After eight years with the Brock University Students’ Union (BUSU), Robert Hilson will be stepping down from his role as General Manager.

Beginning his career at Brock University in 2012, Hilson started his time at Brock as the Director of Athletics followed by the Director of Ancillary Services.  Hilson made the move in 2018 to serve as General Manager for the Brock University Students’ Union.

During his time with BUSU, Hilson has worked along staff and achieved many milestones for students.

• Led the development of the first BUSU Strategic Plan (2020-2025) based on broad-based consultation
• Contributed to 10 successful BUSU referendums including Indigenous Student Engagement, Student Social Justice Centre, Sexual Violence Education and Support and the Engagement Levy
• Led the organization though the Provincial Student Choice Initiative and Covid-19.
• Improved workplace efficiencies and reduced full-time staffing by 20%.
• Expanded gross revenues by 50% to $18+ Million
• More than doubled the organizations net asset position from $10.4 million to over $21 million
• Oversaw the development of the BUSU website platform and the growth of social media followers (18,500+) and engagement

Hilson’s final project was the $50 million dollar student centre expansion project that included design, general contractor procurement, building permits and bank financing. Over the past two years, Hilson has been prioritizing that campus life remained secure and accessible for all Brock students, while dedicating significant effort to advancing the new Student Centre project. As plans progressed, including preparations for the demolition phase, he remained focused on maintaining a smooth and uninterrupted campus experience for students, minimizing disruption to student daily life on campus.

"Robert has an incredible depth of knowledge about BUSU, and I am grateful to have learned from him throughout my term,” said Fiona Seabrock, BUSU President. “He was a thoughtful colleague and mentor, and the care he put into sharing that knowledge has helped build a strong foundation that will continue to guide our organization moving forward."

“I have had the pleasure of serving as General Manager of BUSU for eight incredibly rewarding years, and with the positive movement forward with our new Student Centre, it is time for me to step aside and and entrust the next phase of the project to the team who will bring the facility to life,” said Robert Hilson, General Manager of the Brock University Students’ Union.

“It has been a privilege to work alongside such dedicated students, staff, and partners, and I am deeply proud of what we have accomplished together.”

BUSU is pleased to welcome our new incoming General Manager, Christian Wiley, who will  bring a fresh perspective, energy, and leadership to the organization.

Christian lives in Welland with his wife and two children, holds a Master’s Degree in Leadership from Fresno Pacific University in California and most recently served as Executive Director of the Hamilton Waterfront Trust.

BUSU would like to thank Robert for his dedication to the students and this organization over the last eight years. Your contributions will be appreciated by generations of Badgers to come, and we wish you luck in your future.