Meet our 2026 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), Eleanor Southee(Engagement Officer), and Josh Gummer(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 2025 and 2026

I'm Eloise (they/them), one of the NDSA's Co-Presidents for 2026! 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 2025 and 2026

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.

Smiling Pākehā person with long brown hair, wearing a dark green sweater, and metal-frame glasses looking at the camera against the background in the bush. Standing amongst the multiple types of greenery in the bush there is a branch that is blossoming behind me.

Eleanor Southee (she / her)

Engagement Officer

Kia ora koutou,

My name is Eleanor (She/Her) and I am your 2026 engagement officer for this year, I proudly identify as hard of hearing/deaf with lived experience of neurodivergence dyslexia.

I started my journey in Disability at Massey that is an alliance to Massey University's student organisation Te Tira Ahu Pae as the Manawatū disability student representative in 2024. Since then I have been involved in advocacy for disabled ākonga across I-Lead Manawatū, Massey's DIAP, Learning and Teaching committees. Including former collaboration work with NDSA, Civil Defense and I-Lead for several projects to bring about awareness and accessibility for disabled ākonga

I've just completed my studies in BA in Psychology & History and continuing on in my BA Honors in Psychology at Massey University in the Manawatū region. My passion at its core is to address the systemic barriers we all face as disabled akonga and to bring about equitable and accessible experiences that recognise intersectional experiences across all tertiary educations.

Position vacant (_/_)

Relations Officer

A person with short brown hair, a short beard, and glasses looks at the camera against a rocky background wall.

Josh Gummer (he / him)

Administrations Officer

I’m Josh Gummer, A PhD Candidate in the Politics Department at the University of Otago and your Administration Officer for 2026. I completed my undergraduate and honours at the University of Waikato, receiving a BA in History and Political Science, and a BA (Hons) in History. My research interests are focused on International Relations and Foreign Policy. I have mytonia congentita, a genetic neuromuscular disorder, but despite this, I am an avid and competitive historical fencer. I hope to serve NDSA with distinction in 2026.