RAGE for ANUSA has dominated the 2025 ANUSA elections, securing every executive role for 2026 except General Secretary, which was won by Malakai King running on the independent ticket Malakai for ANUSA.
The elected executive candidates include Charley Ellwood for President and Undergraduate Member of the University Council, Stella Serrao-Smith for Vice-President, Eloisa Belmar Osborn for Treasurer, Malakai King for General Secretary, Dylan Rafael Adams for Clubs Officer, Leila Clarke for Welfare Officer, and Aurora Neumann for Education Officer.
Beyond the executive candidates, postgraduate representation included Bruce Pan, who was elected independently of tickets in a notable result. The other candidate positions saw a RAGE dominance, with few elected positions from other tickets.
Charley Ellwood described the election outcome to Observer as both “honouring” and “humbling.”
“To see the campus unite behind RAGE and behind our vision for the union was certainly a heartwarming feeling… Our RAGE campaign team worked tirelessly to put together the campaign, and we will forever be thankful for the time and energy they gave.”
While celebrating the sweep, Ellwood admitted surprise at how many RAGE candidates were elected unopposed.
“It was slightly disappointing to see that RAGE was the only ticket to have such depth in their commitment to the students of ANU. We know that fighting the cuts is a whole-of-team approach that requires much more than the executive.”
Ellwood emphasised that the real challenge lies ahead, describing themselves as “hyper aware of the crisis that our university is in.”
“We know the size of the job at hand, and we are prepared to take it on.”
The election period coincided with Vice-Chancellor Genevieve Bell’s resignation, which followed months of pressure over staff cuts, restructures, and the broader Renew ANU plan.
Ellwood told Observer that it was “a welcome indication that months of staff, student, and community pressure had finally put the university on notice.”
When asked how he planned to work alongside University governance during the ongoing restructure crisis, Ellwood noted that he has spoken extensively with current President Will Burfoot about the change in leadership and looks forward to meeting with all council members in the coming months.
“I look forward to working with the Interim VC in charting a sustainable path forward for the uni… I also look forward to working with council in the appointment of the new Vice-Chancellor and pushing to have student voices heard at every opportunity,” said Ellwood.
“We welcome the change in attitude from university management, but ANUSA won’t be accepting a change in PR strategy as an indication of a change in the direction of our university.”
To ensure personal accountability, Ellwood pledged to implement a promise tracker updated at each SRC meeting.
The system will track the progress of both individual officers’ policies and broader executive initiatives, providing students with clear updates on what has been achieved and explanations if any policies cannot be delivered.
Ellwood said the tracker will be complemented by weekly executive meetings to review progress, alongside “clear explanations if any policies are no longer able to be achieved.”
While RAGE dominated the executive, Malakai King, a first-year elected into the position of General Secretary, stands apart as the only independent. For King, the motivation to run came from a deep attachment to student life.
“I was motivated primarily out of a love for ANU, and the student life that makes our university so special! ANUSA funds all clubs, provides important services, is the keystone of advocacy against cuts, and has an important role to play in defending student life.”
As a first-year, King said he discovered student politics after arriving on campus, where he became concerned by the culture at ANUSA meetings.
“That experience of being heckled while speaking in front of 150 people at each others’ throats really set into me that we had a culture issue in the union where factionalism was put above outcomes.”
Over the year, King built up his knowledge by attending ANUSA’s various meetings, “from SRC, to EDC, OGMs and groups including the Poster Policy Working Group and Bring Back Our Doctors campaign”.
“I’d never say that my knowledge was great though—there’s always so much more to learn. During the campaign I met with more than 18 different stakeholders; current and former members of the ANUSA executive, presidents of various clubs, department officers, other candidates, and ordinary students.”
When asked how he would work alongside a RAGE-majority executive, King emphasised collaboration without partisanship.
“I come to the executive with my own set of values and beliefs which I articulated during my campaign. I know that this will be respected by other members of the executive, and I extend that same respect to their perspectives. I’ll also never join a factional caucus, which can limit my freedom to approach an issue in the interests of all students.”
Both Ellwood and King were asked what success would look like at the end of their terms.
Ellwood emphasised broader outcomes, focusing on the relationship between students and the university.
He told Observer that “success for RAGE will look like a student body that has regained some sort of trust in the university.”
“One of the biggest tasks that we will have over the next year will be the SSAF negotiations at the end of the year. We hope to deliver on our promise of an increase in the length of the deal from 3 to 5 years to provide more security for our union’s funding and an increase in the overall allocation share to account for the demand for ANUSA’s services.”
“An indicator of our success as a team will be in the success of these negotiations.”
King highlighted goals related to ANUSA’s internal culture and governance.
“I’d be proud if I’m successful in improving ANUSA’s culture to be more inclusive and accessible,” he said. “The change I’d be proudest to (hopefully!) leave behind is the online, searchable decisions register to keep ANUSA accountable and transparent.”
Graphics by Laudine Cao
Additional Photography by Fergus Wall
Know something we don’t know? Email news@anuobserver.org or use our anonymous tip submission.
If you have an issue with this article, or a correction to make, you can contact us at news@anuobserver.org, submit a formal dispute, or angry react the Facebook post.
If you don’t have an issue with this article and want to hear more from us, we’re in the process of making a newsletter! Sign up here, and have the latest news delivered directly to you.
Want to get involved? You can write articles, photograph, livestream or do web support. We’re also looking for someone to yell “extra!” outside Davey Lodge at 1 am. Apply today!
ANU Observer 