| Election of | a professional staff |
| Term | 2 years: 1 November 2026 to 31 October 2028 |
| Electorate | all continuing and fixed-term members of the professional staff of the university can vote in this election (UTS By-law, clause 6(1)(b)) |
| Ballot | opens Thursday 10 September 2026 closes at 3pm Thursday 24 September 2026 |
| Voting | vote now or see how to vote |
Candidates in ballot paper order
Candidates’ statements
Stella Ng
No candidate statement provided.
Russell Nelms
I am standing for election to UTS Council because I believe strong governance is grounded in understanding our University, listening to our people and maintaining a clear focus on the outcomes we are here to achieve.
As Director, Strategic Portfolio, I work across UTS to connect strategy, investment, change and delivery to the ambitions of UTS 2030. This gives me a broad perspective on the opportunities ahead and the practical realities of delivering change across a complex university.
If elected, I would bring an independent, constructive and pragmatic professional staff perspective to Council, ensuring our people have a strong voice while contributing to thoughtful debate, sound governance and decisions that serve UTS as a whole.
I am committed to helping UTS deliver on its ambitions and create lasting value for our students, staff and community.
Nick Milner
As a Professional Staff member with well over a decade of experience at UTS, I am keenly aware of the issues and concerns faced by colleagues across the university. In recent years, I have advocated for Professional Staff voices through multiple change proposals, represented staff at the bargaining table for the 2025 UTS Enterprise Agreement, and shared our concerns with UTS leadership, elected representatives and the wider UTS community.
I will take a pragmatic and constructive approach to representing Professional Staff on the UTS Council, listening closely to staff perspectives and ensuring your views are heard in Council alongside our Academic colleagues.
I am proud to be part of the incredible staff culture at UTS and will work to ensure that culture and our collective voice are reflected at Council.
Rebecca Whalen
Over more than ten years at UTS, I have worked across central portfolios and faculties, including the Business School, TD School, Institute for Public Policy and Governance, Marketing and Communications, and Advancement. Through roles spanning strategy, operations, projects, governance and policy, I have developed a deep appreciation of the critical role professional staff play in supporting the work of our academic colleagues and enabling teaching, research and community impact.
I care about the public purpose of universities, the importance of transparent and accountable governance and the value of meaningful staff representation in decision-making. On a personal note, I believe the collaborative, collegial culture of UTS is one of the reasons why so many of us are deeply invested in the university and its future.
I believe staff voices and perspectives matter, and are critical components in fostering a stronger university community and shaping decisions about the future of UTS.
Malika Krishnadasan
I am seeking election to UTS Council as the Professional Staff representative.
As Head of Learning and Organisational Development, I work across every part of UTS, partnering with staff and leaders to strengthen capability, culture, leadership and organisational effectiveness. I bring a unique perspective as a Chartered Accountant turned psychologist, combining commercial acumen with a deep understanding of people, learning and change.
My career has spanned technology, consumer, not-for-profit, biomedical and professional services organisations across Australia, Asia and Europe. I have seen first-hand how organisations can adapt, innovate and thrive through periods of disruption and transformation.
I am excited by UTS's future and the opportunity to help shape a university that leads through innovation, inclusion and impact. If elected, I will bring a collaborative and forward-looking perspective to Council, representing professional staff voices while supporting decisions that strengthen our people, advance our strategy and prepare UTS for future opportunities.
Elizabeth Miller
Dear colleagues and friends,
My name is Elizabeth, and I work in the Governance Support Unit as Policy Manager.
I have worked at UTS for 14 years and remain passionate about higher education, research, and the people who make this university exceptional. I am continually inspired by our shared commitment to students, research and community, even during challenging times.
As a Council member, I would bring a thoughtful, evidence-based approach and a strong commitment to UTS values. I would advocate for professional staff by ensuring their voices, experiences and perspectives are heard and meaningfully considered in Council discussions.
I would support a culture of respect, inclusion, collegiality and accountability, and work to ensure UTS remains a place where all staff can contribute, thrive and feel valued.
Thank you for considering my nomination.
Mark So
I am seeking election to Council as a Professional Staff representative to bring an informed, university-wide perspective to the opportunities and challenges facing UTS.
Having been a UTS student and staff member for over two decades - as casual, fixed-term and continuing staff, and in leadership roles across People and Data - I have experienced the university from many angles. As someone from a non-English speaking background, I value the diversity, inclusion and sense of belonging that underpin our community.
