Issuu

2026/2027 ELECTION CANDIDATE GUIDE

Authorised by Returning Officer, David Birchall

The following guide presents the individual candidates for positions on the 2026/2027 MULS Board. Each candidate profile contains: 1. Candidate’s Name 2. Candidate’s Photo 3. Candidate’s Statement of Intention

Pursuant to s 9.3 of the Election Regulations, the candidates have been grouped by the positions for which they are nominating and alphabetically ordered by surname.

Question Period Ask nominees any questions you might have here ● Sunday, 11 October 2026, 9am - Question period opens ● Monday, 12 October 2026, 5pm - Question period closes

Voting Period: ● Saturday, 17 October 2026, 9am - Polls open ● Monday, 19 October 2026, 5pm - Polls close

Voting will take place via Google Form

NOMINATION CONTENTS PRESIDENT.............................................................................................................. 4 RACHEL JUSTIC............................................................................................................ 5 RAYANNE SABRA......................................................................................................... 6 SECRETARY.............................................................................................................. 7 AUDREY CHEN............................................................................................................. 8 OWEN HUNT................................................................................................................9 TREASURER........................................................................................................... 10 VICE-PRESIDENT (EDUCATION)............................................................................11 EISHAR CHAGGAR.....................................................................................................12 AARON KEETELS........................................................................................................13 VICE-PRESIDENT (SOCIAL JUSTICE)......................................................................14 AMRITTHA KRISHNAN.............................................................................................. 15 VICE-PRESIDENT (CAREER ENGAGEMENT)..........................................................16 ANKHITA SEKHAR......................................................................................................17 VICE-PRESIDENT (COMPETITIONS - ADVOCACY)................................................18 JAPNEET GILL............................................................................................................. 19 VICE-PRESIDENT (COMPETITIONS - PROFESSIONAL SKILLS)............................ 20 ALAN HUANG............................................................................................................ 21 VICE-PRESIDENT (PUBLICATIONS).......................................................................22 KRISHI PATEL............................................................................................................. 23 VICE-PRESIDENT (MARKETING)........................................................................... 24 KAITLYN MEARES...................................................................................................... 25 VICE-PRESIDENT (EVENTS)................................................................................... 26 NIHARA DELUNGAHAWATTE...................................................................................27 ANUSHREE KANODIA............................................................................................... 28 VICE-PRESIDENT (JURIS DOCTOR & POSTGRADUATE)....................................... 29 DAVID DONKIN......................................................................................................... 30

PRESIDENT

RACHEL JUSTIC Hello everyone! I am excited to be running for President of the Macquarie University Law Society as I enter my final year. I hope to use the skills I have cultivated throughout my degree to ensure all students can walk away from law school making the most out of their experience. I believe no two students want the same thing out of their degree, and MULS should work for each student’s goals. As Vice President of Competitions (Professional Skills) this year, and several years of experience in other MULS portfolios including Education and Publications, I have a well-rounded understanding of the functioning of MULS. Outside MULS, I have held board positions in other Macquarie University societies, as well as volunteering for Redfern Legal Centre and Her Village Foundation, where I assist with governance for the not-for-profit, including its constitution and policies. I am comfortable dealing with stakeholders, finances and leading teams. These roles have taught me that good leadership comes from making space for everyone’s voice. My Commitments: If elected, I will: 1. Listen: Ensure that the initiatives of MULS meet the needs of students and expand on these initiatives to ensure ALL students are supported. Each student’s experiences differ; some of us wish to compete in high-level competitions attend more social events to make friends or obtain support in navigating their clerkship and graduate applications. Each of these aims are equally important and should be accessible to you. 2. Reputation: Build on MULS’ standing as a society, with every Macquarie law student having something unique to offer. I will strengthen our relationships with not only other law societies, but firms and sponsors so that we can improve your access to the opportunities that can help you meet your goals. I am looking forward to what MULS will achieve in 2027!

