► Operations Officer

I’ve just finished a degree in BA International Development at Sussex.

I first got involved in the Students' Union by joining societies in my first year and went on to co-run two of them in my second year. In my third year I was elected as the part-time Ethical and Environmental Officer and got a real insight into how to shape the Union and University to make a more positive impact on the wider society and environment.

I decided to run for election as a full-time officer to continue to build on the projects, campaigns and initiatives I had been working on as Ethical and Environmental Officer and to make changes to ensure that all students can have a greater say in shaping how their union is run.

My favourite thing about Brighton is the vibrant culture of activism and making positive change – there are so many active campaign groups and networks to get involved with, gain new skills and knowledge, and turn your ideas into action.

The Operations Officer's role

The Operations Officer is responsible for overseeing the Union’s finances and ensuring that we're financially sustainable. I'm also responsible for overseeing the Union’s commercial services - ensuring they provide the services that students want whilst making the surplus we rely on to run all our other services and activities.

I also ensure that the Union is operating in an ethically and environmentally sound way, and supporting students and elected representatives to drive forward positive changes in this area.

The Operations Officer is responsible for overseeing the Union's democratic processes, to make sure they operate smoothly and are easily accessible to everyone.

Activities & updates

December 2011 & January 2012

International foods – working on developing an international foods range in the Union shop much better suited to the range of students from different countries.

Reusable mug scheme – working with the Union bars and the University caterers to develop a re-usable mug scheme, to reduce waste and save students money.

Green Week – working with various students, staff members, university department and local community groups to make plans for the week. This year the focus will be on embedding sustainability within the university and making positive changes actually happen during the week and for the longer term, rather than just about awareness raising.

Fairtrade fortnight – working with the Fairtrade Steering Group to plan a series of events and promotions during fair-trade fortnight.

Lewes Road sustainable transport – working with the local council and both Sussex and Brighton University transport staff to agree ways of increasing participation in the consultation on the Lewes Road ‘sustainable transport corridor’, and suggesting ways for these funds to be spent on campus (such as more cycle racks in popular areas).

Green Impact – working with the new Environmental Administrator to make progress on our NUS Green Impact Award submission.

Free Shop – setting up a free shop in the common room for students to share unwanted items, both reducing our environmental impact (by saving things from landfill and saving people buying things new) and saving students money.

Free-Wheelers – working with the Free-Wheelers society to set up the new volunteer-run bike-maintenance workshop, which is now nearly ready to launch.

Leadership for Sustainable Development workshop – feeding ideas into discussions with University management (VCEG and Heads of School) of how Sussex could improve its environmental sustainability, such as by setting up a new committee specifically to address ethical and environmental issues within the university, and to coordinate and monitor progress on a clear set of aims and objectives around these.

Portfolio review – participating in the University’s portfolio review, assessing the levels of support and quality of courses across the university.

Students Decide – preparing an overview of the SU’s financial situation and an annotated budget to be presented to the meeting, and chairing it.

Meeting with Co-operative – participating in the annual review of our partnership with the cooperative, and raising issues to such as waste levels, packaging, lack of music in the store, product ranges etc.

Meeting with BHFP – discussing possibilities for the SU to enter into joint partnership with the Brighton and Hove Food Partnership’s lottery finding bid for developing sustainable communities.  

>> Read all my updates

operations@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

Phone: 01273 87 3353

Office: Top floor, Falmer House

Facebook: Becca Melhuish

Twitter: @OperationsUSSU

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