Commerce student Daniel Leamy has taken up the role of OUSA President after serving for two years as the Finance and Strategy Officer on the OUSA Executive. “Every day brought something new, and that experience has really shaped how I approach leadership and decision making.”
Otago tauira Daniel Leamy is no stranger to the inner workings of the OUSA Executive, something that will serve him well as he takes on the role of President this year.
Daniel – in his fourth year of a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Accounting and Finance – has been on the exec since 2024, serving both years as Finance and Strategy Officer.
That role gave him the experience and perspective to step up this year, he says.
“Being part of the exec taught me just how important teamwork and trust are. You can have strong individual ideas, but without cooperation and good relationships, nothing meaningful gets done.
“Every day brought something new, and that experience has really shaped how I approach leadership and decision making.”
"You can have strong individual ideas, but without cooperation and good relationships, nothing meaningful gets done." – Daniel Leamy
This experience will be especially important as Daniel is joined by a brand-new exec this year.
“I’m the only member who has carried over from last year. My role will be about supporting the team, sharing institutional knowledge where it’s helpful, and making sure everyone feels confident to step up and lead in their own areas.
“While the exec is new, that also means there’s a lot of energy, fresh thinking and willingness to learn. The team is eager to get stuck in and make a real difference for students."
Daniel recognises how important the role of President is and plans to lead with “clarity, stability and purpose during what is a really important time for students”.
“The President has the ability to set the tone for the entire organisation and to make sure student voices are genuinely heard at the highest levels of the University.
“My focus is on doing the work, making decisions, and making sure OUSA delivers for students in 2026.”
New OUSA President Daniel Leamy is looking forward to the “energy and fresh thinking” new OUSA Executive members will bring this year. “The team is eager to get stuck in and make a real difference for students,” he says.
The biggest challenge will be prioritising what can realistically be achieved in a single year, he says.
“Student advocacy often involves balancing long-term strategic goals with unexpected issues that arise throughout the year, and making sure our time and energy are focused where they can have the greatest impact for students.
“Students don’t need more talk, they need results.”
One of the key areas Daniel plans to focus on is student engagement, particularly with civic and democratic processes.
“With a general election coming up on November 7 this year, it’s incredibly important that students feel informed, empowered and encouraged to have their say on the future of our country.
“I want OUSA to actively break down barriers to voting and make political participation feel accessible rather than intimidating.”
*If you want to get in contact with Daniel and the OUSA Executive, you can find them on Instagram @ousaexec or email president@ousa.org.nz.
– Kōrero by Internal Communications Adviser Laura Hewson
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