Candidate profile: Riley Huntley, president

Riley Huntley is running for president on a platform centred on affordability, improving students’ academic experience and advocacy that “lay[s] the groundwork” for long-term structural improvements.

Huntley is a fourth-year nursing student whose previous experience includes having served as a student union president and student senator at his previous institution and as an AMS councillor and the Nursing Undergraduate Society president at UBC.

On affordability, Huntley said he wants to “renew and expand” UBC’s $2.4 million funding for food security initiatives and push UBC to go beyond its Campus Vision 2050 commitment to deliver 3,300 new student beds. He also plans to lead a textbook audit to eliminate unnecessary course materials and increase open education resources, which will help cut down textbook costs for students.

Huntley plans to improve academic experience by hiring more advisors at the Center for Accessibility to reduce wait times, as well as push for past syllabi to be available during course registration so students can “make informed decisions about their classes.”

“I think academic success … shouldn't be limited to bureaucratic barriers, and I want to ensure that the AMS works to remove them,” he said.

Huntley emphasized his focus on “results-driven advocacy” that will translate into “real, tangible outcomes.”

“We have the potential to be a powerful advocate for students, but that only happens when student leaders focus on results, not just rhetoric,” he said.

For him, this means balancing goals that are achievable within his term with plans for long-term initiatives, like “ensuring that tuition consultations are transparent and meaningful” and doing international students needs assessment.

Huntley wants to “establish and return to a culture of engagement we haven't seen in recent years” by visiting constituencies during the summer term to learn who “need[s] more attention and support.” He also wants to schedule monthly meetings with groups like the Graduate Student Society to build “genuine, lasting relationships.”

“A big misstep that occurs when we're reviewing our policy … is that we come to students with what we already want to do before actually taking the time, putting a halt to our vision and first asking, ‘What is your vision for this?’” he said.

Huntley also wants to ensure that AMS executives engage in “meaningful consultation” with AMS councillors, constituency presidents and VP caucuses before bringing goals to council for approval.

When asked how he would address the high rate of executive turnover, Huntley said his priority is “ensuring the AMS remains stable, responsible and focused on improving the student experience.”

He said executives are warned going into elections as these are “demanding roles requiring upwards of 50, 60 hours a week of productive work,” but he is “optimistic” that the potential addition of a VP student life position through this year's referendum will help redistribute workload across executives.

Huntley believes his platform is “probably the most comprehensive platform in this race,” as it was developed through “extensive consultation” with constituencies, clubs and AMS senior management.

“It's going to be a balance of immediate, tangible wins that we can deliver on this year and long-term structural improvements that are going to help students for the years ahead.”

This article is part of our 2025 AMS Elections coverage. Follow us at @UbysseyNews on X (formerly Twitter) and follow our election coverage starting March 3.

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