Skip to main contentStudent Partnership Programmes and Activities » Conference Organising Team
Conference Organising Team
Esra Tahir
Esra Tahir is a Biomedical Science student at the University of Westminster, with a focus on neuroscience and mental health. She is a Research Assistant for the Social Pedagogies for Social Justice (PSJ) Project and serves as the Social Media Manager for the Brain’s Matters Society. Esra has presented her work at the International Higher Education Teaching & Learning Conference, and her current research includes a final year project on stem cell research. She is passionate about decolonisation and social justice.
Fatima Maatwk
Dr Fatima Maatwk (she/her) is an early-career researcher and Lecturer in Student Partnership at the Centre for Education and Teaching Innovation (CETI) at the University of Westminster, as well as a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Prior to her role at CETI, she was a Lecturer and Researcher at Westminster Business School, where she also completed her doctoral research on diversity and inclusion in the technology industry across Egypt, Germany and the UK. In her current role, Fatima leads on the Students as Co-Creators programme, the Student Partnership Ambassadors programme, and is part of the Pedagogies for Social Justice project (PSJ). She has published in the areas of labour and employment relations, diversity and inclusion in the legal field, gender and work, and student-staff partnership. Her work on fostering student-staff partnership communities is centred on social justice, anti-racism and decolonisation. Her research foci and interests include social psychology, decolonisation, social justice, intersectionality, and cross-cultural research. Fatima is an Egyptian-German Muslim woman. She spent her life between Egypt and Germany and has been living in the UK for the past nine years, where she is continuing her academic path.
Geyujing Shen
Geyujing Shen (she/her) is a first-year PhD student at the Centre for Social Justice Research at the University of Westminster. Her PhD focuses on Exploring the decolonial framework of queer theory by focusing on Chinese female queer student immigrants via visual lenses. As both a researcher and an art practitioner, she is committed to incorporating creative methodologies into sociological research. Her approach aims to challenge traditional hierarchies by involving participants in the research process as co-creators. Her research focuses on fostering healing and empowerment by examining the lived experiences of Chinese queer student immigrants, exploring how their identities and challenges are shaped by cultural and social transitions. By creating spaces for mutual dialogue and expression, she fosters deeper understanding and shared agency between researchers and participants.
Jennifer Fraser
Dr Jennifer Fraser (they/them) holds a joint appointment as Principal Lecturer in Sociology and University Director of Student Partnership in the Centre for Education and Teaching Innovation at the University of Westminster. They are an education leader specialising in critical pedagogies, particularly feminist, anti-racist, decolonial and queer pedagogies and teaching methods. Their work builds on a background in narrative and cultural theory and is shaped by a commitment to inclusive practices and social justice. Jennifer leads Westminster’s institution-wide student partnership programme, as well as leading and teaching on interdisciplinary modules and supervising doctoral researchers in the School of Social Sciences. They are a research active, engaged and productive scholar who leads inter-generational, multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional research teams. They co-lead the Gender and Sexuality stream of work in the Centre for Social Justice Research at Westminster. Their most recent research on non-binary student and staff experiences in higher education is sector-leading and has appeared in Journal of Gender Studies, feminists@law and is forthcoming in the Bulletin of Applied Transgender Research. They are often invited to keynote national and international conferences related to student partnership and social justice. They are a National Teaching Fellow and a founding member of the Critical Pedagogies Group and the Pedagogies for Social Justice project.
Kelsea Costin
Kelsea Costin (she/her) is an Intern for the Pedagogies for Social Justice project (PSJ) and Alumni of the University of Westminster. Whilst completing her BA in Sociology in 2023, Kelsea joined the PSJ as a Research Intern. She has since gained further experience as an Academic Support Intern in the Centre for Education and Teaching Innovation (CETI) at the University of Westminster, gaining skills in report writing, academic research and peer-review. Whilst working for the PSJ, Kelsea has presented at multiple events, such as the Festival of Decolonial Learning in 2023, and at International and National conferences, including the 2024 International Higher Education Teaching and Learning Association conference held by Nelson Mandela University in Gqeberha, South Africa and the Journeys of Decolonising conference at UCL in 2024. She has also attained some experience in teaching alongside her colleagues in the module ‘Gender, Education and Identity’, which she previously took as a Sociology student. Her research favours an interdisciplinary approach and her interests are centred on social justice in education, decolonial and anti-racist work in the university, cultural heritage and community-building. As part of a student-staff collaboration, Kelsea believes that relationality and student-staff partnerships are crucial for dismantling institutional structures and challenging coloniality in the academy. After she completes her MA in Cultural Studies at SOAS, University of London, she is keen to prioritise student-driven knowledge production and decolonial and anti-racist work in academic communities.
