Our people
Learn more about our creative, diverse and passionate PLUS UTS Business Futures team.
Natalia Nikolova
Director PLUS UTS Business Futures
Natalia Nikolova is Professor in Organisation Studies. She leads the design and delivery of PLUS UTS Business Futures programs ensuring that clients and learners achieve long-term impact from participating in our programs. Natalia is an internationally recognised expert in the design of education programs in the fields of leadership, strategy, innovation and problem solving. She has received several awards for her educational leadership including the UTS Business School Achievement Award for Sustained Innovation, an Australian Government Learning & Teaching Citation, a UTS Learning & Teaching Award and a UTS Learning & Teaching Citation.
Natalia is passionate about partnering with clients to design and deliver upskilling programs that are informed by leading research. She focuses on the development of customised, tangible tools and frameworks which drive immediate change in mindsets, behaviours and practices.
Natalia has led the design and delivery of leadership upskilling programs to a range of clients including Reserve Bank of Australia, NSW Public Service Commission Leadership Academy, John Holland Group, ACCIONA, Westpac, UTS, NSW Department of Planning and Environment, NSW Health, NSW Telco Authority, Fujitsu, Taronga Zoo, KPMG and others.
Natalia’s research is applied and focuses on how to foster innovation and collaborative work practices that help organisations create supportive and innovative cultures.
Kate Whitely
Manager Enterprise Learning Programs
Kate Whiteley is the Manager Enterprise Learning Programs at PLUS UTS Business Futures. She is responsible for overall program management of PLUS UTS Business Futures client engagements and oversees the delivery of corporate/executive education programs with B2B clients from all sectors. Kate is a leader and educator with 20+ years in the Australian education sector, covering higher education, VET qualifications, professional development, and workplace compliance. She is passionate about building strong relationships with clients and external stakeholders ensuring their experience of working with PLUS UTS Business Futures professional staff exceeds expectations.
Tracy Chanoff
Lead Learning Designer
Tracy Chanoff is the lead learning designer at Plus UTS Business Futures. Tracy brings in-depth expertise in working with business leaders to design learning experiences that deliver on business outcomes. She is passionate about developing blended learning solutions to drive performance and effect behavioural change. She has worked with clients such as Transport for NSW, John Holland Infrastructure, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia and the Department of Environment and Planning. In recognition for her contributions to industry, Tracy received the UTS Business School Professional Staff Award for External Engagement.
Lisa Wu
Project and Accounts Manager
Lisa is a scrum-certified project manager with experience in overseeing the agile delivery of complex executive training programs to corporate partners, including the Reserve Bank of Australia, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, NSW Health and Transport for New South Wales. She is a recipient of the UTS Business School Professional Staff Award for External Engagement and won the UTS Vice-Chancellor’s Career and Professional Development Award for contributions towards the University.
Julia-Rose O’Connor
Project Co-Ordinator
Julia is one of the key project co-ordinators at PLUS UTS Business Futures. She has delivered end-to-end project management for clients such as the NSW Public Service Commission Leadership Academy, ASIC, the Department of Environment and Planning, John Holland Infrastructure and Lion. Julia ensures clients have a one-stop contact for any questions or requests they might have. She shares a passion for marketing and in particular, video production. In 2022, Julia played an active role in the operations and marketing co-ordination of the Women in Digital Marketing Workforce Re-Entry program. She is one of the recipients of the UTS Business School Professional Staff Award for External Engagement.
Katt Robertson
Short Forms Learning Project Manager
Katt is the short forms of learning project manager responsible for the management of a suite of microcredentials and short courses. This involves overseeing business development, course development and delivery, marketing, and project management. With over 10 years of experience in the higher education sector, Katt's expertise includes business process innovation, project and events management, recruitment and learner engagement. Passionate about education, social justice and entrepreneurship, Katt has developed and delivered social learning programs in Nepal. She won a first place in the ICT category competition at the Startup World Cup in Denmark.
Kate Alexander
Lead executive coach and mentor
Kate is an experienced, masters-qualified executive coach and facilitator with an extensive background designing and delivering a wide variety of leadership programs. She is focused on creating opportunities for learnings to be integrated into new ways of being and doing, while helping leaders to develop through pragmatic and transformative experiences. Kate has experience delivering upskilling and consulting across government, private, education and small business sectors and speaks to businesses frequently to help them navigate the challenges they are facing. She has led large teams, complex strategies, and multi-million-dollar budgets in her own executive roles in government and the private sector.
