UTS Wanago Teaching Staff are NESA accredited STEM teachers, providing engaging and practical based learning for their students.
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The Wanago team
Meet the Wanago team
Emaly Black, Program Manager
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UTS Wanago Program Manager, Emaly Black has over 11 years’ experience delivering excellence in the Higher Education Sector. Emaly is passionate about promoting STEM to a wide audience and making career pathways accessible to the next generation of engineers and scientists. Emaly is proud to support gender diversity in STEM.
Since joining UTS in 2014, Emaly has enjoyed a variety of roles focussed on project management, communications, and engagement. Being responsible for coordinating UTS projects, programs and events, Emaly fully comprehends the need to be flexible and adaptive, with a focussed mindset on people, empathy and understanding.
Emaly graduated from Murdoch University with a Bachelor in Communication Studies, and Honours in Media Studies, specialising in science communication.
In 2016, Emaly was recognised with a UTS Vice-Chancellor Award for professional support of research excellence.
Julia Hepworth, Head Teacher
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Julia Hepworth, Wanago Head Teacher joined Wanago in 2020. She has a Bachelor of Industrial Design and a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Teaching specialising in Engineering and Computing.
Julia is focused on fostering students’ critical and creative thinking skills and believes that a classroom where students engage in relevant and meaningful learning tasks, is a classroom where students can thrive academically and socially.
Julia is committed to breaking stereotypes and values inclusion, diversity of thought and authentic learning to empower students to find fulfilment in whatever life path they choose. She has ten years of experience in student welfare, considering the interplay between the academic and socio-emotional in achieving student success.
In addition to teaching, Julia welcomes sharing her expertise, mentoring colleagues and providing professional development to teachers across Sydney to broaden STEM accessibility.
James Newall, Wanago Lead Teacher
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UTS Wanago Lead Teacher, James Newall has over 15 years teaching experience and is certified with ISTAA Experienced Teacher accreditation and NESA proficient teacher status. James has commercial experience as a design and development manager having produced and patented products for commercial manufacturing, winning several design awards. Currently, James teaches NESA Stage 6 Engineering Studies syllabus to classes of Year 11 and 12 high students enrolled in the Wanago program.
The facilitation of this course will include a combination of self-paced and live webinar sessions. Participants will complete 4 hours of work per week, with 2 hours allocated to the live sessions. During the live sessions, James will present subject content with tutorials. There will be opportunities for participants to collaborate in ‘breakout’ rooms to develop subject knowledge and skills.
Melinda Blake, Wanago Teacher
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Mel graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) from the University of New South Wales in 2015, specialising in machine condition monitoring and space systems. She also holds a Bachelor of Education (Secondary) from Macquarie University.
Mel joined the Wanago Program as an Engineering Studies teacher in April 2023. During her experience in the independent sector, Mel taught a range of subjects including Mathematics Extension 2 and Applied STEM, and draws deeply on her cross-curricular knowledge in her teaching practice. Alongside classroom teaching, Mel has developed a number of extra-curricular STEM programs that provide students with hands-on opportunities with robotics and programming.
Mel has been a volunteer with FIRST Robotics since 2009. She currently serves as the Australian Head Judge for the FIRST LEGO League and FIRST Tech Challenge programs.
Mel is also a qualified History teacher and has recently completed a Master of Ancient History at Macquarie University.
Carina Gleeson, Wanago Teacher
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Carina Gleeson graduated with a Bachelor of Media in Screen Production from Macquarie University in 2007 and a Masters of Teaching from the University of New South Wales in 2017. Carina draws upon her professional technology industry experience in streaming media and software engineering when speaking about workplace trends and the soft skills needed for technology careers.
Carina joined the Wanago Program in 2022, initially as a Software Engineering teacher, before planning and coordinating the commencement of the first class of Industrial Technology: Multimedia in 2023.
