Meet the 2024-25 KSA executive committee

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The Kwantlen Student Association council elected and appointed its executive committee on June 13 for the 2024-25 term. Council took their seats in office on April 1 and held their first executive committee election on April 19, but failed to approve the election results until the election was re-held two months later. 

Cloverdale Campus Representative Yashanpreet Guron was appointed vice-president (VP) student life, Faculty of Arts Representative Yugveer Gill was appointed VP university affairs, International Students Representative Paramvir Singh was appointed VP external affairs, and Faculty of Business Representative Simranjot Sekhon was appointed VP finance and operations. Among the executive committee members, Guron was appointed president during a meeting on June 28. 

The executive committee is responsible for interpreting council’s decisions and policies, communicating internally and on behalf of the KSA with Kwantlen Polytechnic University students and external organizations, presenting recommendations to council and its committees, ensuring people are recognized for their contributions to the KSA, reviewing the performance of the executive director and approving or renegotiating their contract, and informing council of their work, according to the KSA’s bylaws. 

Yashanpreet Guron — President and VP student life 

Guron is a second-year business administration student at KPU from Punjab, India. 

As president of the KSA, Guron is responsible for chairing, delivering notice, and preparing agendas for executive committee meetings, representing the KSA, performing other tasks as assigned by the executive committee, and being the primary contact for legal issues excluding those between the KSA, KPU students, and the university.

As VP student life, Guron is also responsible for leading and advocating for social and recreational activities on campus, developing policies related to student mental health on campus, communicating with KPU students, and coming up with online and social media communication strategies among other duties.  

Guron wrote the following responses in an email statement to The Runner. 

Why did you want to be president and VP student life? 

I wanted to be president because I am passionate about making a positive impact on our university community. I believe in the power of effective leadership and collaboration, and I am committed to representing the interests of our members, ensuring transparency, and fostering a vibrant and inclusive campus environment.

I wanted to be vice-president student life because I am dedicated to enhancing the student experience on campus. I believe that social and recreational events, as well as mental health initiatives, play a crucial role in student life, and I want to lead efforts in these areas to ensure our students have a well-rounded and fulfilling university experience.

What do you hope to achieve with these roles? 

As president, I aim to enhance communication and engagement within our community, streamline our decision-making processes, and advocate for the needs and interests of our members. My goal is to create a more inclusive and supportive environment where every student feels heard and valued.

[As VP student life], I hope to develop and implement effective policies and performance measures that will improve social and recreational events, as well as student mental health services. I aim to create a more connected and engaged student community, advocate for our members’ needs, and ensure that communication between the society and its members is clear and effective.

What are you most excited about for your role as president and VP student life? 

I am most excited about the opportunity to work closely with a diverse group of students, faculty, and staff to drive positive change. I look forward to chairing the executive committee meetings, setting strategic directions, and being the primary point of contact for legal and alumni relations, ensuring our society’s goals are met efficiently and effectively.

[As VP student life], I am most excited about leading initiatives that directly impact student well-being and campus life. I look forward to collaborating with student clubs, developing innovative social media strategies, and creating a supportive environment where students feel connected, supported, and empowered.

Yugveer Gill — VP university affairs 

Gill is a second-year student at KPU from Moga in Punjab, India. He is currently pursuing a diploma in business management and plans to graduate in the summer of 2025. 

As VP university affairs, Gill works as a liaison between the KSA and KPU and is responsible for attending KPU senate and board of governor meetings, ensuring student representation on committees and task forces, negotiating contracts between the KSA and KPU, and making recommendations to council on academic policies among other duties.   

Gill wrote the following responses in an email statement to The Runner. 

Why did you want to be VP university affairs?

I have been in the KSA for almost two years and have analyzed the roles and responsibilities of this position. I have truly been invested in the work and have tried [to] learn and adapt new skills every day. As VP university affairs, I have [to] maintain a liaison between KSA and KPU.

What do you hope to achieve with this role?

A better relationship with the university, this is definitely my utmost goal that I have to achieve within the given time period of my position. I would like to have open discussions that would initiate a better relationship with the university [and be] in regular meetings and conversations with the faculty of KPU and address their concerns. Regular meetings and conversations are really crucial to maintain the linkage between the two sections.

