Meet our Council: elected student members

Undergraduate Jessica Gough and postgraduate James Raggatt are respectively elected to UNSW Council by undergraduate and postgraduate students.

The UNSW Council, the governing body of the University, promotes the objectives and interests of UNSW. Council members include official members, ministerial appointments, members appointed by Council, and elected student and staff members.

The student voice, perspective and participation are core to the shape of a university and to the culture of UNSW. Students engaging in civic discussion shape the nation now and in their future roles, so supporting their participation and familiarisation is a core responsibility of our University.

The skills students gain in positions of responsibility prepare them for workplaces and to fully participate in civil society.

Jessica Gough: elected student member, undergraduate

The current elected undergraduate student member Jessica Gough joined the Council in 2025. She is completing a Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts, is a Campus Compass Student Officer at Arc, was a 2025 UNSW Science Student Ambassador, is a Wild Wonders Magazine editor and researcher and is a member of Sydney Children’s Hospital Youth Committee.

“I saw being a Council member as a fantastic opportunity to get involved in understanding governance and decision-making processes at UNSW, while giving back to the University by providing an essential voice to the community of undergraduate students,” she said. 
 
Jessica looks forward to each meeting, to hear the diverse perspectives of the members, and the ability for different disciplines to share their knowledge and experiences when discussing current University topics.

“It’s been amazing to have the opportunity to gain insight into areas of expertise and University systems that I otherwise wouldn’t have known about as an undergraduate student.
 
“Being able to talk to and hear from all the Council members has been such an interesting part of the role, and the capacity for community connection is something I would highly recommend to aspiring Council members. It has also been so rewarding to work with the Council to ensure UNSW continues to be a place of learning and connection.”  
 
Jessica said being on UNSW Council has enabled her to further her critical thinking and communication skills within an environment where student voices are valued.  
 
“I have been able to use my knowledge of student life gained from my role at Arc to give voice to the undergraduate experience, while also drawing on my leadership skills and understanding of governance as a student society executive.

“Being on Council has allowed me to develop those skills within an applied role and has improved my confidence engaging with committee discussions.”

James Raggatt, elected student member, postgraduate

James Raggatt is a Juris Doctor student in UNSW Law & Justice who completed a BA at UNSW, majoring in Philosophy. He trained at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) and has worked for various Australian theatre companies as well as in different areas in risk in the NSW public sector.

James said, having been a student at UNSW for a number of years, he has always been interested in becoming involved in the University as an organisation.

“It's an institution I really believe in and am very proud to be a part of. More broadly, I have a lot of faith in universities. I think they offer so much to our community and are a really vital part of our democracy.

“I also think it’s important to make sure these large institutions are held to account and are operating in the best interests of the students and teachers, and of society more broadly,” he said.

The opportunity to be involved with the decision-making of the University and to engage with all the different aspects of what it is and what it does appeal to James.
 
“It's such an extraordinarily diverse and complex institution and it's really exciting being part of the way it operates,” he said. “Also, as a student, the opportunity to learn firsthand about high-level governance of large institutions like universities is appealing.

“It's a huge privilege as someone who's studying law, but I think as someone studying any topic, it's a privilege to be able to learn about responsible governance from some very experienced people.”

James sees being on UNSW Council as a great opportunity for students to contribute to the welfare and positive experience of your fellow students. He said it’s both rewarding and hard work.

“Studying law really helps me in the Council role,” he said. “Also having previously worked in areas in risk in the public sector has been really useful because there's a lot of risk management involved in Council work.

“As everyone knows, universities are under a lot of pressure in many different ways at the moment – political pressure, funding and infrastructure pressure, pressure around our social licence in society. And for someone who believes in universities, that's very concerning.

“It's been a real privilege for me to get to be involved in assisting the University in navigating those pressures and navigating the different dynamics of headwinds that we face.

“Despite those complexities and people's dissatisfaction with the sector at times, I do think it's worth remembering the value of these institutions and contributing in whatever way we can to ensure they're protected and guided in a way that is in the best interests of society.”

The election round for students and staff for the term from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2028 is underway. Self-nominations close tomorrow on Wednesday 1 April 2026 at 4pm.