RAYANNE SABRA Hello everyone! I am running for President of the Macquarie University Law Society because I believe student societies should do more than create opportunities; they should foster belonging, open doors and leave you with experiences you carry beyond university. As a proud Muslim woman, I know what it means to walk into a room hoping there will be space for you, without knowing whether you will find it. I want every student, regardless of background, to find their place in MULS and feel its opportunities are genuinely for them. Over the past two years, I have served as Executive Officer of Social Justice Advocacy and Vice-President of Social Justice. I secured funding for our equity scheme, allowing us to purchase more textbooks and subsidise more event tickets, reducing financial barriers to participation. I have also built external partnerships and led some of our highest-attended events. These experiences taught me to turn ideas into initiatives and bring people together. As President, I want to strengthen relationships with the Law School, alumni and legal profession while building a connected Executive. Through shared planning, regular communication and check-ins, I would encourage portfolios to exchange ideas, address challenges early and support one another. I would also seek feedback from students beyond those already involved in MULS, ensuring our decisions reflect the wider student body. A strong reputation depends on more than opportunities; it is reflected in how we operate, treat one another and listen. I want to lead by example, follow through on commitments, welcome different perspectives and hold myself accountable. MULS has given me opportunities to grow, a community to contribute to and a platform to advocate for what matters to me. As we enter our next 50 years, I want to honour that legacy while imagining what more we can become. I would be honoured to lead MULS into its next chapter.

SECRETARY

AUDREY CHEN In my two years of being a part of Macquarie Law School, I have had the privilege to get involved in various areas and opportunities offered by MULS, which has shown me the importance of having a community within the law school. My vision as Secretary is to act as the supportive backbone of MULS, by ensuring all administrative requirements are met properly, to bring the visions and initiatives of each portfolio to life. Beyond keeping things organised, if elected, I would also be committed to maintaining the professional character of MULS. In my experience as Executive Officer of Competitions (Professional Skills), I have learnt to stay organised under deadlines, communicate clearly with my team and adapt when plans change, all skills in which I would transfer to the role of Secretary. A key takeaway I had from my role was that a little goes a long way. My engagement with industry professionals such as solicitors and barristers has taught me that extra effort does not go unnoticed. That extra confirmation email, or simply just being timely and consistent demonstrates thoughtfulness and the kind of genuine professionalism that I would bring to the role of Secretary. Not for the bare minimum, but because details are what make people feel valued. Additionally, I have also been on the other side and competed in different advocacy and professional skills competitions, which have strengthened my teamwork and problem-solving skills. If elected, I would strive to be an approachable and reliable Secretary to be someone that each portfolio can count on to keep things running behind the scenes. I would be honoured to give back to a community that has taught me so much and be able to contribute to delivering that same experience to law students.

OWEN HUNT Hello everyone! I am Owen Hunt, and I am excited to be running for Secretary of the Macquarie University Law Society (MULS) for 2026/27. I aim to apply my experience to enrich your time in law school, be it through professional development opportunities, social events or anything in between. In 2025/26, I served as an Executive Officer (Corporate Careers), assisting the Vice President in creating and running our clerkship and other careers events. This year, we achieved a record number of clerkship event attendees and hosted the most clerkship panels in MULS history. I have also competed in professional skills and advocacy competitions and volunteered as a client in internal and intervarsity client interview competitions. These experiences have developed my organisational and governance understanding of MULS. In 2026/27, I hope to use them to assist Vice Presidents in building on the success that each portfolio has had this year and provide you with further opportunities to develop professionally and understand life beyond law school. I have worked for firms both in Australia and the United Kingdom across a range of practice areas. My experience includes commercial law at a “Big Six” firm and personal injury at a boutique firm, and I will soon begin a role in commercial litigation. Working in a variety of roles across different types of firms has given me a well-rounded understanding of practice management and organisational skills that can be applied directly to the role of Secretary. If elected, I am committed to providing you with all of the enriching opportunities that MULS has given me, and more. It would be a privilege to work alongside the President and the rest of the Board to make 2026/27 and beyond as rewarding as possible for you.

TREASURER This position will be put forward for casual vacancy nominations from the floor at the 2026 MULS Annual General Meeting.

