ABOUT ME
Voting Links: amsvoting.as.it.ubc.ca.
My name is Kuol Akuechbeny, and I am running to be your next AMS President on the platform of;
Strong advocacy for students wellbeing
Improve students engagement and affordability
More students’ voices in Governance
Principles of Sustainability and climate justice outreach.
Greater Transparency and Accountability
Collaborative effort to achieving Students’ priorities
I am honored to be serving currently as your AMS VP Finance. Brief information about me, I was born in South Sudan, completed my high school in Nairobi, Kenya and resettled in Canada through the WUSC (World University Service of Canada) student-funded refugee program.
As your next AMS President, I will use my four years experience working within UBC and the Alma Mater Society of UBC Vancouver as AMS VP Finance and former AMS Clubs & Constituencies Financial Administrator, University Affairs Commissioner, AMS Clubs & Constituencies Financial Administrator, Residence Advisor, WUSC-UBC President, and UBC Go Global Ambassadors in order to achieve my goals and provide better support to the four vice-presidents to also achieve their goals and together, build a more efficient, more transparent and more supportive Alma Mater Society of UBC Vancouver.
It has been a great privilege for me to have the opportunities at UBC to be highly involved in most activities within UBC community, which has allowed me to develop notable leadership skills and enhance personal competencies that I intend to continue using for the benefit of serving UBC students.
EXPERIENCE
AMS VP Finance
UBC Go Global Ambassador
As your AMS VP Finance, Chair of Finance Committee and Health & Dental Plan committees;
I worked with AMS members and student community to build new Investment Policy that was allows AMS $ 16 investments to be fully invested sustainably and in companies that follow ESG (Environment, social governance) – New AMS Divestment Policy reflects the more values of the society
I work with AMS/GSS Health & Dental Committee and expanded flue reimbursement from 70% to 100% with no current or future cost to students and encouragement more students to take advantage of the plan thus reducing risk of getting flue on campus
I work with my team to provide enough for clubs & constituencies as well individual students for about 25% more thus better utilizations of student’s money. I also triple the number of credit use by students and streamline orientations process for clubs& constituencies treasurers and VP Finance.
I worked with constituencies vice-presidents of Finance to set up VP Finance Caucus consisting of all vice-presidents of constituencies and meeting on quarterly basis to ensure that students engage on financial related matters and great of students consultation or the AMS Finance Office.
Currently, I am working to test the secure online money transfer system for the second time after failing the first testing due to security and compatibility issues and we are hopeful that will work well.
I am also working with my team on project that will build Independence AMS Ticketing Platform that will help reduce ticketing cost for students by about 10-20%
PREVIOUS ROLES AT AMS AND AT UBC
AMS University Affairs Commissioner
Residence Advisor
WUSC-UBC/SRP President
WUSC-UBC Coordinator & Treasurer
AMS Clubs & Constituencies Financial Administrator
Non-voting member of the AMS Finance Commission
Sauder Teaching Assistant
Go Global Summer Program Assistant
As Clubs & Constituencies Financial Administrators, I was managing over 400 financial operations of the AMS subsidiaries organization having direct interactions and supporting clubs & constituencies leaders. As AMS University Affairs Commissioner, I was involved in various policies writing and outreach of projects like Text Book Broke Campaign through AMS VP Academics & University Affairs office. My volunteering though WUSC-UBC helped me learn by running a successful referendum to increase the number refugee sponsored by UBC from 4 to 8 and advocating for better support by UBC for refugees which resulted to full financial and house supports for 1st and 2nd years WUSC students and subsidize housing for upper levels WUSC scholars.
EDUCATION
Year of Study: 4th year
Faculty: Commerce
Major: Operations & Logistics
Minor: Law & Society