Chair of ÅAS Executive Board: What Does the Role Involve?

As we are now looking for a new board for 2027, this year’s board members will be writing short blog posts about their areas of responsibility and sharing what board work looks like in practice. Read more and submit your application here.

Please note that ÅAS uses Swedish as its working language! Applicants should have a good knowledge of Swedish. Other language skills will be seen as a strength.

Hi! My name is Svea Välimäki, and this year I have served as Chair of the Executive Board of the Student Union of Åbo Akademi University (ÅAS). I thought I would share a little about what the role involves and what the work actually looks like in practice. As Chair of the Board, my main responsibility is to lead and coordinate the board’s work. However, this does not mean that I am supposed to do everything myself. Rather, my role is to make sure that we work together towards common goals and that our activities continue to move forward.

At the beginning of the year, we divide responsibilities and tasks among the board members based on our annual action plan. After that, a large part of my work involves keeping track of the progress of different projects, following up on what needs to be done, and supporting the other board members in their work.

What Does the Day-to-Day Work Look Like?

The role of Chair is varied and suits someone who is not afraid to take responsibility and has a wide range of interests. A large part of my working days is spent planning and chairing meetings, coordinating projects, creating schedules, and dealing with current matters. Often, it also involves discussing with a fellow board member how to move forward with a particular project or finding solutions to challenges that arise along the way.

Much of the work is also spontaneous. Within the Student Union, we need to be able to respond quickly to current issues and sometimes adjust our priorities when something unexpected comes up. As Chair, it is therefore important to have a good overview of what is happening within the Student Union while also being able to decide where we should focus our time and resources.

Another important part of the role is cooperation within the board. Each board member has their own areas of responsibility, but many issues involve several people and require us to work together. My role is to ensure that everything works as a whole, that everyone knows what is expected of them, and that no one has to handle their responsibilities alone.

Representing Students

In addition to my work within the board, I also serve as one of the main representatives of ÅAS. This includes participating in, and often taking responsibility for, meetings and discussions with Åbo Akademi University and other important partners. Before these meetings, I often need to familiarise myself with different issues, discuss them with the board, and consider which perspectives we want to highlight. During the meetings, my task is to represent the Student Union’s perspective and ensure that students’ interests are taken into account.

Another part of the role is representing ÅAS at various events and occasions. Sometimes this involves formal events where I give speeches, such as during Vappen (May Day) celebrations, while at other times it may involve media interviews or meetings with partners, student associations, and other organisations. This provides a welcome change from the rest of the work and an opportunity to meet many different people and build a broad network. Being able to represent and speak on behalf of the Student Union is a great responsibility, but also incredibly rewarding.

A Role That Teaches You a Lot

Perhaps the best way to describe the role of Chair is that you need to be able to switch between many different types of tasks. One moment, you might be discussing the Student Union’s long-term goals, and the next, you might be trying to find a solution to a practical problem that has come up during the day.

The role provides a real crash course in leadership, teaching you how to prioritize, delegate, and make decisions. The Chair’s responsibility is not to know the most about every individual issue, but rather to bring people together, create structure, and ensure that we move forward as a team. Being Chair of the Executive Board therefore comes with a great deal of responsibility, but also offers an opportunity to make an impact, develop your skills, and gain a broader understanding of how the Student Union and the university operate. It is a varied role that allows you to work with both people and issues that have a real impact on students’ everyday lives.

It is definitely a major commitment that requires time, courage, and motivation. But I can genuinely say that I have never learned as much or gained as many practical skills for my future career and working life as I have in this role. It has been an incredibly educational and rewarding year, and I can warmly recommend the position to anyone who wants to challenge themselves, take responsibility, and make a difference for students!

Svea Välimäki
Chair of the Board
The Student Union of Åbo Akademi University