Clubs and Societies Executive Insights: Hear from 2025 Faculty Club of the Year Award Winners

Overall 2025 Club of the Year

UQ Business Association (UQBA)

What makes UQBA special?

Krish Dani (UQBA President): “UQBA does a good job of combining social connection with real professional exposure. You meet people you genuinely get alongwith, while also getting access to firms, speakers, and opportunities that feel relevant to your degree. Over time, you start recognising the same faces and conversations turn into friendships without forcing it. It never feels like you have to choose between being social or being career-focused, both happen at the same time.” 

Kaushi Paidipalli (UQBA Vice President of Corporate Relations): “UQBA can be both fun and professional! We run corporate networking events that give students real exposure to industry, while also hosting social events that make it easy to meet like-minded people and feel part of the community.” 

Nikolas Stamatiou (UQBA Secretary): “I think what makes BA special is our ability to nurture the intersection of social, professional, and networking events. If you come to our events, it’s very clear that we all actually want to be there and we do this through hanging out in the semester a lot, whether it be at networking events or executive member events. We know that our output is only as strong as the team, so we are always striving to make sure that we understand and respect each other beyond what we study.” 

Why did you join UQBA? 

 Krish Dani (UQBA President): “I joined UQBA because it felt like a good balance between being social and being useful. It wasn’t just about networking or padding a resume. The people were friendly, and it seemed like a club where you could meet others in your degree (whatever that might be) and actually enjoyspending time with them outside of events as well.” 

Kaushi Paidipalli (UQBA Vice President of Corporate Relations): “I attended the Corporate Connections networking event, which was my first experience with a UQ Club. I had such a great time speaking with industry representatives and chatting with the VP of Corporate Relations at the time, Jaanvi, really inspired me to get involved with BA.” 

What is your favourite UQBA event? 

 Krish Dani (UQBA President): “Market Day is my favourite because it brings people together in a really natural way. You end up spending the whole day with others from the club, talking, helping out, and just hanging around campus. It’s one of those events where you leave feeling more connected to people than when you arrived.” 

Kaushi Paidipalli (UQBA Vice President of Corporate Relations): “Corporate Connections will always be my favourite; it was my first BA event and one of our flagship networking nights held at the Queensland Cricketers’ Club. It’s an incredible opportunity to connect with professionals in a relaxed but engaging setting.” 

What made you join the UQBA executive team? 

Krish Dani (UQBA President): “I became an executive because it offered hands-on experience. You work with sponsors, plan events, and coordinate teams, all while spending a lot of time with people you get along with. Also, being on exec gives you a reason to work closely with the same group over a long period of time, which builds trust and genuine friendships. I’d recommend it to anyone who wants practical experience and a stronger sense of connection at uni.” 

Kaushi Paidipalli (UQBA Vice President of Corporate Relations): “The executive team were welcoming, driven, and genuinely close-knit, which made me want to be a part of it. Through BA, I’ve made some of my closest friends at university, developed leadership skills, and felt far more connected to campus life. I’dabsolutely recommend it to anyone looking to get more involved.” 

Why are the UQ clubs and societies important to your student life?  

Krish Dani (UQBA President): “Clubs and societies make university feel less anonymous. Through UQBA, I’ve met people I see regularly on campus and outside of uni, while also gaining exposure to industry and processional pathways. It gives structure to both, your social life and tour career and makes the whole university experience feel more personal and enjoyable.” 

Kaushi Paidipalli (UQBA Vice President of Corporate Relations): “Clubs and societies add so much depth to uni life. Professionally, students gain industry exposure that’s hard to access. Socially, they create spaces to meet like-minded people across different degrees. Whether it’s networking or social sport, clubs make uni feel like a real community.” 

What value do clubs and societies bring that traditional university life struggle to satisfy?  

Nikolas Stamatiou (UQBA Secretary): “I remember being a first year, in a degree that I did not enjoy at all (now I LOVE my degree), and I kept thinking to myself,the only way that I can enjoy this is if I try to make some friends during classes. However, it’s quite difficult trying to make friends in traditional uni classes when you see them for one hour, and once a week in some cases. I first heard about societies and imagined it would be like those American frats, so I didn’t have any interest. However, after meeting and seeing some of the societies at market day I realised it was just a bunch of like-minded people that essentially wanted to hang out. It was the perfect way to make friends and really make my uni experience a memorable one. Fast forward to today, I changed degrees and have made some lifelong friendships with people from all degrees that I know I’ll cherish forever!” 

What’s the biggest challenge when wanting to join a UQ club or society?  

Nikolas Stamatiou (UQBA Secretary): “I would say the biggest challenge is getting started – showing up to your first ever event whether it’s alone or with friends. It can be really daunting especially if you don’t know anyone going. I speak for all societies when I say this – but we always love meeting new people at events as we know it can take a lot of courage. I recommend coming to market day and having a look at all the societies, talking to as many executive members as possible and trying to gauge what you’d want to be part of – or just be part of the coolest society (UQBA obviously).” 

Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology 2025 Club of the Year

UQ Ladies in Technology (UQLIT) 

What makes UQLIT special? 

“What makes UQLIT special is that it genuinely feels like a family. We’re not just a club that supports women in tech or helps with career growth – we create a space where women feel comfortable, supported, and encouraged to be themselves. UQLIT gives members more than professional opportunities; it gives them a second family at uni and an environment where they can grow, gain confidence, and feel good about who they are.” 

Why did you join UQLIT? 

