GISA Spring Election 2025 Candidate Profiles: Ryan Grad for Treasurer

In conversation with Ryan Grad, MINT Sustainable Trade & Finance 1st Year.

Q. What makes you the ideal candidate for your role, and how do you believe your background will help you succeed in this position?

Over the past semester, I’ve served as Treasurer for the TechSec Initiative, and I also bring over two years of experience as an Accounts Assistant. As part of working as an Accounts Assistant, I have been involved first-hand in managing resources strategically for start-ups who have very little budget and must count their pennies. Through this, I have learned how to think outside the box and offer innovative ways to partners to get the most out of limited resources, which I think will transfer well in the role of Treasurer at GISA where funding is limited to support the many wonderful initiatives we have at the Institute.

Q. How do you plan to approach the role  in a way that ensures the smooth running of GISA’s operations and fosters a collaborative atmosphere?

I am a strong believer in open and honest communication. I plan to let all initiatives know in advance the decision-making framework of how budgets will be allocated. For initiatives, this would be based on the size of initiative, number of events organized and the level of attendance at these in the past. In my opinion, the more interest and value an initiative brings to the Institute, the more funding it should get. However, if students feel there is a better way to decide the allocation of funding, I am always open to discussion and suggestions. I also plan to personally approach all Presidents of initiatives to better understand their needs and how myself and GISA could potentially support them. 

Q. What past experiences have prepared you for the challenges of this role, and how will you use these experiences to improve GISA’s  efficiency?

As already mentioned, over the past semester, I’ve served as Treasurer for the TechSec Initiative, and I also bring over two years of experience as an Accounts Assistant. Using resources strategically was the bread and butter of these jobs in the past. For GISA, I would look to try and identify any areas of overspending in order to be able to redistribute this to areas in more need. For example, I know the LANI initiative negotiates rates with a DJ for their events. I am happy to offer to step in and negotiate on their behalf in order to achieve the best possible rates and make the most of funds available to them. 

Q. If elected, what would be your primary goal and how would you ensure its successful implementation during your tenure?

My primary goal would be to ensure full transparency and accountability in how money is distributed by GISA. I plan to have open and honest conversations with students on the decision-making process and always take into account any suggestions. I would work to make sure that spending by funded initiatives is also made transparent—something that is not currently in place. This would be to promote open dialogue between GISA, students and funding recipients, helping to identify potential overspending or opportunities for more effective use of funds, and enabling the redistribution of resources to areas where they may be more urgently needed. Additionally, I also plan to push class reps to organize a get together for their tracks at least once a semester in order to enhance the feeling of comradery among classmates.

Q. How do you plan to make GISA more accessible and transparent for students, particularly when it comes to administrative processes and decision-making?

I strongly believe in transparency at all levels. I believe the breakdown of GISA’s budget and its distribution to recipients should continue to be made publicly accessible to students. I would ensure this is regularly emailed to the student body. As already mentioned, I would work to make sure that spending by funded initiatives is also made transparent—something that is not currently in place. This would be to promote open dialogue between GISA, students and funding recipients, helping to identify potential overspending or opportunities for more effective use of funds, and enabling the redistribution of resources to areas where they may be more urgently needed.

Q.What are three core values you bring to your role?

Listening. Communication. Transparency.

Q. Lastly, a few creative ways or plans of action (chance to do something different )

To address the issue of limited funding, I plan to approach local businesses to design tailor made sponsorship packages of items like food/drinks that can be used for apéros after events run by panels in exchange for advertisement at the Institute. These sponsorship packages from local businesses have been received by the PDC in their Easter Egg hunt and is something that I think can be implemented across other initiatives too. These packages would be specifically provided to initiatives who have expressed disappointment with the level of budget they have been allocated due the financial constraints of GISA’s budget.