In my current role in the Data Analytics and Insights Unit, I work with leaders across UTS on evidence-based decision-making, strategic planning, regulatory reporting and organisational improvement. Through university-wide surveys, workforce-reporting and transformation initiatives, I have developed an understanding of issues that matter to both academic and professional staff.
If elected, I will advocate for informed; transparent decision-making, bring a staff perspective to Council, and ensure staff voices are heard.
Ric Betros-Matthews
Operations (ITU)
Experience: 8 years of leading the delivery of technology implementations via Agile Methodologies and Project Management, at two multi-national companies and UTS. I have worked with various levels of governance and have seen the positive outcomes that result when done well. I believe I can effectively represent professional staff to give our perspective a voice.
Professional Certifications:
Project Management Professional (PMP), The Project Management Institute.
Certified SAFe 6 Practitioner, Scaled Agile.
Certified SAFe 6 Agilist, Scaled Agile.
Certified AI-Empowered SAFe Scrum Master, Scaled Agile.
Certified Scrum Master (CSM), Scrum Alliance.
Certified Administrator – Salesforce
Certified Platform App Builder – Salesforce
Certified Agentforce Service Consultant – Salesforce
Academic Qualifications:
Bachelor of Social Science, The University of Newcastle.
Graduate Diploma in Urban and Regional Planning, The University of New England.
Graduate Certificate in Business Strategy, Cornell University.
Susan Gibson
During my 14 years at UTS, I have seen the difference the university makes through research, education and engagement. I believe UTS has an exciting opportunity to build on its strengths and expand impact through collaboration, innovation and excellence, and I am seeking election to Council because I care deeply about the university and want to contribute to the decisions that will shape its future.
I have worked across parts of the university, bringing people together to solve challenges and deliver meaningful outcomes. I have served on several committees including Research and Teaching and Learning, giving insight into priorities across the university.
As a staff member, alumna and parent of UTS students, I have experienced the university from many perspectives and seen the difference it makes in people's lives.
My experience leading university-wide AI initiatives has reinforced the importance of collaboration, responsible innovation and a focus on people and outcomes.
Michael Gonzalez
I believe UTS can be an outstanding university. We can be distinctive: a sector benchmark and a destination globally for education, engagement, ideas and impact - as well as a great place to work.
As University Librarian, I have extensive experience across UTS and the higher education sector. I lead an ambitious and creative Library at the centre of the student, teaching. research and staff experience, with a record of delivering strategy, building a positive culture and working across the University on complex issues. I also bring board experience and a strong external sector network.
I am nominating for Council to contribute my experience to the governance and future direction of UTS, helping set new standards for higher education, while providing a strong, authentic and informed voice for professional staff. I would bring a broad institutional perspective, constructive challenge and genuine commitment to our people, students, community and the University.
Philip Betts
It’s been a tough few years, and I think we’re all pretty keen to make sure they were meaningful, and that hard-learned lessons stick. I’ve got a fairly unique lens on things – over the last nine years at UTS you may have seen me pop up in one or more jobs working in or with: Learning & Teaching, ITU, Research, GRS, Finance & People, Industry Engagement, Advancement, UPMO…
If I get a run in Student Services and International I think I get a free UTS mug?
Across all of this, and previous work as a faculty academic, the unifying experience has been of working with incredibly passionate and compassionate people — academics, professional staff and leaders, in faculties and divisions — who keep going because we believe in the university’s mission, despite, of late, near-existential exhaustion.
I’d like to help us get back to a sustainable and positive path.
How to vote in an online ballot
- Note your candidate choices and preference order
- Log in to UTS: Elections Online Polling Booth
- Choose the election you wish to vote in
- Select the candidates you wish to vote for
- Check your vote
- When you are ready, choose 'submit' to record your vote.
Conduct
Participants in elections (candidates, their representatives and voters) are expected to follow the same high standard of conduct and behaviour during the campaign process as is expected on campus generally. The behaviour of election candidates and their representatives should meet expected standards of conduct. See Code of Conduct for UTS Elections.
Concerns about security due to election-related conduct should be reported to UTS Security and Emergency Management. Phone 02 9514 1192 or dial ‘6’ on any UTS phone.
Further information
The schedule for this election has information about the election rules, Returning Officer and UTS Council.
See Voting for information about votes, confidentiality, appointing a scrutineer and results.