Khimkala Gurung
Khimkala Gurung is currently pursuing a degree in Biomedicine, with a strong passion for exploring the intersection of science and healthcare. As a Student Partnership Ambassador, she works to bridge the gap between students and faculty, ensuring that student voices are heard while contributing to a more inclusive and supportive learning environment. She is dedicated to advocacy, collaboration, and creating spaces where students can thrive both academically and personally. Beyond her studies and ambassador responsibilities, Khimkala enjoys engaging in science outreach and exploring her love for cooking. She believes in the power of student partnerships to drive positive change within the university community.
Kyra Araneta
Kyra Araneta (she/her) is a Lecturer in Student Partnership and Social Justice in the Centre for Education (CETI) and Teaching Innovation at the University of Westminster. Prior to her role in the CETI, she completed an MA in International Relations whilst working as the Student Partnership Coordinator on the Pedagogies for Social Justice Project (PSJ). As a continuation of this work in her new appointment, Kyra hosts the PSJ podcast, co-creates with students, and contributes to the field through publications and keynote addresses. Her research foci and interests include critical race and decolonial pedagogies, social justice education, intersectionality, and the role of student-staff partnerships in fostering ethical learning environments. She has been successful in several funding applications including for Quintin Hogg Trust and the Centre for Social Justice Research. She will co-chair the first international Students as Partners Roundtable conference in the UK in 2025. As a mixed woman of African-Asian descent, Kyra dedicates her praxis to challenging contemporary forms of coloniality in academia, centring underrepresented and marginalised voices, and engaging with inclusive educational practices that empower diverse communities.
Özge Süvari
Özge Süvari (she/her) is a doctoral researcher in the School of Architecture + Cities at the University of Westminster. Her research interests include Anthropocene histories, ecologies, and beings, with a particular focus on the role of drawing in deciphering the climate crisis. Before her doctoral studies, she was an adjunct lecturer and practising architect in Turkey, where she was committed to designing public spaces and buildings in environmentally responsible ways. Since January 2024, she has been a research intern on the Pedagogies for Social Justice (PSJ) project and a student ambassador with the Student Partnership team. Navigating in academia as a both student and lecturer, she is committed to partnership and social justice as fundamental to shaping research, teaching, and learning.
Sangya Tyagi
Sangya Tyagi (she/her) is a doctoral researcher at the Communication and Media Research Institute (CAMRI) and an Administrative Assistant on the Student Partnership Team at the University of Westminster. Her prior experience of conducting multidisciplinary research projects with international student and staff researchers aligns seamlessly with her role in facilitating student-centered programs that emphasize collaboration and co-creation. In her administrative capacity, she works diligently behind the scenes to manage the logistics, communications, and daily operations for the Students as Co-Creators programme. She also oversees the coordination of various other Student Partnership Projects and events, ensuring a commitment to student support.
Yumeng Yang
Yumeng Yang now is a MPhil student in Sociology at the University of Westminster. Yumeng’s research is at the intersections of media studies, gender studies and Chinese studies. She is particularly interested in the study of queer expression on Chinese social media platforms. In 2023, she participated in the Chinese National College Student Entrepreneurship Project. This experience allowed her to collaborate with peers from diverse cultural backgrounds, deepening her appreciation for teamwork and the value of multicultural perspectives and student insights in enhancing projects. As a Student Ambassador, she recognizes the unique opportunity to bridge the gap between students, faculty, and the wider community in University of Westminster. Yumeng Yang aims to promote cross-cultural exchange by engaging with students from various nationalities and academic disciplines and advocate for student voices in shaping a more accessible and welcoming academic environment. Meanwhile, she is also keen on developing a deeper intercultural understanding, which complements her academic pursuits in sociology and enhances her personal growth. By serving as a Student Ambassador, she hopes to inspire others to embrace diversity and work collectively towards a more inclusive university experience for all.
University of Westminster
309 Regent Street, London W1B 2UW
General enquiries: +44 (0)20 7911 5000
Course enquiries: +44 (0)20 7915 5511
The University of Westminster is a charity and a company limited by guarantee. Registration number: 977818 England
A new method kms activation that is not talked about much, but thanks to it you can activate your Windows 11, 10, 8, 7 or Office 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021 in 1 click.
