Student Hubs is delighted to announce Simran Dhanjal as our new Chief Executive.
Following a recruitment process over the summer, we’re very pleased that Simran Dhanjal will be stepping up into the role of Chief Executive. Sim is currently Student Hubs’s Network Director and has worked for the charity for four years. Whilst studying, Sim was a volunteer at Southampton Hub, where she was involved with the student committee for our youth programme Branch Up. She joined the staff team in 2016 as a Projects Officer at Winchester Hub. Since then Sim has been promoted to Winchester Hub Manager and then Network Operations Manager before becoming Network Director. She has been a member of the Student Hubs Management Team for two years. Sim will be working remotely from the south coast as the staff team continues to work from home for the foreseeable future.
Our outgoing Chief Executive, Pippa Smith, is moving on from Student Hubs in order to relocate to the United States with her partner. We’re very sad to be saying goodbye to Pippa and wish her all the best in the future. Pippa’s last day will be Friday 6th November.
Over the past two years, Sim and Pippa have worked together very closely as Student Hubs has moved through a process of organisational development, focusing on deepening our impact and expanding our network. Student Hubs is thrilled to have launched an alumni engagement and impact programme in the last year, added a number of new Trustees to our Board, introduced a new business plan and continued to grow our skilled placement programmes.
“Student Hubs has been a core part of my life since 2014 when I naively signed up to a volunteering project, not then knowing the impact it would have on my life. I am delighted to continue my social action journey and step into the role of CEO, continuing to support Student Hubs volunteers and staff to reach our aim of mainstreaming student social action. In a year with so much change and uncertainty, we have seen over and over again the power of community. With the recent recruitment of Fiona Walsh as Sales Director, we have a very talented team to see the organisation through the challenges we are all facing as a result of COVID-19 and continue to grow our impact with students. I am excited to continue working with such dedicated, passionate individuals across our network, and work with communities and partners across our current Hub locations and beyond.”
— Sim
“I am very sad to be leaving Student Hubs, but I know that I have a brilliant successor in Sim. Student Hubs was where I began my social action journey (around eight years ago!) but I’m sure it’s not where it will end. I’m looking forward to seeing where the organisation goes next and will be cheering Sim and the team on from afar.”
— Pippa
Sim will be starting in her new role on Monday 9th November. We’re sure the whole Student Hubs community will come together to give a very warm welcome to Sim.