Thomas Li - University of Canterbury.

I advocate for two crucial matters: academic freedom and fair pay, since 2018 as an academic.

Academic freedom is the bedrock of intellectual growth and progress. I am dedicated to protecting faculty members' rights to explore new ideas, engage in academic discussions, and pursue research and teaching without interference. Ensuring academic freedom would be my priority, as shown by my involvement in TEU national committee and NZ AI Researcher board.

We need fair pay and fair workload for academics. I strongly believe in recognizing the valuable contributions made by our dedicated faculty through appropriate compensation that reflects their expertise, experience, and commitment to educational and research excellence. I will advocate for fair pay and fair workload, as I have served on the workload subcommittee and TEU’s UC branch rep.

Transparency, accountability, and collaboration will guide my approach. I champion policies that are transparent, fair, and inclusive. By actively engaging with academic members, I will listen to their concerns and represent their interests at the highest levels of decision-making.

With dedication, integrity, and a genuine commitment to academic freedom and fair pay, I humbly ask for your vote as your Academic Representative. Together, we can create a thriving academic community.