Diya Mary Selastin - Your QMSU President

The first all-South Asian team at the Queen Mary Students’ Union (QMSU) is shaping a formative administration. These proactive executives, harnessing their mandates from the student body, reflect a progressive atmosphere within the Student Union. 

At a Russell group that celebrates diversity, how much of an achievement was being elected to you?

Diya and the QMUL CEO, Mike Wojvic, delivering a presentation at the first Russell Group Students’ Union of the year

Having participated in student representation extensively throughout her education and engaging with QMSU appealed to Diya particularly because of her passion for representation and championing the student voice. Going as far back as her days in school, she has undertaken roles such as the head girl and the leader of many extracurricular groups. Despite her experience, it was challenging for Diya to overcome certain barriers to get to Queen Mary University of London (QMUL). But, with the aim to improve the university system to make it more accommodating, particularly for international students like herself, Diya entered the election. She harnessed her determination and successfully campaigned for student President, becoming the youngest to hold the post and the first international student in recent years to do so.

She successfully overcame having been a late-arrival whilst experiencing financial difficulties. Furthermore, against the backdrop of these challenges, Diya was faced with difficult circumstances in her elections as well. In response, Diya embraced her campaign even more, attempting to defy the “odds” that were “stacked against her”. She further expresses her gratitude to the student body that placed their faith in her, supported her and elected her. Overall, Diya believes that her determination, passion, and deep understanding of student issues enables her to be a President that represents the student body. 

What is your experience of the working dynamic within QMSU?

The experience Diya has gained through various roles in QMSU enables her to navigate her Presidential role confidently. For example, in 2024 Diya restarted the Women in Law society with her friend, Elif Akkur. 

Diya and the Women in Law committee 2024-2025 team

Moreover, (2023-2024) Diya worked in Communications and Marketing for QMSU, where she learned the organisation's strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, in her campaign Diya was able to appeal to student's satisfaction with QMSU, while redressing the important areas of improvement as well. Despite her extensive experience, Diya reflects that having progressed from being QMSU staff to the President was “humbling” and approaches her role with respect and maturity. 

Diya at the Education Awards 2025 as  International Representative and Deputy Student Council Chair

What stake does a QMSU executive have in wider politics, in terms of representation and education affairs?

Diya painting a mural

Diya believes that student voices present a significant factor to politics and have the power to “shape political discourse”. Student unions, such as QMSU, therefore have the ability to “empower” movements to have a positive impact. The importance of students’ voices is recognised in spaces created for them, such as Parliamentary forums or the Russell Group Students’ Union (RSGU). For example, recently Diya participated in an All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG). But, as a student representative, Diya also acknowledges that student spaces are offered to those in positions of power. Therefore she appreciates the "responsibility" that she was given to represent her peers,  as she actively engages with powerful institutions on behalf of the student body, valuing their voices.

Similarly, Diya values activism amongst other mediums of representation and specifically identifies art as her favourite form of expressing it. For example, Banksy’s painting on the royal courts of justice was a “powerful message” to Diya, especially as a law student. Moreover, Diya believes the attempts at covering it up can be interpreted as a form of “censorship”. She believes that “art, in all forms, can truly amplify people’s voices”. This is particularly reflected in her experience with volunteering  with Skaped - an East London based organisation that embodies this message to Diya.

Banksy’s painting on the Royal courts of Justice

Furthermore, amongst the range of issues that Diya is passionate about, just as for the student body, Palestine is a pressing matter to QMSU President. She also prioritizes her role in ensuring the wellbeing of Queen Mary students who are directly and indirectly affected by military escalations and conflicts around the world, as well as in protecting the students’ freedom of speech and expression.

Diya engages with wider politics beyond the University as she feels it is important to participate in those conversations, firmly believing that the student voice has a real impact.

For example, Diya, alongside Hassam, advocated and lobbied for the removal of the levy on international students in Parliament. As a result, the levy was reduced substantially so international students are less financially impacted. As an international student, Diya understands the value of being able to access education around the world, the importance of supporting personal as well as professional development. Diya hopes that future QMSU cohorts will continue to engage with the UK Government in order to support international students.

What have you changed/achieved since being elected?

Diya has worked with the University to improve the completion rates of consent modules, in line with new UK Ofs regulation, so the campus is “safer and better for all students”. Diya also continues to work on ongoing projects to further advance safety. For example, QMSU President and the RGSU are promoting “the survey on gender based violence on UK campuses to find more data to lobby the government to put more structured support in place.” Following this, it was found that 67% of Russel group students are more likely to report an incident if misogyny is considered a hate crime. Furthermore, she is currently a part of the campaign to establish misogyny as a hate crime. This campaign has been submitted to parliament and as of today has nearly 20,000 signatures.

In addition, Diya established a temporary women’s only space for the second semester and will be leading Queen Mary’s first ever cross campus Women’s Week at the end of February. Moreover, in the spirit of women’s empowerment, the Student President has been advocating for more support for women in leadership positions at the University. Specifically, Diya endorses the recommendations proposed by QMSU’s Rachel’s report on women in leadership.

The Student President has played a key role in establishing stronger relationships with the students’ unions, across transnational campuses, such as the Paris campus. Diya is also an active voice when it comes  to bringing together London Sabbatical Officers to work on common student issues. For example, Diya significantly contributed to passing the new investment policy, fulfilling her manifesto pledge. The investment policy is the product of 2 years of “hard work” shared by members across QMSU. So, QMSU President credits all of the sabbatical officers who support the policy aim.

Which change would you like future QMSU executives to retain most?

The student President values QMUL having infrastructure that is representative of the needs of the diverse student body. She has therefore started projects like the women-only space, hand-held bidets; sound proof phone booths in the library to attend meetings and more charging ports in lecture theatres. As she has been investing much of her time in long-term infrastructure projects, the Student President hopes that future QMSU executives build on her work. Diya is keen to implement her plans by the end of her term so that hopefully future sabbatical officers can utilise the “groundwork”, which began with the establishment of the Campus Experience Working Group. 

Among the infrastructure projects there is now an alcohol-free space, the Drapers Lounge. It is available for all students to use now. The space is to promote an inclusive recreational atmosphere for teetotal students. Diya hopes that all of her other ongoing projects will positively impact the University experience, making Queen Mary an even more welcoming space.

Furthermore, the student President advocates for a more “transparent” and “accountable” institution. QMSU’s ethical investments pledge is an example of how these qualities can be achieved. Diya believes that a hospitable University environment involves a culture of openness.

As an early career professional, what's next?

After finishing her law degree, Diya plans on finding a space where she can work on what she truly enjoys as well as creating further positive changes that will outlast her time in “one way or another”. 

Diya at the September 2025 welcome fair