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Meet our 2025 Executive!

At the end of every year, our Voting Members decide who the next year's Executive will be. Our Executive is composed of six people: two Co-Presidents, an Engagement Officer, a Relations Officer, and an Administration Officer. Anyone who is a disabled learner, or has graduated within the last two years, can nominate themselves to become an Executive of the NDSA in our yearly elections!

The NDSA operates under the Incorporated Societies Act 2022, so there are a few extra rules about who can become an Executive. For these, check out our Constitution (also known as 'rules') in our NDSA documents page. Our elections usually take place November each year, but we sometimes also have by-elections held at Special General Meetings if a role becomes vacant (available).

This year's Executive are made up of Eloise Fleming (Co-President), Nikita Van Dijk (Co-President), Max Devon (Engagement Officer), and Jasper Poole (Administration Officer). Our Relations Officer role is currently vacant. You can learn more about them below —

A Pākehā person in a black dress with long curly hair and glasses is smiling at the camera, against a background of harakeke. Blue and green tape can be seen to help hold their shoulder in place!

Eloise Fleming (they / them)

Co-President

I'm Eloise (they/them), one of the NDSA's Co-Presidents for 2025! I live in Tāmaki Makaurau, and I've been a student since 2017, having graduated with a BSc in Ecology and Microbiology, although I'm about to pivot my postgraduate studies into a master's in Disability Studies. I'm proudly neurodivergent, a mobility aid user, and I have hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome along with the bonus diagnoses that often come with it. 

I've worked with disabled tertiary learners for a number of years as a founding member of the NDSA, alongside co-founding Disability at Massey under Te Tira Ahu Pae, the students' association for Massey University. I have a passion for improving the experiences of disabled students in education, and I have strong interests in mahi around digital and physical accessibility, policy, intersectionality, and providing accessible resources for students across the motu.

A selfie of a person with dark hair and makeup, wearing a grey jacket and a necklace, taken indoors with a busy background featuring people and seating areas

Nikita Van Dijk (she / they / them)

Co-President

Kia ora, I’m Nikita and I have been part of NDSA since 2021, representing the disabled student community at the University of Waikato and previously serving as the Relations Officer for 2024. My journey in advocacy started even earlier, back in intermediate school, and I’ve remained committed to supporting the disabled community and people with rare disorders ever since. As the founder and former president of the Waikato Disabled Students Association (WDSA), I’ve developed hands-on leadership skills that continue to guide my work at NDSA.

Currently working on my Master of Disability and Inclusion Studies at the University of Waikato, I bring together academic knowledge, personal experiences, and a deep passion for inclusion to make a real difference. I’m all about creating positive change for disabled students and the wider community.

Max Devon (she / her / they / them)

Engagement Officer

Tēnā koutou ngā tauira me ngā manuhiri i tēnei rā
Ko wai au e tū ake nei
E ai ki ōku tūpuna
Ko Rangitoto ki Tūhua ngā pae maunga
Ko Mangaōkewa te awa
Ko Tainui te waka
Ko Ngāti Maniapoto te iwi
Ko Ngāti Rora, Ko Ngāti Apakura ngā hapū
Ko Te Tokonganui-a-noho te marae
Nō Waikato, Nō Airangi ōku tūpuna

I whānau mai ahau i Whakaoriori
I tipu ake ahau i Te Ika-a-Maui
Ko Mātakitaki tōku kāinga ināinei e noho ana ahau ki Whakatū

He ako o te reo Māori mō akonga tauwhiro ahau
He Engagement Officer ō NDSA e mahi ana ahau

Ko Max Devon ahau

Ēngari, whakarongo ki te mohio, kia manaaki, kia aroha, kia nui ake.
Ehara taku toa i te toa takitaki, ēngari he toa taki tini.

Nō reira,
Ka huri e te reo Pākehā

Listen for understanding, be kind, be compassionate, be more. For success is not by my stength alone, but with the strength of many.

To advocate for equity and freedom of identity for all whaikaha tauira, wāhine he tane he tamahine me takatāpui.
I believe that every person has the right to the safety and freedom to know who they are and where they come from. Identity and equity are my banners of advocacy in all things.

Nō reira,
Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa.

NDSA's logo

Position vacant (_/_)

Relations Officer

An individual with medium-length hair wearing a dark shirt and lanyard, holding papers and giving a thumbs-up in front of a presentation screen

Jasper Poole (he / him)

Administrations Officer

Kia ora, my name is Jasper. I am the Administrative Officer for the disabled students' association. My experience with disability advocacy includes participating in my university's DAP reference group, helping to co-found Auckland University's Disabled Students' Association, and running social spaces for neurodivergent people at Auckland University and Autism NZ. I am part of this association for that reason and hope to do good work.