“I joined the club in my first year of university, when everything felt unfamiliar and a little intimidating. At the time, a friend and I quickly realised that club events often came with free food. We decided to go to UQLIT’s launch picnic hoping to make a few friends, but with the reassurance that if it didn’t work out, at least there would be food. As we sat together, feeling shy and out of place, UQLIT’s president came over to sit with us. As curious first years, we were full of questions. As the questions went on, she shared her experiences in her degree and career path and gave us advice that I really needed to hear as a first-year student. In that moment, she became a role model to us. We kept coming back to events, at first just hoping to see her again, but slowly we found ourselves forming genuine connections with the other executives as well. What started as a small, nervous step in my first year turned into a community that supported me, inspired me, and now feels like a second family.” 

What is your favourite UQLIT event?  

“My favourite event would be the picnics as they’re a great way to socialise and network with people in similar fields in a lower-pressure, more casual environment. They’re always fun and I have always met interesting people through them, and I get to learn where their passions lie and why they study what they do.” 

What made you join the UQLIT executive team? 

“I became an executive because I want to serve as an ally alongside women in technology and engineering. Even though we hail from similar backgrounds (being in STEM myself), I recognise that these traditionally male-dominated spaces present unique challenges to women in such fields, and such challenges I would hope I can help address through my role at LIT. LIT also offers an incredibly diverse range of events, from picnics to professional networking, which is why I’d highly recommend becoming a member of our club.”  

Why are the UQ clubs and societies important to your student life?  

“They’re an excellent outlet to explore your interests and passions and lend themselves to be your life outside of strictly classes and practicals. Similarly, the events that these clubs host are nothing short of spectacular and I always have had a fantastic time at them!” 

Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences 2025 Club of the Year

UQ Public Health Association (UQPHA)

What makes UQPHA special? 

Tara Caterina Kwan (UQPHA President): “What makes the club special is the people and the strong sense of community we have been building. As a faculty-affiliated society with members across Herston and St. Lucia campuses, we bring together undergraduates and postgraduates from public health and other disciplines.  

We put a lot of care into supporting our members socially, academically and professionally, so there is a place for everyone, no matter what they are most interested in. We also collaborate with community partners to deliver public health initiatives at UQ throughout the year, which gives us the opportunity to engage with the wider community.” 

Francesca Watson (UQPHA Treasurer): “The commitment to meaningful events to develop professional skills outside of university, to mix that with a group of events that are to help bond students and make them feel a part of the university community makes it a joy to be a part of and very special.” 

Hanan Khayre (UQPHA Secretary): “It brings people together from different backgrounds who have a passion for public health, in a very special way. The club is both social and a great way to network. You find yourself always learning new ways to do things which is exciting.” 

Sara Di Marco (UQPHA Welfare Officer): “Everyone involved in the executive is engaged and wants to make this an enjoyable experience for all the members.” 

Vaishnavi Naik (UQPHA Postgraduate Representative): “This club is filled with like-minded public health enthusiasts who are incredibly supportive and believe in healing the world by improving public health.” 

What made you join UQPHA? 

Tara Caterina Kwan (UQPHA President): “I learned about this club during orientation week and was keen to join events and meet people from my cohort.” 

Francesca Watson (UQPHA Treasurer): “I was recommended to join it by a previous exec.” 

Hanan Khayre (UQPHA Secretary): “The amazing spirit, warmth and intention of the club. I started as a volunteer for events and quickly realised how much I enjoyed being around likeminded people with different experiences and from different backgrounds.” 

Sara Di Marco (UQPHA Welfare Officer): “I was asked to join by a friend and since joining I’ve been privileged to experience the camaraderie and the amount of effort everyone has put forth to create a wonderful environment for everyone involved.” 

Vaishnavi Naik (UQPHA Postgraduate Representative): “The core purpose of the club and to feel a sense of community in a new place and uni.” 

What is your favourite event at UQPHA? 

Tara Caterina Kwan (UQPHA President): “Research Night is definitely my favourite. It is inspiring to hear from alumni, researchers and academics about their journeys in public health. I also enjoyed chatting with representatives from research centres and learning about their current projects. The evening sparks my interest in public health and shows how diverse and dynamic a career in this field can be.” 

Francesca Watson (UQPHA Treasurer): “Cheeky Public Speaky – a casual night based on improv to practice public speaking skills.” 

Hanan Khayre (UQPHA Secretary): “My favourite event was the welcome picnic, especially the bingo game. Being in nature, sharing food while playing a game to better connect as a society was wholesome.” 

Sara Di Marco (UQPHA Welfare Officer): “Orientation week panels and meeting all the students.” 

Vaishnavi Naik (UQPHA Postgraduate Representative): “Research night.” 

What made you join the UQPHA executive team? 

Tara Caterina Kwan (UQPHA President): “It started with conversations among my friends about all the exciting things happening at the university. When we first joined the cohort, events at UQPHA helped everyone feel connected, and we had a group chat where students would plan catchups. Serving as an executive gave me a chance to build on that sense of community and meet more amazing people along the way – I would highly recommend it.” 

Francesca Watson (UQPHA Treasurer): “It gave me a way to connect better with like-minded students in Public Health. I would recommend joining because you get so much more than that. Fun, friendship, advice, community. Being an executive really means you are joining a tight knit community that is there for each other.” 

Hanan Khayre (UQPHA Secretary): “I became an executive to use my skills to continue to build on the legacy of the people before me because I see the value in this society and the amazing outcomes; whether it be a job from one interaction from one of the events, making friends or even feeling inspired by fellow colleagues. All the people involved in building this have built something truly special, and I wanted to be a part of it.” 

Sara Di Marco (UQPHA Welfare Officer): “I wanted to be a support to fellow executives as they put so much time and effort into this association. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to have an opportunity to make a positive impact to their university experience, build and consolidate friendships and create special moments during the semester.” 

Vaishnavi Naik (UQPHA Postgraduate Representative): “I wanted to be part of an incredible team. I would recommend it to anyone who is passionate about health and wants to combine health and fun to create some unique experiences.”