Candidate Data Appearing in the Ballot

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I’m standing for Council to give UOW’s staff a voice grounded in how the university actually runs day to day, backed by formal governance training and board experience.

I work in Student Services within the DVC-Education portfolio, leading the team responsible for the systems, processes and service quality that students and colleagues rely on. I see first-hand how strategy, technology and policy decisions land on the ground, and what it takes to make change work for the people doing the work. Before UOW, I spent more than five years at Wollongong City Council in business systems, compliance, commercial analysis, contract management and service quality.

I’m Deputy Chair and a Non-Executive Director of Greenacres Disability Services, serving on its Audit and Risk Committee and its People, Culture & Governance Committee. That role has taught me how a board scrutinises budgets, risk and major investments, and how to hold management to account constructively.

I hold a Graduate Diploma in Applied Corporate Governance & Risk Management, an MBA and a BA (Distinction), and I’m a Chartered Governance Professional with the Chartered Governance Institute as well as a Member of the Australian Institute for Company Directors.

If elected, I will:

- Represent staff across professional and academic roles, listening widely and bringing your perspective to Council’s decisions.
- Ask informed questions on risk, finances and major projects, and follow them through.
- Keep the student experience central, because staff wellbeing and student success are connected.

Council works best when it understands the people who deliver the university’s mission. I’d be honoured to be that connection.

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Over the past three years as a Senior Manager of Student Residence, I have had the pleasure and honor of working closely with our students and staff. I have seen both the good and not so good, recognize the challenges faced by staff across both professional services and academia. I am passionate about contributing directly to positive change, effective transparent leadership and representing workers across all levels. My background varies from Military, to Mental Health to veteran advocacy to present day. I feel these experiences give me a unique perspective difficult to match across my peers. I sincerely hope to have the honor to be the representative for Professional Services on our UOW council.

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Biography

Suzanne Kotevski is a long-serving University of Wollongong professional staff member with 21 years of experience supporting the University's research, digital, communications and strategic objectives. Across roles in administration, teaching, tutoring and research, she has developed expertise in web governance, accessibility, user experience, digital strategy, operations and stakeholder engagement. Suzanne holds a Master of Strategic Marketing with Distinction, a Master of Management with Distinction, and a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Marketing and Economics. Her contributions to the University have been recognised through two Vice-Chancellor's Awards.

Beyond her professional role, Suzanne has contributed to student learning as a university tutor and volunteered for six years as a Lifeline Crisis Supporter. These experiences have strengthened her ability to listen without judgement, appreciate diverse perspectives and support people to identify positive pathways forward. They have also reinforced her commitment to collaboration, inclusion and ensuring professional staff perspectives are represented in University decision-making.

Election Statement

For more than two decades, UOW has been more than my workplace. It has been a community where I have been able to grow, contribute and make a meaningful difference. I have had the privilege of supporting students, contributing to teaching, research and digital initiatives, and working alongside people who are deeply committed to our University's success.

I am seeking election to Council to give back to the University that has given me so much. I will bring an independent voice, broad professional experience and a strong commitment to listening, inclusion and constructive outcomes. I want to help create opportunities for all members of our community to participate, contribute and succeed, ensuring every student and staff member feels heard, valued and empowered. Together, we can continue to strengthen UOW's positive impact across the Illawarra, our broader communities and beyond.

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Dr Alan McAlpine is Executive Director, Student Services at the University of Wollongong, leading Student Administration, Student Systems, Student Frontline Services, and Support & Wellbeing. He is responsible for divisional strategy, operational delivery, and major service and digital transformation initiatives, with a strong focus on student experience, success, safety and wellbeing.

Alan brings more than 25 years’ experience across universities in the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia. He has held senior leadership roles at QUT, Curtin University and UOW, spanning student success, careers and employability, service transformation, and university-wide change. His earlier experience as an academic researcher, together with his leadership as a professional staff member, gives him a broad perspective on the opportunities and challenges facing universities.

His governance experience includes more than a decade on the management committee of the National Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (NAGCAS), where he currently serves as National President. He also represents NAGCAS on the Career Industry Council of Australia Executive Board and has served as a Board Member of Graduate Careers Australia. Through these roles, he has worked with universities, employers and government stakeholders on graduate employability, career development and work-integrated learning.

Alan is seeking election to University Council because he is committed to UOW’s future success and to support constructive and informed governance. He would bring an enterprise-wide perspective, practical experience in strategy, risk, digital transformation and service delivery, and a strong commitment to keeping students at the centre of decision-making. He is particularly passionate about ensuring that the expertise and contribution of professional staff are recognised and represented in the University’s governance.

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I have worked in professional staff roles across teaching, learning and technology services at the University of Wollongong. Since first joining UOW in 2006, I have developed a strong understanding of the University's operations and contribution to the Illawarra region.

Beyond the University, I have previously served on the Board of Directors of WEA Illawarra, a not-for-profit registered training organisation, contributing to governance and strategic decision-making. Since 2019, I have also volunteered with the NSW State Emergency Service, supporting local communities through training, emergency preparedness and operational response.

I believe effective governance is built on fairness, transparency, accountability and respect for policies and processes. Good decisions are strengthened by diverse perspectives, careful consideration of evidence, and a commitment to acting in the best interests of the communities we serve. As a neurodivergent staff member, I bring a lived appreciation of inclusion, accessibility and ensuring different voices are heard and respected.

Professional staff play an essential role in supporting the University's teaching and research activities. With extensive experience across UOW, I bring practical insight into how strategic decisions are experienced and implemented throughout the organisation. I believe this perspective helps ensure Council remains informed by the realities of day-to-day operations while maintaining a focus on long-term success.

I recognise the important educational, social and economic contribution UOW makes to the Illawarra region. I am seeking election to University Council because I believe professional staff perspectives are an important part of effective governance. Drawing on my experience in the university sector, governance involvement in the not-for-profit sector, and commitment to community service, I would bring a practical and informed perspective to Council discussions. I would be honoured to represent professional staff and contribute to fair, transparent and evidence-based decision-making that supports the University's mission, its people and the communities it serves.