We are here to ensure you have the best postgraduate experience at Victoria University of Wellington.
PGSA Executive for 2026
The PGSA is managed by an Executive of up to 12 elected volunteer members of the PGSA, including the President, up to two Vice Presidents, and a Treasurer. There is also an ex-officio seat for a representative of Ngai Tauira.
Executive members are guided in their roles by the PGSA Executive Manual and the job description relevant to their particular role.
The Standing Committee of the Executive consists of the President, the Vice President(s), and the Treasurer.
President: Andrew Tipton
Andrew is an Honours student in the School of Mathematics and Statistics.
Vice President: Carley Dove-McFalls
Treasurer: Sarah Douglas
Sarah is currently a PhD candidate in Biotechnology at the Ferrier Research Institute, investigating fungal enzymes in indole diterpene biosynthesis. In here spare time she works as a tutor with the School of Biological Sciences and takes dance classes. With experience volunteering as a student representative in undergrad, she is hoping to bring her expertise and passion to building a vibrant and active postgraduate community, both in person and on social media.
Executive Member: Akihiro Kotoh
Akihiro is a PhD candidate in Applied Linguistics at Victoria University of Wellington. His research aims to develop English learning and teaching materials through the analysis of large-scale language data. Prior to embarking on doctoral study, he spent seven years teaching English in Japanese secondary schools. He currently works as an English language tutor for the NZELTO Asia Programme at the English Language Institute, Victoria University of Wellington, supporting government officials. He also volunteers as an ESOL home tutor, offering personalised support to immigrant learners. In addition, he works as a research assistant in the School of Government to develop a research corpus. As an executive member and event leader for the PGSA, Akihiro plans and runs social events, negotiates with external vendors, and photographs events for the social media channels. His goal, as part of the event team, is to enhance the experience of postgraduate students at VUW and promote social interaction through events.
Executive Member: Vladislav Ilin
Vlad Ilin is a PhD candidate at Victoria University of Wellington. Vlad’s research explores the integration of AI scaffolding in Digital Game-Based Learning. With over a decade of software development experience and over seven years in lecturing and academic curriculum development, Vlad is dedicated to fostering a vibrant educational community. In his role with the Graduate Student Association, Vlad is committed to building a robust and inclusive community through events. His prior work includes curriculum development at institutions such as Birmingham City University, where he improved course formats based on student feedback, and at Bangkok University, where he revitalized underperforming courses to become among the most popular in the department. Vlad’s goal is to continue supporting the academic and social development of graduate students, ensuring a supportive environment for all through community events, professional development opportunities, and open channels for collaboration and feedback. Vlad has previously served as a Vice President of the PGSA.