Candidate: Juanma Poyatos

I wish to express my interest in being part in the University Council as student representative. I believe that my academic achievements, professional background, and personal commitment to education and understanding place me in a strong position to contribute to the governance of the University in line with the skills and experiences sought for this role.

I began my academic journey at the University of Seville, where I completed my undergraduate degree and was honoured with the Extraordinary Award for Academic Excellence. This award is given to the student who attains the highest overall academic results upon completion of their studies, and it reflects both academic excellence and consistent dedication to scholarly work. My subsequent education has been interdisciplinary and international, spanning four master’s degrees across leading institutions: Internationalisation of Enterprises (ICEX), Business Administration (EOI), Direction of International Trade (ESIC), and Philosophy and Modern Culture (University of Seville). Each of these programmes has provided me with diverse skills that integrate the practical demands of business leadership with the critical and reflective perspectives of the humanities. I am now a student of Philosophy at the University of Auckland, where my research focuses on the concept of understanding. This project is both theoretical and practical, as it engages with the question of how knowledge and comprehension can be made more inclusive, collaborative, and responsive to social needs.

Alongside my academic formation, I have spent the past ten years working in the private sector as an International Commercial Director. In this capacity, I have led multinational teams, negotiated trade agreements across different jurisdictions, overseen strategic planning, and managed financial resources responsibly. These experiences have equipped me with strong governance capabilities, a sound grasp of organisational and financial management, and a familiarity with decision-making at both strategic and operational levels.

I believe my background aligns closely with the expectations outlined for Council members. My professional roles have demanded executive leadership, financial oversight, and organisational management, skills that transfer directly to the governance of a large institution. As a current student and an experienced professional, I also bring a dual perspective: I understand the challenges of academic research and teaching, while also recognising the importance of institutional accountability, public trust, and strategic resilience. Equally important, my international background provides me with sensitivity to cultural diversity and equity issues, which are essential for an institution as globally engaged and locally grounded as the University of Auckland.

I am motivated by the conviction that universities are not only sites of knowledge production but also communities of understanding, where diverse perspectives must be heard and valued. My training in both business and philosophy enables me to balance pragmatic decision-making with reflective insight, always guided by a commitment to fairness, inclusion, and excellence. If appointed to Council, I would work to support the University in its mission to foster world-class research and teaching while serving the needs of its students, staff, and the wider community.