What are you most excited about for your role as VP university affairs?

The opportunities that would come my way and the association in general. I am keen on taking up every challenge that would come my way and I am optimistic with regard to achieve every goal I set up. I always make sure I am available for students, my contact details are present and so is our office details, in case students wish to reach out to me.

Paramvir Singh — VP external affairs 

Singh is a KPU student from India in his second year of business administration studies. 

As VP external affairs, Singh is responsible for working and building relationships with external organizations on behalf of the KSA, communication with external organizations, and lobbying various levels of government among other duties. 

Singh wrote the following responses in an email statement to The Runner. 

Why did you want to be VP external affairs? 

I wanted to be VP external affairs because I am passionate about building strong relationships with external organizations and advocating for our society’s interests. I believe that by fostering partnerships and effectively communicating with external stakeholders, we can significantly enhance the resources and opportunities available to our members. This role allows me to leverage my skills in communication and negotiation to benefit our student community.

What do you hope to achieve with this role? 

In this role, I hope to develop robust policies and performance measures that will improve the effectiveness of our society’s relationships with external organizations. I aim to present well-researched recommendations to the council on partnerships and non-academic policies, ensuring our society takes informed positions. Additionally, I strive to enhance our lobbying efforts with various levels of government, ensuring that our members’ voices are heard and their needs addressed.

What are you most excited about for your role as VP external affairs? 

I am most excited about the opportunity to lead initiatives that connect our society with external organizations and government bodies. I look forward to the challenge of researching and developing strategic partnerships, as well as the chance to influence policy on behalf of our members. Being responsible for our society’s external communications and lobbying efforts is a responsibility I take seriously, and I am eager to make a positive impact in these areas.

Simranjot Sekhon — VP finance and operations 

Sekhon is a second-year student from Ludhiana in Punjab and is working towards completing a bachelor’s degree in accounting. 

As VP finance and operations, Sekhon is responsible for putting together the KSA’s draft budget, presenting quarterly budget status updates to council, leading performance measures relating to financial management and procedures, and making recommendations to council on how to effectively use student funds among other duties. 

In the position, Sekhon plans to make sure funds are used transparently and efficiently, provide financial guidance to student projects and events, and work with other departments to optimize resource allocation. 

Sekhon wrote the following responses in an email statement to The Runner. 

Why did you want to be VP finance and operations?

I want to be VP finance and operations as I am from an accounting background, and I see this as an amazing opportunity to apply my accounting knowledge to this role. This role offers me valuable experience in budgeting and managing finances, which will significantly benefit my future career. I aspire to become a CPA (certified public accountant), and this position will enhance my resume, opening up future career opportunities. 

Additionally, it allows me to allocate and manage funds and lead the research and development of options and recommendations to council on how to use student funds more effectively to maximize benefits to the members. I’m passionate about fostering a transparent and efficient financial environment and look forward to working collaboratively with my team to support and enhance student initiatives and services.

What do you hope to achieve with this role?

My goal is to manage the KSA’s funds effectively, ensuring that we operate efficiently and provide the best services to students. By the end of my term, I believe this experience will provide opportunities to work with professional accountants, enhancing my growth and giving me a competitive edge. This will enable me to better serve student interests and contribute more effectively to their benefits. 

I believe this position will enable me to develop large-scale strategies for the betterment of students. Additionally, I hope to implement transparent budgeting practices, improve financial literacy among students, and ensure that all financial decisions are made in the best interests of the student body. 

What are you most excited about for your role as VP finance and operations?

I am most excited to work with the KSA and KPU staff for the betterment of students. This position offers me the opportunity to implement new policies that can be beneficial for individual students. I want to be a CPA, and this position offers me the opportunity to work with the best and help me learn from the best itself, which will be beneficial for me in future, as this will give me [an] opportunity to learn more about the financing sector. 

I am excited to work with the diverse team, who are working to achieve a similar goal to help students and bringing new events for the student benefit and working for the growth of KSA. I am excited to actively engage with students, understand their unique needs, and tailor financial resources to support their academic and extracurricular endeavours, ultimately enhancing their overall experience and success.