Dave Lewis, NUS NEC National Treasurer, seeking re-election for another successful year.

Conference, I am going to lead this organisation over the next year. I am going to lead the movement. The movement needs to rebuild, NUS needs to reform, we all need to refocus.

Too often we leave Conference Floor thinking we’ve changed the world. But we haven’t. One motion yesterday doesn’t define our movement, one vote doesn’t change our direction. We are going one way Conference, and that’s forward. I am the only proven reformer in this election, I am the only person here that can build a new national union. Focused on students, delivering for unions.

But Conference, this is it. We’re at a crossroads.

Delegates have been asking me where do we go from here. What’s next for NUS? Well, let me tell you Conference, its a leader standing up here - giving you direction. Because the only people who lost out yesterday were students. Let down by our inability to reform. Let down by those unwilling to change. But Conference, like you, I am now more determined than ever to make NUS work for students.

Now is not a time to turn your back on the national union, We – must - unite, HE to FE. Imperial to Derby College. Edinburgh Telford to Trinity Carmarthen. Swansea Met to UEA. I am the only candidate with the experience and the abilities to bring our student movement together.

I’m an implementer, a reformer and a change maker. And I’m the only candidate in this election with that record. FACT!

For two years I was President at my union, coming to NUS events, angry with a lack of focus, frustrated with no financial transparency, annoyed that NUS wasn’t relevant to my students. I stood up here a year ago promising change, promising a different National Treasurer. I have delivered.

But change isn’t easy. Years of financial mismanagement meant resources not focused on outcomes for unions, decisions not relevant to our members, a strategic direction sadly lacking.

And this is my role – focusing resources where they are needed most, taking difficult decisions to prioritise something over another, this year increased staff support for liberation groups next year more resources for policy development and campaigns.

Last year I said proper budgets. Done. Last year I said we’d access different funding streams. £750k later. Done.

Last year I said a breakeven budget, and some laughed. But look at the Estimates. Done.

My actions speak louder than any speech, any manifesto, any rhetoric from this platform. I’ve delivered what I promised, I’ve done what I said, I have dragged the resources of this organisation into the twenty-first century, relevant, responsive, renewed.

I am standing for re-election to implement a new vision for NUS, one that combines increased transparency, clear strategic direction, one that enables your members to take responsibility for the environment around them.

But we’ve got to get the basics right first.

We know we have to decrease our reliance upon affiliation fees. My new fundraising strategy drawing money from new sources, diversifying our income, can finally start doing this.

Internally, a year ahead of improving accountability, greening the national union, getting value for money out of your national organisations. I know the outcomes, but together we’ll build the structures.

For many of you this will be your first experience of NUS in action. That isn’t good enough. But do you know why? Irrelevant policy discussions, mixed messages, communications on the terms of NUS not you. But it is me that is making the change happen. A new website that supports officers, inspires students, celebrates our movement, can win on campaigns. Allocating resources, delivering the project. I am the only one that can do that for you.

For too long the organisation’s resources and direction have favoured the status quo, unwilling to do something different, unwilling to take leadership from student officers. But NUS cant be separate to your local union, it cant be something different, we are the same, and we must all be focused on the needs of students. Is there demand for what we are doing? Can we involve unions in the design? Does it deliver for our members?

And that’s what strong campaigning students’ unions are about. Strong, autonomous, campaigning students’ unions are ones which enables their members. Enable learners to co-produce their course, enable students to get involved in the local community, enable students to participate in campaigns which are relevant to them. That’s my role, that’s NUS’ role – putting resources, setting out a vision which enables your union to do that.

A new NUS is possible, you design it and I will build it.

Only I can reform this national union.

Only I can lead this national union.

Independent. In demand. And in again. Re-elect Dave Lewis, National Treasurer.

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