Ayush Dara was elected as the new Director of Communications and Internal (DCI) for the Student Association of George Brown College (SAGBC) on Dec. 1, 2023.  

One of four nominees for the position, he won by securing 58.9 per cent of the total votes.  

An international student from India, Dara has been at GBC for two years as a student in the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Dara has previously managed a team in a marketing agency and also served as an instructor and trainer for children with special needs. 

He brings his values of teamwork and community to the position of DCI at SAGBC.  

Dara shared that his main motivation to run for the position was to be someone who enables a better environment for students at the college. 

“My focus revolved around several key areas that are crucial for students like providing academic support, prioritizing their health initiatives, fostering diversity and inclusion, and ensuring that the student body has a strong say in the decisions that affect them.” 

Dara shared that helping students who struggle with balancing life and studies will also be a priority.  

“I’ll work towards something like that which can, you know, support them financially, academically and mentally,” he said.  

He was also part of the volunteer squad at GBC prior to running for the BOD position. 

“I have participated in planning and executing activities that aim to support people. This involvement has allowed me to understand the needs and aspirations of our student body better,” he said.  

Dara played team sports for several years and believes that his teamwork skills will translate into the current position.  

Dara compared working with the rest of the board members as being similar to working with his sports teammates in the past.  

“When you are playing as a team, there are many things that you don’t agree on. You have different views, different strategies, and after sitting together and going through everything you agree to a certain point, “he said, “Playing for seven years, that has allowed me to understand other’s points and allowing the team to reach our common goal.”  

Dara also shared that improving the visibility of the board is of importance to him. 

“My message would be ‘I’m a fellow student and I understand them’. I would make myself visible to them because in [the past] I was unaware of the board members,” he said.  

Dara has shared plans to immediately focus on building better communication channels within the board as well as the association and work closely to cater to students’ needs.  

“I would give preference to in-person board meetings and ensure that every board member is attending and having good participation,” he said.  

Dara will serve in the position until Dec. 31, 2024.