Aiko Leung is currently majoring in Psychology with Education at University College London (UCL). She is particularly interested in clinical psychology, educational psychology and the relationship between the arts and mental health. She is also the chair and founder of a student-led non-profit association: Arts for Mental Health (ARTSMH).

She strongly encourages putting knowledge learnt and experiences into helping the community, thus has been doing that since she was 14. For instance, she tutored and assisted children from diversified backgrounds for over 6 years. Currently, she is working on various projects as an undergraduate research assistant and as a project leader for the ARTSMH UCL branch. She also leads the ARTSMH team to help undergraduate, postgraduate and high school students to stay mentally healthy during the pandemic. She aims to become a clinical psychologist and is working hard towards it.

Aiko hopes to expand the current available services to more students across the UK and aims to provide more academic, research and career opportunities by joining the committee. For instance, she strives to create a research participant pool, which allows students to have easier access to participant recruitment for their research projects, encourages students to inspire each other and provides an interactive platform for students to learn about the diversified areas of psychology together. She also emphasises strongly on diversity and equality, thus strives to create that by negotiating opportunities and changes with professional bodies on behalf of all psychology students across the UK.

Email: [email protected]

Eduard Margarit is currently studying Psychology and Counselling at Abertay University and working as an Honorary Psychologist for NHS. He has a keen interest in neuropsychology and abnormal psychology, and his current goal is to be a Chartered Neuropsychologist.

He previously graduated from London Metropolitan with a BA in Fashion Marketing and Business Management. However, four years after his graduation, Eduard decided to return to his humanistic interest and study psychology.

Eduard joined the committee with the hope that he can create more academic and social opportunities for all the psychology students across the UK. He feels that a stronger sense of community can be achieved by the current committee and therefore enhance the student experience.

As Chair, Eduard also sits on the BPS Standing Conference Committee and is Member Organisation President of the EFPSA (European Federation of Psychology Students Associations) where his duties involve representing the psychology undergraduate students in the U.K.

Email: [email protected]

Tweet: @BPSStudentChair

Flo Avery is currently studying a MSc by research at the University of Bristol, looking at how attachment priming can be utilised for therapeutic benefit for young people with lived experience of adverse childhood experiences and trauma. Previously, Flo completed a BSc in psychology at the Open University, which she studied alongside working as an educator.

Prior to studying psychology, Flo has worked in education for a number of years and is a qualified teacher. She has since developed an interest in educational psychology, in particular how attachment and trauma can be applied to understanding and supporting child and adolescent mental health.

Ellie Brooks-Hall an undergraduate student at the University of York, studying psychology. Her previous experience centres primarily around research, with a focus on clinical psychology and mental health.

During her term as chair-elect and subsequent term as chair, Ellie hopes to continue the existing work of the committee focusing on diversity, equality, and inclusion, aiming to make the BPS somewhere where everyone feels safe and welcome.

She also has a vested interest in support and awareness of student mental health and (following a research assistant internship recently focused on the impact of mental wellness and illness in education and professional settings) is excited to raise awareness of this and work to tackle stigma and barriers associated with mental health for students.

She is hopeful that by expanding the scope for both academic and social opportunities, the BPS can become a strong community among students across the UK and effectively communicate with the wider professional world on their behalf.

In addition to his psychology studies, Ben Kennard is also a self-employed communications advisor and works on communications projects on a client basis. He has several years’ experience in media and communications in areas such as journalism, website management, content creation, video production and event management with diverse membership-based organisations like the BPS.

As the Student Committee’s Communications Officer Ben aims to optimise our communications by combining his professional experience with the knowledge he has gained in psychology. Ben is driven by the recognition that effective communication can be a powerful tool in enhancing the understanding of psychology by wider society which in turn can improve psychological well-being and outcomes.

Ben is currently studying for an MSc in Psychology (Conversion) part-time at BPP University.

Grace Child is progressing into her final year at Manchester Metropolitan University where she is studying an Undergraduate degree in Psychology.

