
Elections
Swinburne elections are held online, usually in the third quarter of each academic year.
The Governance and Assurance Unit administers the Swinburne statutory elections for all staff and student positions on the Swinburne University Council, Academic Senate, UniSuper Consultative Committee, Swinburne Student Life Board and the Faculty Student Consultative Committees.
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Notice of election
Election dates, times and available positions are published in the lead up to the Swinburne Elections. Details of candidates and elected office bearers are updated by the Returning Officer throughout the election process.
Election process
The key Swinburne election processes are summarised below and are guided by the Elections Regulations 2012 and the Student General Misconduct Regulations.
A notice of election is sent via email to the relevant electorate whenever an election is to be held. When the number of nominations for a vacancy exceeds the number of positions to be filled, elections will be conducted online.
Nominations open: 9.00am Monday 14 September 2020
Nominations close: 12.00pm (midday) Tuesday 22 September 2020
At the end of the nomination period the Returning Officer will notify candidates via their Swinburne email accounts if an election is required.
The notice of election will be updated to include a list of candidates. Where the number of nominations does not exceed the number of positions to be filled, the Returning Officer will declare the candidate or candidates elected.
Where the number of nominations for a vacancy exceeds the number of positions to be filled, elections will be conducted online. The University electoral company (BigPulse) will email a unique link to an online voting form to all members of the electorate eligible to vote.
Electoral rolls list the members eligible to participate in elections. The eligibility requirements are outlined in the Swinburne University of Technology Act 2010 and the Election Regulations (Part 3. S10. Entitlement to be nominated for elections).
If you are not included on the electoral roll for an election and believe you are entitled to be, please email the Returning Officer.
Submit your nomination online according to the guidelines sent by email.
An email from the University electoral company (BigPulse) is sent at the beginning of each election period to members of the electorate. Information about the vacancy, nomination and voting time frames will be available via a unique link provided in this email, including access to the online nomination submission form.
Understand the roles, responsibilities and time commitments expected of all staff and students considering a position within one of the bodies here at Swinburne University of Technology.
To nominate as a candidate for an elected position complete the online nomination submission form. The form can be accessed via the unique link in the email from the University electoral company (BigPulse). Provide a candidate’s statement of no more than 250 words. Nominations will not be accepted after the close of the nomination period.
A nominee may withdraw their nomination at any time via elections@swinburne.edu.au.
Voting opens: 9am Monday 5 October 2020
Voting closes: 12pm (midday) Monday 12 October 2020
Electoral rolls list the members eligible to participate in elections. The eligibility requirements are outlined in the Swinburne University of Technology Act 2010 and the Election Regulations (Part 3. S10. Entitlement to vote).
If you are not included on the electoral roll for an election and believe you are entitled to be, please email elections@swinburne.edu.au.
Submit your vote online according to the guidelines sent by email.
An email from the University electoral company (BigPulse) is sent at the beginning of the voting period to all eligible voters. Eligible staff and students vote via a unique link to individual ballot papers online provided in this email. Eligible voters can access ballot papers at any time throughout the voting period.
Votes are de-identified so it is not possible for any person to determine how an elector voted.
Vote counting starts when the election period closes. Election results are determined using plurality voting known as “first past the post."
Election process
Where can I find information about nomination eligibility criteria?
Eligibility criteria for student and staff positions are outlined in the Election Regulations (Part 3. S10. Entitlement to be nominated for elections).
Can I nominate for a position in a category that I don’t currently belong to?
You can only nominate for a position in a category that you currently belong to. Eg. if you are currently an undergraduate student and will be a postgraduate student next year, you can only nominate in the category you currently belong to.
How do I nominate as a candidate and where can I find more information?
Nominations can be submitted via the unique link provided in the BigPulse emails. Further information on ‘How to nominate’ can be found here.
How do I vote in the elections and where can I find more information?
Voting can be submitted via the unique link provided in the BigPulse emails. Further information on ‘How to Vote’ can be found here.
What should I do if I can’t find the BigPulse emails?
