3 Positions)

Elections Administrator Contact Information

All complaints must be placed in writing to the Elections Administrator via e-mail.

Sameer Ismail

CRO

Adam Beggs

Executive Assistant + Board Liaison

Important Elections Documents & Links

Candidate Application Package

Elections Overview

Campaign Rules

Post-Campaign Forms

BCITSA Elections Logo

Student Leadership

Learn more about how you can support and get involved in student leadership with BCITSA.

Student Executives

Student Council

Set Rep Program