Student Trustees

Student Trustee

• Current post-holder: Ms Sophera Whiu
• First appointed: 1 July 2025
• Current term of office ends: 30 June 2026

Biography

Sophera Whiu is in the penultimate year of her undergraduate degree in Psychology in Education. She is passionate about student voice, inclusion, and mental health advocacy. She strives to bridge a gap between the university and the student body by working collaboratively with all including the board, different trustees and rest of the university population Sophera currently sits on both the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Committee and the Athena Swan Committee, contributing to institutional work on equity and gender representation. 

Outside of her studies, Sophera is a member of the Youth Voice Network at the mental health charity Mind, helping to shape national mental health strategy from a youth perspective. She also volunteers with Shout UK, providing 24/7 crisis support via text for people in moments of acute distress.

She recently completed a year-long placement with the Bristol Hospital Education Service, supporting young people’s mental health in education settings, as well a placement at the NHS in the addiction sector based in London. Her experience also includes internships with Seeds of Peace (a global youth leadership and conflict resolution organisation), as well as financial sector internships with Nevastar, Edmond de Rothschild, and soon Svelland Capital.

Sophera has a wide range of experience working with people, including roles as a nursery assistant, camp leader and manager (both in the US and UK), babysitter, waitress/bar worker, sports coach, and umpire. She has also worked as a Bristol interviewer for High Fliers Research, participated in the Young Psychologist Programme, Young Enterprise Programme and The Sports Leaders Qualification, and is an alumna of Seeds of Peace. A former Head Girl Prefect, music and sports ambassador, and music scholar at school, Sophera is a Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award recipient, a Grade 8 violinist, and a former captain and leader in both music and sport.

Her work is rooted in empathy and a deep commitment to supporting and uplifting others through meaningful and lasting impact.

Student Trustee

 

• Current post-holder: Ms Arta Kurti
• First appointed: 1 July 2025
• Current term of office ends: 30 June 2026

Biography

Arta Kurti is a postgraduate Law student at the University of Bristol, supported by the Bristol Masters Scholarship. She previously completed an undergraduate degree in Neuroscience, also at the University of Bristol.

She currently serves as the Student Vice Director and a Student Advisor at the University of Bristol Law Clinic, where she supports access to justice through assisting with pro bono legal work. She also supervises student-led outreach schemes and student wellbeing within the University of Bristol Law Clinic.

Throughout her time at university, she has been a member of competitive and intramural sport teams.  Beyond academia, she has been involved in and fundraised for social justice organisations supporting refugee rights and women’s aid.

Through her interdisciplinary education, she has found a deep commitment to equity, access to justice and empowerment.