VICE-PRESIDENT (EDUCATION)

EISHAR CHAGGAR Hello everyone! My name is Eishar and I am excited to run for the Vice-President (Education) position, with a commitment to making legal education more accessible, inclusive and supportive for all students. Through my experience as Executive Officer (Equity), I have gained valuable insight into the barriers students face in accessing educational opportunities. In this role, I worked closely with the Vice-President (Education) to expand the Textbook Equity Scheme, improving access to essential learning resources for students experiencing financial hardship. I hope to continue this development by addressing broader barriers to education, recognising challenges that extend beyond financial circumstances. In my current role as a School Learning Support Officer, I am actively involved in supporting student wellbeing, which has strengthened my understanding of the connection between mental health and academic success. Combined with my Youth Mental Health First Aid certification, this experience has highlighted the importance of creating environments where students feel comfortable discussing challenges and seeking support. Recognising the pressures of studying law, I hope to broaden the Education portfolio by integrating wellbeing more closely with academic initiatives and encouraging open conversations about mental health. I would also love to utilise the existing MULS podcast, Justified, to facilitate discussions with legal professionals about managing academic pressures, maintaining wellbeing and navigating the challenges of a legal career. One initiative I am particularly passionate about introducing is a mentorship program, connecting first-year and first-generation students with experienced law students. This would provide incoming students with academic guidance, peer support, and a familiar point of contact, helping ease their transition into law school while fostering a strong sense of belonging. If elected, I aim to build on the portfolio’s existing achievements while strengthening collaboration across MULS to ensure students feel academically supported, personally connected, and empowered to succeed throughout their degrees. 12

AARON KEETELS Hello everyone! My name is Aaron, and I am running for Vice-President (Education). For the past year I have served as Executive Officer (Campus Experience) within the Education portfolio, working directly alongside the current Vice-President (Education) on every event we delivered. I have helped plan them, run them, and seen first-hand what works and what doesn’t. I know what this role demands, and I would bring that experience straight into it. The Education portfolio does two things: it welcomes new students into law school, and it supports the ones already here. O-Week stalls and the first-year morning tea handle the welcome well. Where we can do more is the support that comes after, so I want to introduce a Q&A panel early in the semester, where senior law students answer questions from first and second years. Running it early means students can come before assessments take over their calendars. Supporting the students already here also means looking after their wellbeing. I want to continue our mental health events, including the imposter syndrome panel we ran this year. That panel mattered because it showed us that we are not alone with those feelings. However, it was held in the middle of mid-semester assessments, and attendance reflected that. Good events only work if students can be there. I want to schedule this portfolio’s events around law students’ workloads, not against them. The portfolio also covers the Justified podcast. This year I recorded an episode with our property lecturer, Professor Cathy Sherry, on strata title. I picked it because with the rising cost of living, an apartment is what most of us will realistically buy, and knowing how strata title works is knowledge students can use in their own lives. I want to keep making episodes with that kind of real-world value.

VICE-PRESIDENT (SOCIAL JUSTICE)

AMRITTHA KRISHNAN Hello Everyone! My name is Amrittha Krishnan and I would love to be your Vice President (Social Justice) for 2026/2027. Over the past two years, I have dedicated my time, passion and effort to the Social Justice Portfolio. As a Subcommittee member, I supported all social justice initiatives, from moderating panels to conducting local high school outreach. This gave me early insight into the hard work and coordination required to deliver impactful events that make a lasting difference for our community. This led me to pursue my current role as Executive Officer (Community Outreach). In this role, I co-led the Barriers to Access to Justice Panel and delivered the Environmental Law Panel, earning commendations for our team’s professionalism and organisation. I also coordinated MULS’s City2Surf team and in collaboration with MindSpot and Macquarie University’s Engagement & Partnerships Team, MULS got to represent the broader university community. Beyond these achievements, working alongside such a supportive and passionate team taught me that true leadership is about empowering others to succeed together, a culture I will continue to embed. In my final year at university, I am ready to channel this experience into leading the Social Justice Portfolio. If elected, my vision for the portfolio is twofold: 1. Fostering an inclusive environment by working directly with our Queer, Equity and First Nations Representatives to ensure our initiatives genuinely reflect the Macquarie Law community. 2. Collaborating with our Social Justice Advocacy and Community Outreach Executives to highlight the synergy between social justice and commercial practice. For example, I would like MULS to take part in Walk for Justice NSW, to acknowledge the role and contribution of pro bono legal work. With your support, I am committed to empowering students with practical skills and valuable insights to lead genuine social change. Thank you!

