Meet the Pres: Charlotte Lawrence
Elected 2027 VUWSA president Charlotte Lawrence is excited to make the position her full-time gig next year after she finishes studying in only a weeks’ time. The history major brings a huge sense of enthusiasm for community orientated events, protests, and campaigns to the role, and looks forward to mobilising student action to bring about change.
“I think it’s going to be a really monumental year,” she told Salient.
Lawrence grew up in Upper Hutt, where she attended St Orans College, the same high school as 2022 president Jessica Ye. At Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, she became a passionate member of the Tramping Club and the Latin American and Spanish Club. After being elected as Engagement Vice President in 2026, Lawrence founded the Student Action Hui as means of introducing the organising model into the way that the VUWSA executive operates. At its first action, the Hui drew nearly 100 people.
Her three campaign promises for 2027 president offered to build student power, build community, and reduce the cost of living. While specific actions will have to wait until next year and be decided amongst the whole executive, Lawrence provided examples of projects she has in mind. These include training students for organised movement and entrenching this into VUWSA’s structure, stocking the community pantry, raising menstrual product supplies, pushing to expand free public transport services, co-working and building relationships with non-university organisations, incorporating reo into VUWSA social media channels, and putting an emphasis on partnership and collaboration in the university environment to platform student voices.
Foregrounding approachability, Lawrence hopes to be “a really friendly face that people can come and talk to.”
“I want people to know they can come into the office and have a cup of tea,” she said.
Lawrence thinks that 2027 will present a unique opportunity to focus on campaigns and building means of student organisation, as it is not a general election year and therefore will not be spent predominantly urging students to vote.
A challenge she does foresee in the coming year is conflicting perspectives on the Executive distracting from serious issues and “getting lost in things that aren’t as important.” To ensure the big stuff is being addressed, Lawrence plans to reiterate the team's shared vision and keep them on the path to result. To hold VUWSA accountable in 2027, Lawrence wants to prioritise face-to-face time with students over time spent on policy and reports, and emphasise practical systems and logistics for spending.
Lawrence says being elected in a service role is an enormous privilege, and most looks forward to building relationships and working with incredible people and groups. If there’s one thing she wants students to do next year on campus, it’s get involved.
“Nō te katoa tēnei wāhi. This place belongs to everyone,” she told Salient.