In her spare time Grace volunteers as a ChildLine Counsellor which includes listening to young people's worries around abuse, bullying, relationships, or self-harm. Grace also volunteers with Mind as a Befriender which entails supporting individuals with mental health diagnoses to engage in activities as a part of their recovery. Grace’s future interests include pursuing further study and experience within the field of Clinical Psychology.

As a member of the committee, Grace aims to raise awareness and support around inclusion and racism, as well as increase communication with local psychology departments through events.

Hannah Whitfield is a final-year psychology student at the University of St Andrews. She aspires to become a qualified political psychologist. She has a keen interest in the psychology of voting, specifically research into why people vote the way they do in elections and the extent to which party affiliation impacts an individual’s vote.

As an ordinary member of the committee, Hannah aims to help create inclusive events that allow members to diversify their knowledge and understanding of psychology and provide good opportunities for members to network with other students across the UK. She also aims to increase student engagement with the BPS by supporting the work of other committee members and promoting events and membership within her academic community.

Junie Wee is a second-year Economics and Psychology student at the University of St Andrews, where he also serves as a student ambassador and the Secretary of the United Nations Association St Andrews. He is currently a member of the EFPSA Executive Board, and the National Coordinator for the EFPSA’s “Mind the Mind” campaign to help combat the stigma of mental disorders in the UK.

He is interested in social and evolutionary psychology, and he is intending to pursue a clinical psychology route. He is working towards gaining research experience to help him gain more exposure to different areas in psychology and develop his research skills.

He hopes to further promote BPS’s work, and its importance to our students and our society. He believes that adapting to the needs of our students and encouraging a greater student participation are crucial in creating a truly enriching experience for students.

Sophie Worrall is currently a 3rd year student at the University of Derby Online Learning. This program makes it possible for her to determine the rate at which she studies as well as having flexibility of hours, while still gaining Graduate Based Chartership with the BPS.

Sophie’s overall aspiration in psychology is to become a clinical psychologist. So far, she has been involved in writing a published research project about revenge pornography, attending BPS Midlands and North-West Conferences, and also Liverpool Aspiring Psychologists Group meetings which she describes as rewarding.

This year, Sophie hopes to raise awareness of EFPSA’s Mind the Mind (MtM) campaign and collate a group of volunteers to take this psychoeducation into schools and groups across the UK.

Juhi Waeerkar is an undergraduate psychology student at King’s College London.

Before attending King’s College she was finishing an associate degree with courses in business-related subjects, however after stumbling across Robert Sapolsky’s lecture series on YouTube (as well as a few inspirational TedTalks, including Suzana Herculano-Houzel’s amazing brains being turned into a soup talk) she became fascinated with the world of neuroscience and psychology.

Based on her background, as you can imagine, she hopes to study the neuropsychology of entrepreneurship and, as a student ambassador for the Entrepreneurship Institute at King’s, she hopes to learn more and to work alongside her colleagues to help bring light to the amazing work being submitted to our editors.

Email: [email protected]

Sarah-Jayne Collett is a 2nd year undergraduate Psychology with Counselling mature student at The Open University. This provides her the flexibility to study and work part time.

Before attending university, she was living in China teaching English and before that working in Cyprus painting wall murals with the children at the Youth Club.

Sarah-Jayne grew up in a military household which instigated her interest in how war affected the families and what support was there for those deployed and the families at home. With this experience she realised her aspiration is to be an Art Psychotherapist combining both her creative attributes and desire to help people therapeutically.

Sarah-Jayne wants to contribute to the awareness of the student committee and try to make it an integral part of Psychology students’ journey throughout their development. She also looks forward to being part of this team and part of the future of Psychology.

Suzy Crowson is in the second year of a psychology conversion course specialising in mental health at the University of Edinburgh, and hopes to work in the field of clinical psychology.

She has an undergraduate degree in English from the University of Exeter, and feels that psychology can enhance one’s understanding of a person, much like a work of literature.

Suzy has pursued the link between narrative, emotions and psychological wellbeing in her studies, and applied this to an understanding of mental disorders in her work as a mental health support worker.

Having reviewed literature within neuropsychology and developmental psychology, she is interested in projects that reach across traditional professional and disciplinary boundaries.