VICE-PRESIDENT (CAREER ENGAGEMENT)

ANKHITA SEKHAR Hi everyone! My name is Ankhita, and I am running to be your 2027 Vice-President (Career Engagement). I hope to effectively connect students directly with the firms, people and events that show where a law degree can take them. Over the past two years, I have worked across nearly every facet of this portfolio: as a 2026 Executive Officer (Corporate Careers), an Executive Officer (Public Interest Careers) in Semester 2, 2025, and a member of the Sponsorship Subcommittee in Semester 1, 2025. As its longest-serving member, I understand what makes an initiative succeed or fall flat. I am also fortunate to work at a leading commercial law firm, and that experience sits closely alongside this role. Securing and maintaining sponsorship means communicating confidently and professionally with firm representatives, and I do this not only through the MULS portfolio but every day in my own work. I understand how firms think about student engagement, what they look for from a partner society, and how to build relationships that last beyond a single event. I know firsthand that this portfolio demands real commitment, including the surges, the late nights and the busy sponsorship season. Alongside MULS, I balance my studies and two jobs, and like many students who work while they study, I have learnt to manage my time carefully and deliver under pressure. I would not take this role on without being confident I can give it the hours it deserves. Looking ahead, I want to deepen student engagement through short post-event surveys and conversations with members, so our calendar reflects the events students want, and those events are promoted early and clearly. This portfolio shows a law degree applied in the real world, and I would be honoured to help more students make the most of it as your VP.

VICE-PRESIDENT (COMPETITIONS - ADVOCACY)

JAPNEET GILL As the Executive Officer for Competitions – Foundations in 2026, I have developed a strong appreciation for the role advocacy competitions play in helping students build confidence, develop practical legal skills and form connections within the law school community. If elected Vice President Competitions – Advocacy, I hope to build on this experience by fostering a culture of support and inclusion, where students feel comfortable stepping outside their comfort zones, learning from their mistakes and enjoying the process without feeling intimidated by the competitive nature of mooting. My experience within MULS has given me first-hand insight into both the organisation of advocacy competitions and the value they offer students. Having competed in the Clayton Utz Foundations of Law Moot, the Criminal Law Moot and the MULS Championship Moot, I understand the challenges students face when developing their advocacy skills. My involvement as a volunteer judge across several competitions has also allowed me to appreciate the importance of constructive feedback and an encouraging environment in helping competitors improve. Drawing on these experiences, I intend to ensure the Advocacy portfolio caters to all students no matter their experience, from those attempting their first competition to those seeking to refine their skills. To improve accessibility and encourage earlier participation, I intend to move the Novice Moot to Semester 1, providing students with an opportunity to engage with advocacy earlier in the academic year. I also hope to run two Introduction to Advocacy workshops, one in each semester, to equip students with foundational skills and provide a low-pressure environment in which to develop their confidence before participating in competitions. Through these initiatives, I aim to make advocacy more approachable while ensuring students have meaningful opportunities to practise, receive feedback and continue developing throughout the year. Ultimately, I want to foster an environment that is more encouraging and supportive than competitive. Having experienced the benefits of advocacy both as a competitor and through my involvement in MULS, I hope to contribute to an environment where students feel supported to give things a go, challenge themselves and grow as future legal professionals, regardless of their prior experience.