Look for the BigPulse emails in your Swinburne email Inbox or Junk Emails. If you can’t locate them, try searching “bigpulse” or “swinburne elections”. Still can’t find them, email the returning officer.
Where can I find the names of the election candidates?
Candidate names are published in the Notice of Election.
Where can I find the election results?
The election results are published in the Notice of Election.
What happens if there are insufficient candidates for positions?
The Elections Regulations (Part 4. S13. Insufficient candidates) applies to all vacancies if no candidates are nominated for election to a body in a particular category or all candidates nominated for election to a vacancy withdraw before being elected.
Definitions
What is a ballot period?
The period during which persons may vote at an election.
Who is BigPulse and what is their role in the University elections?
BigPulse is an electoral company specialising in high security online elections and nominations. The University engages BigPulse for the purpose of conducting secure online elections.
What does ‘first past the post’ mean?
Election results are determined using plurality voting known as ‘first past the post’, ie. the person with the most votes is duly elected.
What is an electorate?
An electorate is all the people in a relevant category entitled to vote in an election.
What are regulatory probity requirements?
Regulatory probity requirements are evidenced by agreeing to the following if you are a successful candidate, ie. that you will:
- Comply with the Victorian Public Sector Commission’s Directors’ Code of Conduct, University legislation and the University’s Governance Framework including the Council Charter;
- Undertake the role for the benefit of the University, rather than as a representative of a stakeholder group;
- Comply with all duties and rules including confidentiality obligations; and
- Provide any declarations required.
What is the role of the returning officer?
The returning office is the official who conducts an election and announces the results.
What are statutory elections at the University?
Statutory elections are an election which the Vice-Chancellor or University Secretary has determined is an election to which the Election Regulation 2012 applies.
Contacts
Where should I direct general election inquiries?
General election inquiries can be addressed to the returning officer at elections@swinburne.edu.au.
Where should I direct specific inquiries relating to the University Council, Academic Senate, Swinburne Student Life, Faculty Student Consultative Committees or the UniSuper Consultative Committee?
Specific inquiries relating to these bodies can be addressed to the contacts listed on the Board Member Commitments page.

Swinburne Elections Information Session
Welcome to the Swinburne University Elections Information Session. The key information we will cover in this session includes (i) the benefits of becoming a board or committee member; (ii) the key election processes; (iii) where to find information; and (iv) details around campaigning.
Election results
The Returning Officer determines the results of the poll and notifies candidates via their Swinburne email accounts within two business days after the close of the voting period.
2020 Elected candidates and the distribution of votes are published in the notice of election.
Where vacancies arise due to insufficient candidates the Elections Regulations (Part 4. S13. Insufficient candidates) apply.
This section contains the results of Swinburne statutory elections held in 2019 for 2020(1) office bearers.
For the contested electorates, a ballot was conducted online which concluded at 12pm on Monday 14 October.
Where the number of valid nominations did not exceed the number of vacancies, candidates were elected unopposed (indicated below by *).
Expressions of interest will be sought to fill vacant positions, further details regarding this process will be available soon.
(1) UniSuper positions commence 14 October 2019.