Suzy is excited to showcase student work in PsychTalk in order to produce an inspiring publication that is engaged with life and psychology in a changing world. Within the role, she hopes to encourage and facilitate student input.

Rachel Verity is a final-year undergraduate psychology student at the University of Liverpool. Alongside her studies, she works as a home carer and volunteers weekly at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital on the elderly patients’ ward.

Inspired by her background in elderly care, Rachel is hoping to become a clinical psychologist after graduating. Subsequently, she will be studying the self-identity of experts by experience in clinical psychology trainees as part of her final year project.

Upon joining the Psych-Talk editorial team, she is looking forward to reading through different perspectives conveyed in articles, aiming to promote diversity within the magazine.

Tara Watkin is in their first year studying Psychology at the University of Essex Online with an aim to progress onto a postgraduate Psychotherapy and Counselling Masters degree.

Tara has a special interest in LGBTQ+ psychology and is a student member of the BPS Psychology of Sexualities section. Tara also volunteers as a support worker for a charity that assists trans/non-binary people and their families in living fulfilling, authentic lives.

As your student Social Media Officer, Tara is keen to combine a longstanding passion for psychology and social activism alongside promoting the work of the BPS student committee through social media networks and events, taking the reach of our achievements beyond the society and out into the digital world.

Twitter: @BPSStudentMember

Edith Lee is heading into her third year at the University of St Andrews, studying an undergraduate degree in International Relations and Psychology. With a keen interest in political psychology, she is undertaking research on how cultural dynamics interact with the personality traits of political leaders, and how this sum interaction shapes their leadership styles and decision-making processes, especially in times of crises.

As the Events Officer, Edith aims to procure events that engage more closely with the psychology student communities across the different universities in the UK to build a stronger network of aspiring psychologists. Being aware of the ever-popular demand for concrete opportunities that further psychology students’ professional development, she is hoping to work on events that gives students hands-on opportunities to explore their career aspirations and goals within the field of psychology.

Felix Ndebele is a first year MSc Psychology conversion degree student at the University of Derby (UDOL). He has been a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist in the IAPT service (NHS) for 11 years and is looking at going into Clinical Psychology. Prior to completing a Post Graduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in 2010 at Coventry University, Felix completed a Dip HE in Mental Health Nursing at Birmingham City University.

Felix is passionate about equality and diversity agenda. He is currently a cultural ambassador at Coventry and Warwickshire PCT having completed 5 days cultural ambassador training facilitated by RCN in 2017. He has been instrumental in the formation and facilitation of B.A.M.E forums in the Coventry and Warwickshire PCT. Felix also runs a service user forum group for the IAPT service. This is a group designed to enable the patients express their views on how they want the service to be run. As the Diversity and Inclusion Lead within the Society’s Student Committee, Felix hopes to push for equal opportunities to Psychology Doctorate programmes for all students regardless of gender, disability, and race. Felix is aware that current Clinical Psychology Doctorate intakes are biased against students from the B.A.M.E community. He will endeavour to engage the BPS leadership and the student communities across the UK universities to find ways to push this agenda.

Brandon is currently studying BSc Psychology at Nottingham Trent University. He has an admiration and interest for both time psychology and theories surrounding the collective unconscious, aiming to pursue these interests to eventually lecture in these specific areas. Alongside his role on the Student Committee, he sits as President of Nottingham Trent’s Psychology Society and hopes to extend the positive work that he has done for the society to other universities, creating a collective community experience for all students of Psychology.

Ellie Duncan is a first year Psychology student studying at the Loughborough University. She is keen to follow a career into Clinical Psychology with her top aspirations to gain a clinical psychology doctorate.

Her previous experience has involved being a member of her local NHS trusts Youth Board for 4 years. As part of this she has been involved in the development of an award-winning mental health app and a men’s mental health campaign.

As the mental health advocate for the committee, Ellie aims to raise awareness of student mental wellbeing as well as providing vital support for students through a series of events and via social media platforms.