VICE-PRESIDENT (COMPETITIONS PROFESSIONAL SKILLS)

ALAN HUANG Hello everyone! My name is Alan, and I am excited to present my nomination for Vice-President (Competitions - Professional Skills) of MULS. I am committed to supporting MULS competitions and ensuring that they remain well-organised and engaging activities where students can develop their confidence and practical legal skills. As a current Executive Officer in the Professional Skills Portfolio, I have been able to engage directly with competitors, academics, and legal professionals, while assisting with initiatives from other portfolios. My work has included organising competitions with a high number of competitors and helping establish MULS’ first Family Law Mediation Competition. Through this role, I have developed strong teamwork and communication skills, and my ability to work under pressure. I have also been heavily involved in competitions as both a competitor and volunteer, reaching final rounds on multiple occasions, representing Macquarie in an intervarsity competition, and volunteering across multiple competition rounds. Through these experiences, I have become familiar with every step of running a successful competition from start to finish, which I hope to leverage if elected as Vice-President. If elected, my vision is to ensure that competitions continue to be run with a high degree of efficiency and professionalism, having seen firsthand this year the important role it plays in giving competitors and judges the best experience. I would also like to further develop mediation as a competition format and establish it as a regular part of MULS competitions. I intend to foster a strong team environment with my Executive Officers, ensuring that they are effectively guided, that communication is efficient and accessible, and that they are empowered to carry out their duties to the best of their ability. It would be an honour and privilege to lead the Professional Skills portfolio and continue contributing to the Macquarie Law School Experience.

VICE-PRESIDENT (PUBLICATIONS)

KRISHI PATEL In my tenure as Editor-in-Chief for The Brief, I’ve made my fair share of mess-ups. Whether it be forgetting to send a writer the edits on their article to finalise it and realising it on the day, or trying to adhere to printing limitations. But I’ve stumbled once. I’ve given myself that one chance to make a mistake. But I haven’t made the same mistake twice. Except for maybe when I get my third coffee of the day (guilty). I’ve learned a lot about managing eager people from a myriad of niches: the enthusiastic writers, the zealous sub-editors, eccentric designers, and majorly, the caffeine-deprived-or-fueled law students fighting for their lives. What’s common with all these humans is simply the need to be heard and understood in order to put their best foot forward. As I aimed to do last year with two lovely editions of The Brief, I want to create a space in MULS where everyone can share their unsolicited solicitor’s advice and go on a soliloquy about why pinpoint references are the worst form of torment. Similarly with the guides, I want to make the First Year Guide more resourceful, and add a more humane, albeit humorous touch through adding first-hand accounts of ‘matured’ law students who’ve already survived first year. As for the Careers Guide, I picture it being polished, focused, and consistent. These are rough ideas, but with the help of the MULS Board, I’m confident that we can come up with publications that will be heartfelt and practical, because in the end, isn’t support what all of us need to persevere through these uni years!?

VICE-PRESIDENT (MARKETING)

KAITLYN MEARES Hi everyone! I’m Kaitlyn and I am so excited to be running for Vice-President of Marketing. In high school, I gained experience doing social media marketing as a Prefect. Whilst that marketing differed greatly from the standard expected by MULS, this experience taught me how to use creative marketing tools to promote events, and the importance of understanding your audience. Further, my role this year as an Executive Office (Socials) allowed me to appreciate the necessity of effective marketing to have a successful event, as well as extending my knowledge of MULS processes and how our members engage with the Society. The marketing team is one of student's first points of contact with MULS; we all look to social media to sign up for moots, buy event tickets, and find clerkship presentation information. I understand the importance of clearly presenting information to students through marketing, as well as how the Society can effectively promote what we have to offer. As Marketing VP, I will make sure that the marketing MULS presents shines a light on all of our portfolios and initiatives, ensuring continued engagement with the Society as a whole. Whilst I have endless ideas for the Marketing portfolio, my primary objectives are as follows: 1. Original and engaging content: I want to use my creativity to make professional, high quality content which represents MULS values and is appealing to our members. 2. Diversified marketing: I aim to ensure our underutilised platforms, such as LinkedIn and TikTok, are being updated and used consistently to promote MULS events and student achievement. 3. Continued relationships between portfolios: I want to continue developing the relationship between Marketing and all other MULS portfolios to ensure promotional posts reflect the intentions of the Executives that have worked hard on their initiatives. Thank you for your consideration!

