A 2004 graduate of the UTS Bachelor of Property Economics, Ellen is a Senior Portfolio Manager for Goodman, one of the world’s largest listed industrial property groups. She arrived at Goodman in 2003 as part of a paid cadetship program that was designated for UTS students.
Now, 18 years later, she’s supporting other UTS property economics students to kickstart their careers with the Goodman Group Scholarship. This award provides financial support and real-world experience for students who are passionate about industrial property.
Nurturing the next generation
“The Goodman Group Scholarship provides a student – usually in second year – with a $10,000 cash scholarship, in addition to a six-month paid work placement,” says Slaven, who has provided key mentorship opportunities to several students through the scheme.
“The work placement gives them a meaningful opportunity to work initially in our Property Services team and gain a solid foundation in property management, while also developing soft skills required such as communication, problem solving and initiative.
“They also receive structured on-the-job development with the support of experienced mentors.”
The scholarship was established in 2004 and revamped in 2018 as part of a years-long relationship between Goodman and UTS. It’s testament not only to the Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building’s commitment to building strategic and enduring industry partnerships, but also to the quality of the UTS Property Economics degree, which produces students who are a cut above the rest.
The course [UTS offers] is exceptional. It gives students a really good grounding and understanding of the property sector.
The students are very articulate, they understand a lot of the concepts of property, and because the degree is so specialised, they come to us with a much more strategic focus.
Building a talent pipeline
But, while the scholarship offers a life-changing opportunity for Property Economics students, it’s far from a one-sided transaction.
The program is a key component of the company’s recruitment pipeline, giving Goodman access to the best and brightest students before they hit the market. In fact, says Slaven, many scholarship recipients go on to work at Goodman, either immediately after their work placement or in their graduate year.
“We, at Goodman, rarely hire outside that graduate level,” she says.
“The majority of staff have been here 10 years plus, so the graduate program is really our feeder program into the next generation of the business.”
From mentee to mentor
Slaven herself is a picture-perfect example of how university-industry partnerships can translate into flourishing long-term careers. After completing her Goodman cadetship, she was hired by the company as a property manager while she continued her UTS degree. She graduated in 2004; two years later, at the age of 26, she was in London helping the company grow its footprint in the UK and Europe.
She returned to Australia in 2009, taking on Goodman’s South Sydney portfolio and its myriad urban renewal opportunities. Today, she manages the company’s Western Sydney portfolio, overseeing 180 customers and 2.5 million square metres of space valued at more than $6 billion. She is also the founder of Women in Industrial, which was established in 2018 to provide a platform for women to expand their professional network and industry knowledge.
Even after 18 years, Slaven remains passionate about what she does – and she’s excited about continuing to share what she knows with the next generation UTS scholarship recipients.
“Industrial is a fantastic part of the property sector, but probably one that, up until recently, didn’t really get a lot of airtime,” she says.
“But the industry has changed massively. It’s become one of the most highly sought-after asset classes and there are some fantastic people in it. “
