Officers of Council
In addition to the 5 Executives and the 19 Councillors, the membership of Council also includes the following officers:
Meet the Officers of Council
The Speaker is the presiding officer of all meetings of Students' Council.
The Speaker is appointed annually by, and reports directly to, Students' Council. The Speaker facilitates discussion and debate, makes rulings on parliamentary procedure, and helps to facilitate Students' Council in fulfilling its legislative mandate. The logistical and procedural concerns or questions around Council are the responsibility of the elected Speaker. The Speaker is a non-voting member of Students' Council.
The Board of Governors (BoG) plays a vital role in the University of Alberta, making decisions on tuition fees, managing university assets and finances, and setting the strategic direction for the institution. As a representative for the undergraduate student body, the BoG representative holds a voting seat on the board. They collaborate closely with the Students' Union president and serve as a voting member on both the Students' Council and the General Faculties Council (GFC).
Karina Banerji is a fourth-year Biological Sciences student with a minor in Economics. With a passion for advocacy and a commitment to student well-being, Karina brings a wide range of campus experience and community leadership to the role.
On campus, she has served on the Interdepartmental Science Students' Society (ISSS) and the Biological Sciences Chair Selection Committee. Beyond governance, Karina is the President of the U of A Fencing Club and has been an event host at Dewey’s for the past three years, giving her strong connections to student life across academic, social, and athletic spaces.
Outside the university, Karina’s leadership experience has included work with the City of Edmonton Youth Council, REACH Edmonton, and student-led anti-racism initiatives. Across these roles, she has focused on increasing accessibility, safety, and representation for youth.
As BoG Representative, Karina is focused on advancing affordability, accessibility, and transparency at the UofA. Her priorities include financial clarity in how student fees are used, expanding Zero-Textbook-Cost (ZTC) courses, and strengthening student supports. She is committed to ensuring university governance reflects the diverse needs and lived experiences of UofA students.
The General Manager (GM) is the Students' Union's top permanent employee, responsible for the day-to-day operations of the UASU and for long-term operational planning. Reporting to the Students' Union President and working closely with the rest of the Executive Team, the GM provides invaluable advice and fosters continuity from year to year within the UASU.
All UASU businesses and services report to Directors who, in turn, report to the GM. With over 290 employees, dozens of departments, and a budget of more than fifteen million dollars, it's a big job.
As a non-student, the General Manager is a non-voting member of Students' Council and of the Executive Committee.
The Chief Returning Officer (CRO) reports directly to Students' Council and is responsible for elections and referenda, from the administration of the voting process to ruling on election matters.
The CRO provides reports to Students' Council throughout the year, especially during election season. They also hold a non-voting seat on Students' Council.
For more information about the CRO or the elections process, check out Governance