Inside the Merger: Swinburne Student Association (SEN Insights, Ep 10)

In this episode, Paul chats with CEO Josh Gilligan to unpack the creation of the new Swinburne Student Association and the journey behind one of the sector’s most significant student governance transformations. Josh shares his path from student leadership and local government, including becoming the youngest ever Mayor of Wyndham, to leading the merger of Swinburne Student Union and Student Life into a single student-led organisation. Paul and Josh explore the challenges and opportunities of moving from a split services model to a hybrid governance structure designed to amplify student voice while strengthening collaboration with university leadership. The conversation dives into the realities of organisational change, from building trust with university executives and navigating constitutional reform, to managing staffing transitions, culture shifts and the pressures of launching a brand-new entity. Josh also reflects on the first 12 months of operation, the lessons learned, and how the new model is already improving student engagement and outcomes at scale.