Serving as an elected trustee for Engineers Without Borders UK is more than a governance role – it’s a unique opportunity to connect with a passionate community, contribute to meaningful change, and grow both personally and professionally.
With nominations now open for the 2025 trustee elections, we caught up with our current elected trustees, Akaraseth Puranasamriddhi and Milly Hennayake, about the highlights, lessons, and impact of their experiences, and asked what advice they had for those considering standing for election.
Looking back at the last 3 years, what have some of the highlights been?
For both trustees, connecting with the Engineers Without Borders UK community has been a source of energy and motivation over the last 3 years.
“Speaking with volunteers, staff and the wider Engineers Without Borders community has been incredibly inspiring,” Akaraseth explains.
“Despite the scale of the challenges, there is a collective optimism about what we can achieve together, and this energy motivates me to do my best in this role.”
Milly agrees, emphasising the creativity and commitment she’s witnessed: “Attending events like the Engineering for People Design Challenge finals has been a highlight. Seeing students tackle complex problems with ingenuity never fails to reinvigorate me.”
What impact have you had in your roles?
During their terms, both trustees contributed to key milestones for the organisation.
Akaraseth focused on strengthening student engagement – enhancing support for student Chapters and empowering student leaders to make an impact both locally and across the engineering sector. His role on committees, including Risk Management, also helped ensure the organisation’s sustainability.
Milly, meanwhile, played a pivotal role in improving staff support through her work with the Human Resources group. “Ensuring Engineers Without Borders UK is a great place to work is crucial to delivering on our ambitious goals,” she explains.
Both trustees agree that their contributions were only possible because of the collaborative spirit within the Board and the wider organisation, adding that the experience has been beneficial to their personal and professional development.
Akaraseth explains: “I’ve learned so much about managing risks and ensuring organisational sustainability. I’ve also grown more confident in representing our community’s voices and advocating for their perspectives.”
Who should considering standing for election?
No prior trustee experience? No problem. Milly encourages anyone with curiosity and a commitment to global responsibility to get involved:
“If you’re aligned with our mission and ready to represent our community’s views, you’ll bring value. Having an open mind and being willing to learn is key.”
Akaraseth adds that empathy and advocacy are vital skills for the role: “You need to listen to the Engineers Without Borders community, learn from them, and communicate their insights effectively. I would encourage anyone who is an advocate for global responsibility to stand for election.”
What advice would you give to someone considering standing for election?
To stand for election, you’ll need endorsements from two voting members of Engineers Without Borders UK. Both Akaraseth and Milly suggest starting with your network and being proactive. Milly advises:
“Reach out to your Engineers Without Borders UK connections and attend events. We’re a supportive community – be brave and put yourself out there!”
As an elected trustee, you must be able to represent the views of the Engineers Without Borders UK community. To understand this ahead of the election, Akaraseth said he “reached out to the wider community, from current and past members to new and established student Chapters across the UK. This way, I was able to directly gather their insights and a broad range of suggestions on how to better the organisation.”
Looking ahead, what do our next elected trustees have to be excited about?
“This is an exciting time for Engineers Without Borders UK. The organisation is filled with passionate staff, volunteers and community members who are committed to the movement, and I truly believe our diverse programmes and activities have the potential to systemically transform the engineering sector for the better.” Akaraseth says.
Milly adds:
“The work ahead – scaling our programmes and bringing them to new audiences – has so much potential. I encourage anyone who recognises the changes needed in industry to take the plunge and nominate themselves.”
We’re delighted to share that Milly and Akaraseth will be continuing their terms with the Board as non-elected trustees.