Staff positions
University Council
Elected |
Elected by and from |
Level requirements |
Term |
---|---|---|---|
Samir Shrivastava |
All university staff |
All levels |
1 January 2020–31 December 2021 |
Academic senate
Elected |
Elected by and from |
Level requirements |
Term |
---|---|---|---|
Elizabeth Levin Loretta Garvey |
Swinburne higher education academics |
All level |
1 January 2020–31 December 2021 |
Mary Dunkley* |
Faculty of Business and Law |
Academic D or E |
1 January 2020–31 December 2021 |
Vacant |
Faculty of Health, Arts and Design |
Academic D or E |
1 January 2020–31 December 2021 |
Christopher Fluke* |
Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology |
Academic D or E |
1 January 2020–31 December 2021 |
Vacant |
Pathways and Vocational Education departments |
Senior Educator level or equivalent | 1 January 2020–31 December 2021 |
UniSuper Consultative Committee
Elected |
Elected by and from |
Level requirements |
Term |
---|---|---|---|
Reza Tajaddini |
Academic Staff |
Academic Staff Representative |
14 October 2019–13 October 2023 |
Bronwyn Smith* |
Non-Academic Staff |
Non-Academic Staff Representative |
14 October 2019–13 October 2023 |
Student positions
University council
Elected |
Elected by and from |
Level requirements |
Term |
---|---|---|---|
Junaid Azhar |
Students |
All levels |
1 January 2020–31 December 2020 |
Academic senate
Elected |
Elected by and from |
Level requirements |
Term |
---|---|---|---|
Hozaifa Abbasi |
Students |
AQF level 1 to 6 (Certificate to Advanced Diploma/Associate Degree) | 1 January 2020–31 December 2020 |
Anshal Khawar |
Students |
AQF level 7 to 9 (Bachelor to Masters Degree) |
1 January 2020–31 December 2020 |
Errol Phuah |
Students |
Higher degree by research students | 1 January 2020–31 December 2020 |
Swinburne Student Life
Elected |
Elected by and from |
Level requirements |
Term |
---|---|---|---|
Tahsin AR Bhuiyan |
Students |
Undergraduate students |
1 January 2020–31 December 2021 |
Abdul Rehman Khan |
Students |
Postgraduate students |
1 January 2020–31 December 2021 |
Abdul Samie | Students |
International students |
1 January 2020–31 December 2021 |
Faculty of Business and Law Student Consultative Committee
Elected |
Elected by and from |
Level requirements |
Term |
---|---|---|---|
Medhinee Lutchmee Pillai Naomi Ross Asadullah Daryab |
Students of the Faculty of Business and Law |
Undergraduate students |
1 January 2020–31 December 2020 |
Muzammil Hussain Bernard Song Swadha Bhatia |
Students of the Faculty of Business and Law | Postgraduate students |
1 January 2020–31 December 2020 |
Yaqoob Hussein Sarthak Arora Asha Chowdary |
Students of the Faculty of Business and Law | International students | 1 January 2020–31 December 2020 |
Faculty of Health, Arts and Design Student Consultative Committee
Elected |
Elected by and from |
Level requirements |
Term |
---|---|---|---|
Macadie Hurley-Edwards Daniel Grunow Blaine Harris |
Students of the Faculty of Health, Arts and Design |
Undergraduate students |
1 January 2020–31 December 202 |
Prarthan Baxi Oluwadamilola Ayeni Alexander Mazurskyy |
Students of the Faculty of Health, Arts and Design |
Postgraduate students |
1 January 2020–31 December 2020 |
Ariba Hanif* Nadeem Nadeem* Nikitha Neelakantan* |
Students of the Faculty of Health, Arts and Design |
International students |
1 January 2020–31 December 2020 |
Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology Student Consultative Committee
Elected |
Elected by and from |
Level requirements |
Term |
---|---|---|---|
Inzanur Islam Ha Nguyen Kishaun Thiruchelvam |
Students of the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology | Undergraduate students | 1 January 2020–31 December 2020 |
Ayman Shirazi Afzal Chowdhary Ravneet Kaur |
Students of the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology | Postgraduate students | 1 January 2020–31 December 2020 |
MD Tanjim Ahmed Harish Rajendran Hamza Waqar Malik |
Students of the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology | International students | 1 January 2020–31 December 2020 |
Keep on exploring
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Board member commitments
Understand the roles, responsibilities and time commitments expected of all staff and students considering a position within one of the bodies here at Swinburne.
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Vice-Chancellor and President of Swinburne
Professor Pascale Quester guides Swinburne’s vision to be a world-class university creating social and economic impact through science, technology and innovation.
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Executive team
Meet our executive team and Pro-Vice Chancellors and discover their expertise in education and their fields of specialisation.
Need to contact us?
Email the Returning Officer, University Elections via elections@swinburne.edu.au.