Meet the team
Regional officers
Libby Griffiths
North Officer
Libby Griffiths was elected as Student Media Officer at Newcastle University Students Union for the academic year after completing her BA in Journalism, Media and Culture. She's served as the Editor in Chief of The Courier, and lead for both Newcastle Student Radio and Newcastle Uni TV for 25/26.
Libby's role as Student Media Officer comes to an end in June, where she will begin looking for work in Manchester. Her experience in journalism and events management means she is well equipped to fulfil the responsibilities of the North Officer. In her free time, she enjoys cooking and walking her dog Beau back home in the Lake District.
Sanjana Iyer
Midlands Officer
Sanjana Iyer recently completed studying Politics, Philosophy, and Economics at the University of Warwick, where she was the editor-in-chief of The Boar in 2025/26 after having been Opinion Editor in 2024/25. During her second year at university she was also editor-in-chief of Perspectives - Warwick University's politics magazine.
She currently works as a generalist marketing manager at a cybersecurity startup based in Paris alongside running a startup called Pleasantri which tackles period poverty through product provision and educational games and workshops. She loves the power of storytelling to bring people together and make underrepresented voices heard. In her spare time you will always find her at a concert, record store, or playing her guitar.
Isabel Cattermole
South East Officer
Isabel is currently finishing an MA in Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Sussex. She was the editor-in-chief of The Badger in 2025/26 after first joining the paper in 2022. Isabel was the recipient of the Student Publication Association's Best Comment Piece award in 2026 and was highly commended for Outstanding Commitment. Under her leadership, The Badger was named Best Publication in the South East in 2025/26. Isabel is looking forward to joining a great team at the SPA and supporting student journalism over the coming year!
Penelope Spencer-Simpson
London Officer
Penelope Spencer-Simpson is an undergraduate student at King's College London reading her BA in History. She is the Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Roar News for 2026/7, after joining the paper in September 2024. Penelope is a multimedia student journalist with previous reporting to The Sunday Times, BBC Sounds & BBC Studio Works. She loves a fast-paced environment, investigating stories, and speaking to people to hear their perspectives. If she's not behind a mini mic nor logged onto Wordpress, she's probably reading a book, in a record store or studying in the library.
Charlie Gershinson
South West Officer
Charlie is originally from Leigh-on-Sea, Essex and studied at the University of Exeter for the past four years. He has completed his undergraduate degree in History master’s degree in Public Policy. He was a senior Editor with Exeposé, working as Print News Editor, Print Climate Editor and Print Deputy Editor over the years. He is now a Media Monitoring Executive with Hanbury Strategy, a public affairs and communications agency based in London. Charlie has been a part of the SPA’s committee for several years serving as Co-Host Officer for SPANC25 and is now serving as South West Officer for a second year. He is looking forward to continuing working with the fantastic publications in the region.
Olivia Griffin
Wales Officer
Olivia Griffin is a journalist and soon-to-be English Literature graduate from Cardiff University. She is currently a part-time reporter with Newsquest, covering Carmarthenshire for the South Wales Guardian. A two-time winner of Best Journalist in Wales at the Student Publication Association Regional Awards, Olivia was also shortlisted for Best Interview at the SPA National Awards 2026. Her work has appeared in The Times, The Sunday Times, Country & Town House, Cardiff Life Magazine and, of course, her beloved Cardiff student print publications, Gair Rhydd and Quench Magazine. She is also a qualified ESOL teacher, having taught students aged 12 to 85. When she’s not writing, you’ll usually find her tending to her flowers or slowly working through an ever-growing reading list.
Emma van Oosterhout
Ireland and Northern Ireland Officer
Emma is currently studying an MA in Journalism at the University of Galway, having previously completed a BA in Global Media and History. She was Editor-in-Chief of Student Independent News (SIN) for two years, and a reporter with Galway Pulse. Alongside her studies, Emma has gained reporting experience with The Journal and The Tuam Herald covering local politics, courts, elections, culture, and community affairs across Ireland. Passionate about student, local and investigative journalism, she is also currently a recipient of the Lyra McKee Bursary at the Centre for Investigative Journalism in London. In her spare time you'll catch her in one of Galway's many pubs or independent coffee shops listening to a podcast!
Project officers
Callum Martin
Advocacy Officer
Originally from Southampton, Callum now lives in London where he is a trainee reporter for The Times. Last year he graduated Exeter University with a degree in History, having edited the student newspaper, Exeposé. He is the Advocacy Officer for the SPA, and previously served one year as South East Officer. He’s delighted to rejoin such a great team and is looking forward to working to support student journalism over the coming year.
Jakob Reid
Representation Officer
Jakob studied History and Politics at the University of Warwick, where he founded Rewind, the university’s first multimedia history publication. As Editor-in-Chief, he grew it to more than 100 contributors and led a nationally award-winning local history project. He is passionate about ensuring all members, regardless of background, publication, or career ambitions, have equal access to the SPA’s support and opportunities. With a particular interest in local communities, their history, and the people who preserve it, he recently completed the first historical report of its kind on a lost medieval village in Norfolk. When he’s not at the SPA, you’ll usually find him clambering through fields and along footpaths, documenting historic churches, or complaining about the price of something.
Milla Cartwright
Alumni Officer
Milla Cartwright had no idea she wanted to go into journalism, although in hindsight the signs were always there. She studied International and European Law at the University of Groningen, in the Netherlands, and has just completed her master’s in Modern and Contemporary Writing at the University of East Anglia. During her master’s, she threw herself head first into the world of student journalism. Her official role was Deputy News Editor, but she did not know how to turn down any projects that sparked her interest. Most recently, Milla worked as a fixer for The Telegraph during the Hungarian Elections, where she was able to watch the events unfold from right in the international press tent.
Sophie Layton
Digital Media Officer
Sophie Layton is the Managing Editor of WILD Magazine, & is formerly the Editor of Ed Fringe Review, & Arts & Theatre Editor of Forge Press. She is the first editor to receive three successive nominations for 'Best Culture Section', between 2024 & 2026, alongside several other nominations & regional awards. An International Public & Political Communication graduate from The University of Sheffield, Sophie has written for a variety of publications, including UniHomes, Split the Bills & The Liberator. She is also the Newsletter Coordinator for the Essex International Scout & Guide Jamboree. In her spare time, you will probably find her working at or visiting the beautiful Crucible or Lyceum Theatres, or stuck in a good book!