VICE-PRESIDENT (EVENTS)

NIHARA DELUNGAHAWATTE Hi everyone! My name is Nihara Delungahawatte, and I am excited to present my candidacy for the Events Vice-President position for 2027. I transferred into law in 2025 after two years of studying Medical Sciences. Beginning again was daunting; however, MULS made that transition seamless. From First Year Law Camp to Law Ball, I was welcomed by a diverse, kind and genuine group of students, many now my closest friends. These experiences showed me how powerful social events can be in building connections and helped me grow into a more confident and culturally aware version of myself. This inspired me to become Socials Executive Officer in 2026, to help create those experiences for others. In this role, I have requested quotes from venues and providers, worked with other portfolios to promote events and liaised with venue staff. This has strengthened my organisational and problem-solving skills, while showing me the professionalism vendors expect and the creativity that makes an event memorable. Beyond MULS, I led a team as Events Manager for the Medical Science Society where I learned to delegate tasks, set expectations and support each member. Together, these experiences have prepared me to step confidently into this role. As Events Vice-President, I have three primary priorities: 1. Building on tradition: Preserving what makes our flagship events successful, while challenging the portfolio to experiment beyond what has been done before. 2. Listening and collaborating: Working closely with other portfolios and acting on student feedback to strengthen how our events are promoted and delivered. 3. Events for everyone: Increasing attendance across all year groups by ensuring our events are accessible and appealing. MULS gave me a place to belong when I needed one. I would be honoured to help every law student feel that same sense of inclusion and community.

ANUSHREE KANODIA Hi everyone! I’m Anushree, and I’m excited to nominate myself for Vice-President (Events) of the Macquarie University Law Society (MULS). I would love to contribute to the MULS community by creating memorable, inclusive and engaging experiences for law students. As President of the Macquarie United Nations Society, I have developed a passion for event management, student engagement and bringing people together beyond the classroom. One of my most significant achievements this year was leading the DOWNMUNDER Model United Nations Conference, a three-day conference with 120 participants, including high school students, co-hosted by three university societies. The programme featured committee sessions, keynote panels and a formal gala dinner. Leading a team of 30 people strengthened my ability to coordinate logistics, manage competing priorities, communicate with stakeholders and adapt to challenges while ensuring a positive participant experience. I have also organised a diplomatic embassy tour camp in Canberra, coordinated consulate visits in Sydney, facilitated interstate conference delegations and organised an end-of-year gala. These experiences have allowed me to create meaningful opportunities for students to explore their interests, broaden their perspectives and build connections beyond Macquarie University. As Vice-President (Events), I would bring this experience to MULS’ signature events while exploring new ways to make the social calendar engaging, inclusive and accessible. I would prioritise thoughtful planning, effective communication and teamwork to ensure events run smoothly and give students opportunities to connect beyond their studies. Having organised events for diverse audiences, I understand the importance of collaboration, adaptability and attention to detail. I would bring this commitment to working closely with the Executive and Events team to deliver experiences students genuinely look forward to. Ultimately, I hope to make the MULS experience more connected, memorable and enjoyable for every law student.

VICE-PRESIDENT (JURIS DOCTOR & POSTGRADUATE)

DAVID DONKIN I am nominating for the role of Vice-President JD/Postgraduate because I believe JD and postgraduate students should have a strong voice within the Macquarie University Law Society and meaningful opportunities to participate in its activities. Many of us balance demanding studies with employment, family responsibilities and other commitments. We also bring varied professional and life experience to the law school. I would like to help ensure that MULS recognises these circumstances when planning events, advocating to the faculty, providing support and representing students. For me, the role is about building connections and making participation more accessible. I want JD and postgraduate students to feel both comfortable and able to get involved, whether they are seeking friendships, academic support, career opportunities or a stronger connection with the University. This particularly includes students who are studying fully online or find it difficult to attend campus regularly. I bring experience as a clinician, business owner and university educator which has reinforced the importance of listening, communicating clearly and following through on commitments. I would bring these qualities to the role, alongside an understanding of the challenges of studying law while managing other responsibilities. I would aim to listen to students’ concerns, advocate for their needs and work collaboratively with the MULS team to facilitate relevant events and opportunities. I also see value in helping students share the experiences and knowledge they import from their different backgrounds. Ultimately, I am nominating because I want to contribute to a supportive and connected JD and postgraduate community, where students feel represented and have practical ways to engage with MULS.