Event Overview
Student Union Development Summit (SUDS) 2025
August 8–10, 2025 | University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver
SUS Executive Delegates
Bilal Faisal Faheem – SUS President
Eemanjot Kaur – VP Students
Gurpreet Singh – VP External
Taj Sharma – VP Internal
WHAT IS SUDS?
SUDS is Canada’s national conference, bringing together student union leaders from across the country. It provides a platform for delegates to acquire valuable insights and develop practical skills. SUDS allows delegates to build both their personal and professional networks alongside like-minded individuals.
Key Learnings and Highlights:
1. Advocacy & Networking:
Led by Robyn Paches and Marc-André Ross, this session emphasized that advocacy is embedded in every executive’s role, from helping individual students to influencing institutional change. Delegates learned that effective advocacy relies on both persuasion and relationship-building, with preparation and trust as its foundation.
2. Media Training – “Making Headlines”:
Thandi Fletcher offered valuable insights into authentic engagement with the media. Delegates learned to craft key messages, anticipate questions, and use techniques like “flagging” to highlight important points, ensuring transparency and confidence in communication.
3. Operations & Inclusion:
Callista Ryan and Hussein Samhat emphasized that successful student operations require an understanding of diverse student experiences. Building inclusive, trusting environments and listening actively were noted as essential for effective advocacy and organizational health.
Executive Team with Gavin Dew
4. Advocacy in Action:
Gavin Dew and Saad Shoaib shared strategies for bridging the gap between student and policymaker relationships. They encouraged aligning advocacy goals with public interests, seeking collaboration over confrontation, and maintaining non-partisan approaches to foster long-term change.
President and VPI with MP Wade Grant
5. Truth and Reconciliation:
MP Wade Grant underscored the role of student unions in advancing reconciliation by acknowledging colonial impacts and creating inclusive, respectful spaces that uplift Indigenous voices and experiences.
6. Accessibility and Equity:
Stephanie Cadieux, Canada’s Chief Accessibility Officer, discussed progress under the Accessible Canada Act (2019) and the ongoing work to remove barriers in employment, communication, and education. She emphasized that accessibility must be embedded into decision-making, not treated as optional.
VPE and VPS with Stephanie Cadieux
7. Leadership and Opportunity:
Alex Golovko and Lev Bukhman concluded the summit by reflecting on leadership grounded in action, empathy, and perseverance. They stressed pacing, teamwork, and community engagement as cornerstones of impactful student leadership, reminding delegates that enthusiasm and care drive lasting change.
VPS with Alex Golovko
President with Lev Bukhman
Takeaway
SUDS 2025 demonstrated that student unions play a crucial role in driving real change. By advocating, being inclusive, and working together, student leaders can create stronger, more connected, and fair campuses across Canada.