To mark Trustees’ Week (3rd-7th November 2025), we wanted to shine the spotlight on the individuals who give their time to make your Students’ Union run effectively as a charity. Cardiff Met Students’ Union exists to make your student life better. We’re a Registered Charity in England and Wales (No. 1148990), regulated by the Charity Commission. As a not-for-profit, every pound we generate is reinvested into services for students, and charity law keeps us focused on our purposes of benefitting s
Trustees’ Week 2025: Meet the Cardiff Met SU Trustees
To mark Trustees’ Week (3rd-7th November 2025), we wanted to shine the spotlight on the individuals who give their time to make your Students’ Union run effectively as a charity.
Cardiff Met Students’ Union exists to make your student life better. We’re a Registered Charity in England and Wales (No. 1148990), regulated by the Charity Commission. As a not-for-profit, every pound we generate is reinvested into services for students, and charity law keeps us focused on our purposes of benefitting students, while remaining transparent and accountable to our members.
Overall responsibility for this sits with our Board of Trustees, which brings together elected student leaders, appointed students, and independent external (or lay) Trustees. The Board sets long-term direction, ensures legal and financial stewardship, and is supported by Committees that provide detailed scrutiny and recommendations.
For this Trustees’ Week, we’ve asked each Trustee four quick questions, and you can read their answers in full below!
Souparnika P Namboothiri, Officer Trustee, Chair of the Board of Trustees
Tell us about yourself
I’m currently the SU president and chair of Cardiff Met SU, I completed an undergraduate degree in Business and Management and I’m pursuing my master's in digital marketing.
What made you want to be a Trustee at Cardiff Met SU?
I was elected by 667 Students in Cardiff MET for this role. I am particularly drawn to the Trustee role because it offers the opportunity to help shape the direction of the SU, ensuring it remains student-led, transparent, and responsive.
Tell us something memorable or something you're proud of from your time as a Trustee
The SU Board Away Day and chairing the Board meeting for the first time.
Do you have any tips for someone who is considering becoming a Trustee?
If you are an aspiring leader, want to learn, grow and develop your skills, you may join the Students' Union as a Student Trustee. For this rewarding experience, please bring an open mind, courage to ask questions and respect towards others’ perspectives.
Agenda and reflection are important and Open communication.
Vaishnavi Chopde- Officer Trustee
Tell us about yourself
I am the Vice President Education at Cardiff Met Students’ Union, a role I began in July 2025. Before this, I completed my master’s in digital marketing management at Cardiff Metropolitan University. With three years of professional experience in India’s marketing sector, I bring expertise in strategy, communication, and digital transformation to the Board.
What made you want to be a Trustee at Cardiff Met SU?
I wanted to be a Trustee at Cardiff Met SU because I believe in shaping a student experience that empowers every individual to grow both academically and personally. Having served as Vice President Education, I’ve seen firsthand the impact of strategic decisions on students’ lives. Becoming a Trustee allows me to contribute to long-term development, ensure transparency, and help drive forward-thinking initiatives that make the SU more inclusive, innovative, and student focused.
Tell us something memorable or something you're proud of from your time as a Trustee
Achievement as a Trustee is contributing to initiatives that improved academic representation and strengthened communication between students and university staff. I’m particularly proud of helping to implement feedback systems that gave students a stronger voice in shaping their learning experience- creating a lasting impact on how student concerns are heard and acted upon.
Do you have any tips for someone who is considering becoming a Trustee?
My biggest tip for anyone considering becoming a Trustee is to approach the role with curiosity and a genuine desire to make a difference. Be open to learning about governance, strategy, and finance, it’s less daunting than it sounds and incredibly rewarding. Always keep students at the heart of every decision, ask questions fearlessly, and remember that diverse perspectives strengthen the Board. It’s a role that not only helps shape the university experience but also develops your own leadership and critical-thinking skills.
Sabrina Farida Chowdhury- Student Trustee
Tell us about yourself
I am a Student Trustee and currently pursuing my MSc Applied Public Health. Besides, I work as a Digital Ambassador and Student Ambassador for Cardiff Metropolitan University. With a passion for capacity building, promoting diversity, and putting ethics into practice, I bring high organisational capabilities, decision-making aptitude and strength in communication.
What made you want to be a Trustee at Cardiff Met SU?
I believe that being a student trustee at the Cardiff Met Students’ Union is an incredible opportunity to participate in shaping the student experience. I was highly motivated to serve as a trustee to play a crucial role in representing students’ expectations, contribute to SU’s long-term decisions, and ensure its accountability. Most particularly, I found this role to be a prospect to nurture governance, build confidence in decision-making and develop strategic leadership skills for my personal and professional growth. At the same time, this is an exciting scope to showcase own potentialities.
Tell us something memorable or something you're proud of from your time as a Trustee
I find the Student Trustees to be a really impactful role within the Student Union. It has made me feel valued and enabled me to share my strategic insights in many key decisions. A particular highlight for me was evolving as a strategic thinker while being part of discussions about SU’s present and future strategies that were centred around emphasising student priorities and inclusivity.
Do you have any tips for someone who is considering becoming a Trustee?
If you are thinking of volunteering and becoming a Trustee? Go for it, if you passionate and care about the cause', you can make a tremendous difference to the charity and to yourself. Make sure you are happy to ask questions and share your skills and experiences.
Dafydd Evans Hughes- Student Trustee
Tell us about yourself
I have graduated from Cardiff Metropolitan University this year with a first in Banking and Finance and have recently been employed as a cover staff in schools and colleges around Cardiff. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, running and playing chess. I would say my area of experience is in Finance due to my degree.