Carina has taught many technology and design-focused subjects in high schools. She served as a Board Member for the ICT Educators NSW teaching association, contributing to professional learning for STEM teachers. Carina also contributed to the development of the new Stage 6 Software Engineering and Enterprise Computing courses with NESA.
Carina was awarded “Outstanding Beginning Teacher” for 2021 by the Professional Teachers Council (NSW).
James King
![Portrait of James King](/sites/default/files/styles/wysiwyg_large_x1/public/2024-03/FEIT-James-King-500px.jpg?itok=x-LYo1XC)
James has a Masters Degree in Information Technology and a Bachelors Degree of Education (Secondary Mathematics) from Charles Sturt University. In a teaching career spanning 15 years, James has specialised in a broad range of subjects from computer assisted modelling and manufacturing to robotic and automotive systems. James has 6 years commercial experience as a systems engineer, designing and deploying cloud based web apps across secondary schools in NSW.
Karly Pandelios, Wanago Teacher
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Karly graduated from ACU with a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Teaching, specialising in Computing and Literature. She also completed a Graduate Certificate in Career Education and Development at RMIT.
Karly joined the Wanago Program in 2021, as a Software Design and Development teacher. She has over 13 years of experience in secondary education, teaching Computing subjects. She is currently teaching Information Processes & Technology and Enterprise Computing at UTS.
Karly’s relevant leadership experience includes the role of relieving Head Teacher in Computing Studies and in Technological & Applied Studies faculties. She was also appointed as a Technology Mentor to teachers in schools. Karly has coordinated robotics championships, computing clubs, and other whole-school STEM initiatives.
Karly is passionate about providing enriching and engaging life-long learning opportunities for students. Her mission is to increase STEM workforce engagement, support students to connect their Wanago studies to future pathways and to facilitate personal growth.
Devendra Reddy, Wanago Teacher
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Devendra graduated from the University of the South Pacific with a Bachelor of Education (Technology).
Devendra has 34 years of experience in effective teaching and promotion of TAS subjects in public schools. He has facilitated professional learning to staff to achieve ongoing improvement in student engagement and retention in senior school. In the process, Devendra has lead teams in the development of differentiation in teaching programs, assessments, marking guidelines, and examinations catering to range of learners.
Devendra’s ability to network with stakeholders and strengthen industry partnerships has enabled School to Work Programs, community partnerships, and career pathways. His wealth of experience and knowledge is utilised when engaged in HSC marking, HSC exam writing and standards setting. He also coordinates skills workshops and networking for new teachers to build teacher capacity. These experiences have led to improvements in student engagement, student retention, and students’ level of achievement.
Felicity Trajkovski, Wanago Teacher
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Felicity graduated from the University of Wollongong with a Bachelor of Information and Communication Technology in Business Information Systems. For ten years, Felicity worked for Oracle Consulting Services as a Business Solution Architect on Software Applications Implementation Projects.
Felicity completed a Graduate Diploma of Education (Secondary) and a Graduate Certificate of Religious Education at Australian Catholic University. Felicity’s teaching experience includes Information Processes and Technology, Software Design and Development, Information and Software Technology, Design and Technology, and Technology Mandatory, including the Digital Technologies Curriculum.
As a Stage 6 Software Design and Development teacher, Felicity wants to see more representation in technology subjects in NSW high schools with more gender diversity and inclusivity. Felicity hopes her passionate representation and industry experience speaks to both students and teachers as she advocates for STEM education, endeavours to lift participation rates, and inspires confidence among students and staff through this program.
Kameka Button
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Kameka Button joined the Wanago Program in 2023 as the Wanago Administration Coordinator. She completed a Certificate III in Business Administration in 2020, and has 4+ years of experience working in the finance and education sectors. Kameka is also studying a Bachelor of Primary Education at Curtin University, with a focus on STEM skills in early education. She is passionate about connecting students with the resources they need to succeed, and is very excited to be working with the Wanago team.