Email: [email protected]

Anna is a part-time, mature student, studying a BSc (Hons) in Psychology with Counselling at the Open University. She is also a qualified language teacher with a MSc degree in TESOL. Anna has a particular interest in educational and forensic psychology. Alongside her studies, she works in clinical research governance. Since 2019 she has been a member of one of the Scottish Research Ethics Committees.

Natan Chromik is currently studying BSc Psychology at King’s College London (KCL) University and working as an Honorary Research Assistance for AIMS-2-TRIALS associated with Institute of Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience. He has a particular interest in social and clinical psychology although he finds occupational psychology relatable as Natan mentor a few entrepreneurs and their business. His current goal is to become Chartered Clinical Psychologist.

He had privileged to complete nationally recognised Civic Leadership Academy and King’s Principle Global Leadership Award. In the past, Natan was working with the autistic children as a part of his year-long internship at Home-Start which motivated him to participate in the research-based placement about autism diagnostic measures. Currently, Natan is working on achieving Enterprise Award for his outstanding entrepreneurial skills set. Recently, he had been awarded with the KCL Cultural Competency diploma.

Natan joined the committee with the aim to connect students on international level to create more academic and social opportunities for all the psychology students across the UK. He believes that cooperation between all committee members and wider academic community would lead towards a successful fulfilment of the BPS developmental strategy.

As Member Organisation President of the EFPSA (European Federation of Psychology Students Associations), Natan duties involve representing the psychology undergraduate students in the U.K. and cooperate with the wider European community of psychology students in upcoming projects.

Ian lives in Omagh in Northern Ireland with his wife Kathy and the youngest of his three children Niamh, with the other two now attending University. He works full time in retail while studying a MSc in psychology part time at the University of Derby Online and is currently completing his final year research project.

After a career in retail, Ian decided to follow his passion for understanding and supporting other people from an academic approach, his plan is to eventually retire from retail and hopefully pursue a second career in psychological research.

Although not originally from Northern Ireland, Ian has a deep desire to give back to the community that welcomed him so readily. This, coupled with his appreciation for what the BPS can do in creating networks for both research and wider societal benefit, means he is keen to make it easier and more natural for NI students to connect and gain from what the BPS has to offer.

Vincent Waters is a mature student in his second year at Glasgow Caledonian University. After a long career in business, and some politics, he returned to higher education to study psychology, and particularly enjoys research into health, forensics and psycholinguistics.

He plans to continue as a postgraduate and is currently working for some researchers on their active investigations and would, ultimately, like to undertake a research doctorate.

Vincent hopes to use his two years as the Scottish student representative to foster strong links between undergraduate psychology students across Scotland and create more opportunities for them to engage with postgraduates and Chartered Psychologists.

Katherine comes from a complementary healthcare, environment, and community work background. Managing Creuynni Complementary Healthcare and co-managing Incredible Edible Wrecsam a community permaculture project, Katherine works to assist improvement of mental, physical and ecological health. Realising the link between these practices and psychology, Katherine embarked on a MSc Psychology Conversion course. Further to this, Katherine studies with Dr Nugent, in a Reflective Practice for Aspiring Psychologists group and the Anti-Racist Bookclub and attends the peer group Liverpool Aspiring Psychologist Group

Katherine is motivated to support others in Wales to reach their goals in relation to psychology and for the culture of Wales to influence the psychological field. Whether you would like to have input, output or simply say hello, Katherine can be contacted by e-mail: [email protected] or by Whatsapp/Telegram +447472266952

Tanya Shrader is a third year PhD researcher at Staffordshire University studying the dark side of conspiracy theories. The aim of her research is to investigate the role of conspiracy theory beliefs in the harmful conduct towards people based on their group membership (e.g. immigrants in the UK).

Tanya has been a psychology student advocate at Staffordshire University since 2014 and advises prospective students at undergraduate and postgraduate open events. This has afforded her insight into the views, expectations and challenges faced by students, including barriers they may face while studying.

As a mature student, she has been able to share her experiences and offer practical advice and reassurance that there are no barriers to university education which cannot be overcome with the appropriate support. Tanya also teaches Introduction to Research Methods and is a research assistant on the Research Impact team for REF2021.