The Executive Committee is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the UMGPS. All of the Executive Members are elected during the UMGPS general elections held each March. If you would like to suggest ideas, raise your concerns, or meet with any of our Executives for any reason, call us at 204-474-9181 or e-mail us to make an appointment.
The Executive is led by the President & Senator, who serves as the top executive of the UMGPS. This role oversees the overall strategic direction, high-level management, and accountability of the association, and supervises all staff and executive members either directly or indirectly.
The Vice-President, Academic Affairs & Senator (VPAA) focuses on internal academic advocacy at the University of Manitoba. The role involves shaping academic policy, supporting student funding initiatives, coordinating academic programming, and managing aspects of operations and events.
The Vice-President, Equity & Inclusion (VPEI) leads UMGPS’s equity-driven work, promoting anti-oppression, anti-racism, and inclusion. They help transform the association’s culture and advocacy to support marginalized and equity-deserving communities.
The Vice-President, Events & Clubs (VPEC) is responsible for organizing and leading UMGPS-hosted events and engagement activities. With support from staff, they oversee planning, budgeting, and resource allocation for events that enhance graduate student life.
The Vice-President, External Affairs & Senator (VPEA) manages advocacy and policy efforts directed at external stakeholders such as government bodies and partner organizations. Their role includes lobbying, representing student interests externally, and contributing to events and operations management.
The Vice-President, Health Sciences (VPHS) represents graduate students based at the Bannatyne and St. Boniface campuses, ensuring clear communication and strong collaboration with Fort Garry campus and UMGPS executives.
The Vice-President, Postdoctoral Affairs (VPPA) acts as the liaison between postdoctoral fellows and the broader graduate student community. They represent the interests of postdocs through coordination with the University of Manitoba Postdoctoral Fellows Association and collaboration within UMGPS.
Emma Heath, UMGPS President & Senator
Emma Heath – UMGPS President & Senator: pres@umgps.org (She/Her)
Office Hours: Mondays, 10:00 AM–12:00 PM (in person; Zoom available with advance notice). Students may also email to schedule appointments outside regular office hours.
Hello there!
My name is Emma Heath, and I am a second year MSc student specializing in biomechanics in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management, where I study falls in older adults. I am honoured and excited to serve as your President & Senator of the University of Manitoba Graduate and Postdoctoral Society (UMGPS) for the 2026-2027 term!
During my term, I am focused on increasing the transparency and accountability of UMGPS, and improving access to student supports. In order to achieve this, I am leading a comprehensive review of all existing Bylaw and Policy documents, restoring departmental grants to departmental student associations, recruiting a new Board of Directors, increasing access to meeting recordings, and introducing standardized reporting structures for Executives.
I have previously been involved with the grassroots student initiative to restore departmental grants to departmental student associations, which was successful at the 2025-2026 Annual General Meeting. I also previously served as the Co-President of the Graduate Students of Kinesiology and Recreation Management Association (GSKARMA) from 2025-2026.
In short, I’m focusing on building a stable, sensible, and transparent future for UMGPS! If you have any questions, concerns, ideas, or just want to chat, please feel free to send me an email or come by our office!
Vice-President Academic & Senator
Laleema Senanayake – Vice-President, Academic Affairs & Senator: vpa@umgps.org (She/her)
Office Hours: Wednesdays – 9:00 AM–11:00 AM – in person or available online via Zoom when needed.
I am a PhD candidate in Peace and Conflict Studies, holding a Bachelor’s degree in Town and Country Planning and a Master’s degree in Disaster Risk Reduction and Development. I bring nearly two decades of experience in program and research management within the not-for-profit sector across South and Southeast Asia.
I am deeply committed to working alongside communities and supporting them in accessing the resources and opportunities they need. In my role as Vice President Academic, Senator of UMGPS, I advocate for student needs within the university system and strive to bridge the gap between students and university administration.
Please feel free to connect with me if you have any concerns, questions, or require clarification. My office hours are Wednesdays from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM.
Vice-President, External Affairs & Senator
Lamia Mahzabin – Vice-President, External Affairs & Senator: vpe@umgps.org (She/her)
Office Hours: Will be announced
Bio will be updated soon.
Vice-President, Equity & Inclusion
Kyra Swenson – Vice-President, Equity & Inclusion: vpei@umgps.org (She/her)
Office Hours: Mondays – 2pm – 4pm
Hello Fellow Graduate Students,
My name is Kyra Swenson. I am an international student currently pursuing my MBA at the Asper School of Business here at the University of Manitoba. Prior to coming to Winnipeg, I spent nearly two decades working in early childhood education. My experience in the field gave me a passion for supporting society’s most vulnerable populations, and this passion is what led me to take on the role of Vice President of Equity and Inclusion for UMGPS.
As I am new to Winnipeg as well as the University of Manitoba, I look forward to learning more about the challenges faced by equity deserving graduate students. If you are experiencing any issues that are hampering your ability to succeed here on campus, please reach out. My goal for my term is to find ways UMGPS can create a welcoming, supportive learning environment for all graduate students.
Vice-President, Events & Clubs
Abiodun Adejumo – Vice-President Events & Clubs: vpec@umgps.org (He/him)
Office Hours: Mondays, from 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
I’m a Master’s student in Food and Human Nutritional Sciences at the University of Manitoba. My research focuses on how processing methods like radiofrequency can improve the nutritional and functional properties of pea and fava bean flours, especially for use in foods like bread.
With a background in Microbiology and hands on lab experience, I developed a strong interest in food science and how ingredients behave in real food systems.
As Vice President, Events & Clubs for the University of Manitoba Graduate Students’ Association, I focus on bringing graduate students together through inclusive, low cost events, while supporting and strengthening student clubs across campus. Passionate about building a more connected and engaging graduate community.
Vice President, Health Sciences
Ashraf Kadar Shahib – Vice President Health Sciences: vphs@umgps.org (He/him)
Office Hours: Friday – 3:30pm-5:30pm – 114 Brodie Centre
Hi everyone! I’m Ashraf Kadar Shahib, a PhD student in the Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, and it is an absolute honor to serve my second term as your HSGSA President and simultaneously as the Vice-President Health Sciences at the UMGPS. With a deep commitment to student life and a multidisciplinary perspective, I am dedicated to fostering a resilient, engaged, and well-supported graduate student community across the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences.
During my first term as President, I focused heavily on the long-term sustainability of our association. To future-proof our organization, I spearheaded a comprehensive restructuring of the HSGSA executive framework and successfully reframed our election structures to guarantee a transparent, fair democratic process. Recognizing the critical need for peer support and development, my team and I also launched the inaugural HSGSA Mentorship Program cohort, established an endowment fund to provide additional graduate awards, and expanded the executive capacity of the Multidisciplinary Health Research Experience (MHRE) Program.
My commitment to this community is built on over three years of active, on-the-ground service, including a highly successful tenure as VP Marketing & Events. Building on that foundation, my vision for the 2026–2027 term is centered entirely on continuity and growth.
Moving forward, my focus shifts from establishing these vital new systems to perfecting and expanding them. I am actively working to deepen our strategic partnerships with key external organizations and fiercely advocate for your well-being and campus resources at the highest levels of university administration. I remain passionately and relentlessly committed to delivering maximum value to every single graduate student and elevating our collective experience here at the University of Manitoba.
Vice President, Postdoctoral Affairs
Will be announced soon.