SUDS 2026 Sessions
This page is updated regularly with more info about sessions at SUDS 2026! Check back often.
Good Governance and Success in Student Leadership
Strong student unions are built on clear governance, accountability, sustainable practices, and a strong understanding of the students they serve. This opening session will explore the structures and habits that help student leaders begin their terms with clarity and set their organizations up for long-term success.
Speaker(s):
Perspectives on Student Leadership
Student leadership is a unique experience. You face a steep learning curve and then spend your year making decisions that can have an impact long after your term ends.
At Alumo, many members of the team have made the unique journey from student executive to careers spent working alongside student leaders across Canada. That perspective gives them front-row seats to how campus leadership has evolved over the past few decades and what has remained remarkably consistent.
Join moderator Sophia Haque, former UBC AMS Vice President, Finance, along with Alexander Golovko (former Carleton University Student Association President), Larissa Chen (former Simon Fraser Student Society President), and Nikiel Lal (former University of Fraser Valley Student Union Society President and Douglas College Student Union Director) for an honest conversation about student leadership and how it's changed since they were in your shoes. They each had different paths post-graduation but have all continued supporting student leaders through their careers at Alumo, with tenures ranging from mere months to more than 17 years.
Whether you’re in your first term or your last, you’ll leave with some insights you can take back to your campus.
Speaker(s):
Peer Networking: Designing Campus Events That Help Students Connect
Student engagement is changing, and campus teams are being asked to do more with fewer resources. In this interactive peer discussion, delegates will compare what is working, identify common roadblocks, and explore ways to make events more welcoming, discoverable, and community focused. Participants will leave with new connections and practical ideas they can take back to their campuses.
Speaker(s):
Roundtable Exchange: Ideas, Challenges, & Successes
Join your peers for an interactive roundtable session focused on sharing ideas, asking questions, and learning from one another. Choose a discussion table based on the topic that interests you most or move between tables throughout the session as conversations evolve. Roundtable topics will include best practices for collecting and using data, navigating relationships with the university, and marketing & communication strategies. Whether you have a success story to share, a challenge you're working through, or a question you'd like to explore with colleagues, this is an opportunity to exchange practical insights and leave with new ideas to bring back to your organization.
Facilitators:
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Kathleen Simpson, Student Services Senior Manager, AMS of UBC
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Eric Lowe, Senior Communications Manager, AMS of UBC
Student Union Models Across Canada and Beyond
No two student unions operate exactly the same way. This session will invite delegates to compare how their organizations are structured, governed, and connected to the students they serve. By examining models from across Canada and beyond, participants can identify ideas worth adapting to their own campuses.
Career Readiness: Building Confidence for Future Opportunities
Career readiness begins with the ability to communicate your experience and strengths with confidence. Through hands-on activities and real-world examples, delegates will explore resumes, cover letters, interviews, and personal branding. Participants will leave with practical strategies they can use when applying for roles, internships, and future leadership opportunities.
Speaker(s):
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Lauren Fuerderer, Manager (Campus Recruitment, MNP LLP (Vancouver)
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Natassia Wong, Articling Accountant (Private Enterprise Services), MNP LLP (Vancouver)
Advocacy and Government Relations 101
Effective advocacy starts with clear priorities and strong relationships. This practical workshop will cover how to turn student concerns into focused policy asks, prepare memorable briefing notes, collaborate with campus and community partners, and build productive relationships with elected officials and their staff. Delegates will leave with tools they can use in future lobbying and government-relations work.
Speaker(s):
Beyond the Bylaws: What Good Student Union Governance Looks Like
Good governance is more than policies on paper. This session will examine how clear roles, effective collaboration, responsible resource management, and strong decision-making structures help student unions serve students with confidence. Delegates will leave with practical questions and tools to assess and strengthen governance in their own organizations.
Speaker(s):