With excitement about the new year commencing, and some major changes coming the College's way, our Student Leadership Team is keen to be proactive on action plans to make 2026 bigger and better! Our ADSS team, including Poppy, has their eyes firmly set on creating a culture that ensures another fantastic year for all Residents and Associate Members.

We sat down with her recently to discuss what her priorities were for the College in 2026

What do you see as key priorities for 2026?

I really want to highlight diversity and inclusion this year and see more participation from different groups of people all through the college. I'm hoping to spread the message that you don't have to be the best at a sport, the smartest in your uni course, or the loudest person in the room to have a place at King's - we just want to see students putting their best foot forward, giving everything a go, and having fun while doing it.

I think this year its going to be important to heighten student awareness of not only the resources available to them, but the people, such as the SLT team, that are here to help them and offer guidance for whatever may come their way in 2026.

We're also looking into initiatives to create a greater initial bond between first year students and returning students, which I'm really excited about. I'm really confident that lots of the smaller things we do to help engagement will have a larger impact that makes King's not just a space to be living in, but a home.

Why did you run for this leadership position?

I ran for a leadership position because King's had been such a great environment for me to be in for the past two years, and I wanted to be part of creating that experience for others that are joining us. 

As good as my experiences were, both as a fresher and a second-year, there were things that I sometimes wished were done differently, and I realised that I could actually make those improvements for our new residents and associates so they could have the best time possible in this new and foreign time of their lives.

I've grown up very globally and experienced diverse lifestyles, so I thought I might have some unique perspectives and ideas that could benefit residents from all kinds of backgrounds. 

What do you think are the qualities of a great leader?

I think an important part of being a leader, which can sometimes be overlooked, is not just paying attention to members of your group who are performing the highest, but everyone else, and thinking "how can I uplift them more?" Leaders should be a beacon of encouragement no matter what. They should also make it clear to peers that they are here to help out because they want to, not because it is their job.

A leader takes on the responsibility of making decisions that best reflect the interest of  their community as a whole, and a great leader is someone who takes the time to handle situations the right way, not just the easy way.

For me, a crucial part of being a leader this year is achieving the right balance of having a strong stance on my own moral compass, while also having open-mindedness, adaptability, and consideration in my thought processes to lead and find reason in tricky situations. 

What does legacy mean to you?

For me, leaving a legacy would mean creating an environment that people appreciate enough to want to cherish and carry on as time passes. 

Legacy is about respect for our history balanced with an openness for growth. That's definitely one of our strengths here at King's, and introducing new ideas that continue to create positive impacts on the culture we've already established through the years is something I'd be very proud of.