Welcome to the University of Sydney.
‍My name is Kate Hedges and I am the President of the Sydney University Business Society (SUBS), the official faculty society for the Business School.

It’s easy to forget what it feels like to begin. Just as we grow comfortable in one chapter, we’re asked to start again. From primary school to high school, and now into university.

I remember my first days on campus. Trying to find my way, meeting new people, and wondering how everything would fall into place. What I’ve learned since then is that you don’t need to have everything figured out straight away. You just need to begin - and more importantly, find the right people to begin with.

That’s where SUBS comes in.

At the start of this year, our executive team asked ourselves what we wanted SUBS to truly mean for our members in 2026. We came back to one word: EMPOWER.

To us, empowerment goes beyond creating opportunities. It means making this new chapter easier to step into and more rewarding to be a part of. It means ensuring every member feels confident, capable, and supported enough to take those opportunities, not just hear about them. It means building an environment where you are trusted to step forward, equipped to grow, and surrounded by people who genuinely want to see you succeed.

SUBS is more than a society. It’s a community shaped by the people within it, and I can guarantee there’s a place for you, wherever you’re starting from.

Socially, some of your best memories will be made here. First Year Camp, cruise, Business Ball, and every moment in between are where friendships form, and university starts to feel less overwhelming and more like home. Where that familiar face in a lecture becomes someone you know. My advice is simple. Lean into them.

Professionally, SUBS helps you take steps beyond the classroom. Through initiatives like High Achievers Breakfast, Happy Hour Hustle, mentoring programs, case competitions, and firm-specific events. These aren't just things to put on a resume, they're chances to figure out what excites you and start building towards it. Behind all of it is a network that spans fellow students, alumni, and sponsors across consulting, finance, technology, FMCG, and marketing, people who have been where you are and want to help you get where you're going.

And if you'd rather let your competitive side do the talking, our interfaculty sports run each week and is a chance to represent the Business School and remind other faculties who's best.

But above all, SUBS is what you make of it.

The students who look back on university with the most pride aren't necessarily the ones who had everything figured out. They're the ones who showed up, said yes, and kept going even when things felt uncertain. That's what Empower means to us. Not handing you a path, but giving you the confidence to choose one.

You don't need to know exactly where this chapter leads. You just need to take the first step, and trust that SUBS will be with you as you do.We are so excited to welcome you into our family.

Here's to 2026.