What made you want to be a Trustee at Cardiff Met SU?
I was a School Representative for the Students' Union and wanted to make a difference on a bigger scale so decided to apply to be a Trustee.
Tell us something memorable or something you're proud of from your time as a Trustee
I am proud of the work I have done in regard to overseeing the Students' Union budgets and vote on measures to ensure the financial stability of the SU.
Do you have any tips for someone who is considering becoming a Trustee?
Keep an open mind as every meeting there's something different to consider whether that's the business taking place or people's point of views on the matter.
Claire Blanchard- Lay Trustee
Tell us about yourself
I’m an academic with a background in higher education, governance and student support. I’m passionate about inclusion, ethical leadership, and empowering student voices. I bring expertise in policy engagement, collaborative decision-making, and strategic oversight to the Board.
What made you want to be a Trustee at Cardiff Met SU?
I am passionate about supporting student wellbeing, representation, and inclusion. I see the role of Trustee as a meaningful way to contribute to these values at a strategic level. Having worked in universities all my working life, I work closely with students and understand the challenges they face both academically and personally. I believe that the Students’ Union plays a vital role in advocating for their needs and creating a vibrant, supportive university community.
Tell us something memorable or something you're proud of from your time as a Trustee
Having only very recently joined the Board of Trustees I am still finding my feet but from what I have already seen I am very impressed by the enthusiasm, vibrancy and passion of my fellow colleagues in their roles as Trustees which I am hoping very much to replicate. I am sure that over the coming months and beyond that I will be able to make a very positive contribution to the role. Being part of this Board has reminded me why I wanted to be a Trustee in the first place—to help create meaningful change and ensure that student voices are at the heart of decision-making.
Do you have any tips for someone who is considering becoming a Trustee?
My advice would be to go for it! If you want change, you have to put yourself forward and help make that change happen.
Elgan Hughes- Lay Trustee, People & Culture Committee Chair
Tell us about yourself
I have worked in the Higher Education sector for 15 years spending time in both Students' Unions and Universities, I'm currently the Student Engagement Manager at Cardiff University. Embedding Student Voice at the heart of the University decision making process is an area I'm passionate about and I provide expertise in Student Representation and Co-Governance, Student Feedback Mechanisms, and Student and Staff partnership projects.
What made you want to be a Trustee at Cardiff Met SU?
Having benefited from a great student experience enabled by a great students' union, I hope to support Cardiff Met Students' Union to continue having a positive impact for all Students at Cardiff Met.
Tell us something memorable or something you're proud of from your time as a Trustee
Having joined the Trustee Board at a pivotal time of change I'm proud of providing guidance and support through key strategic developments and hopefully future proofing the union to provide experiences and support for all students.
Do you have any tips for someone who is considering becoming a Trustee?
Make sure you have the time available to commit to the role and invest the time needed to read papers and learn about the work of the organisation.
Aled Lewis- Lay Trustee and Finance, Audit & Risk Committee Chair
Tell us about yourself
Current Director of the Cymru Football Foundation, a charity that develops community sports facilities. I am passionate about sport, community development and social impact. I bring charitable governance, financial oversight and risk management experience and expertise.
What made you want to be a Trustee at Cardiff Met SU?
I am a former Cardiff Met student and staff member and thoroughly enjoyed my experiences at the University in both capacities. I am passionate about supporting the University and, specifically the SU, to ensure every student has the best experience.
Tell us something memorable or something you're proud of from your time as a Trustee
I am proud of the work we've done as a Board to manage risk and establish a more effective system to review our organisational risks and how best to mitigate them.
Do you have any tips for someone who is considering becoming a Trustee?
For me being a Trustee is a great way to meet people from different sectors and backgrounds and to take advantage of opportunities to learn from others and share your own insights. Whether your background is in education, finance, HR, or lived experience, your perspective can add real value. Think about what you uniquely bring to the table and go for it!
Ceri Wilcock- Lay Trustee
Tell us about yourself
As Deputy Director, Student Experience at the Open University (OU) in Wales, I lead the OU’s strategic work to support and enhance the student journey across Wales. My remit spans the academic experience, student support and wellbeing, community and belonging, and professional and personal development.
I’m a passionate advocate for the transformative power of education and lifelong learning, and my career began in community-based adult learning projects across South Wales. I’ve also taught as an Associate Lecturer in Arts & Humanities.
I live by the sea in South Wales with my husband and two sons, I love walking, practising yoga and getting cosy with a good book!
What made you want to be a Trustee at Cardiff Met SU?
My approach to student success has always been centred on student voice, belonging, and inclusive outcomes. I’d encountered former Cardiff Met SU Presidents in my work across the sector and been hugely impressed by the passion and great work happening at the Union. Once I’d met Will and the staff team, I knew I wanted to be involved in such a dynamic and committed team. I felt my experience would add something but also that there was a lot I could learn from them!
Tell us something memorable or something you're proud of from your time as a Trustee
I feel that the Board has really made a difference over the last two years. We were virtually all new in 2023 and the progress we’ve seen at the organisation since then is astounding. I’m proud of how well we work together to draw on our individual strengths in a collaborative way. There’s no shortage of challenge but that’s what pushes us to achieve great outcomes.
Do you have any tips for someone who is considering becoming a Trustee?
Invest in building great relationships with the CEO and your fellow Trustees. Make time for the chats before and after meetings and get to know each other as that’s the glue that holds you together!