Riona Hughes
We recently had a chat with Riona Hughes, Societies Officer in the University of Galway on how the collaboration with STAND, which started during the campus Global Week, led to a long term collaboration and impact.
Ríona Hughes on STAND’s Lasting Impact at University of Galway
Ríona Hughes is the Societies Officer at the University of Galway, and Chairperson of the Board of Irish College Societies (BICS). Her mission is to support and enrich student life through student society engagement on campus.
Riona’s connection to STAND stretches back nearly two decades, when the Suas Society was one of the most active and engaged groups on campus. Year after year, the society ran development education courses, organised awareness events on trade, conflict, and gender equality, and delivered hands-on volunteering, from local refugee homework clubs to international placements in Kenya and India.
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"I think STAND brings a fresh perspective and provides moments of reflection and opens the campus to global issues” Ríona shares.
“I have always found the team very good to work with, very professional and full of great ideas. (...) I would recommend engaging with STAND, availing of their training opportunities and—as we do in University of Galway—consider building a Global Week around their festival’
As of 2025, STAND sponsors a new annual societies award which celebrates societies that lead with purpose and connect students to wider social change movements.
“The Board of Irish College Societies (BICS) is delighted to have STAND as a partner sponsoring a new Global Solidarity Award.” Riona said.
Want to join forces with us as a society during our STAND Festival season? Visit out Get Involved page to get in touch or read about more changemakers stories on our Stories of Impact page.
