UTS Young Alumni present: Navigating unconventional pathways to leadership

Leadership doesn’t follow a straight line, and this event is here to prove it. If you’re in your 20s or 30s and feeling like your career path hasn’t been as clear-cut as others, you’re not alone!

We’ll talk about how every leadership role demands different skills – and how you can still succeed even if your journey looks different from those around you.

This event showcases real stories from fellow UTS alumni – all of whom have demonstrated leadership in unexpected ways.
Hear from UTS graduates across multiple degrees and industries – from science, to social enterprise, to video games – all of whom share a commitment to using their skills for maximum impact. They’ll talk about how every leadership role demands different skills, and how success comes in many shapes and forms.

Be ready to hear inspiring stories, ask questions, and walk away with fresh insights on what it truly means to lead, regardless of your background or education.

Spoiler alert: Your degree doesn’t have to define what you do. Your unique path does.

Format of event:
6:00pm: Doors open
6.30 - 7.30pm: Presentation
7.30 - 8.30pm: Complimentary networking drinks & nibbles at Mrs&George

Note: this event is exclusively for UTS alumni and students.

PANELISTS

Ben Armstrong (UTS Faculty of Engineering and IT)
Ben Armstrong (Wiradjuri) has worked in the technology and creative industries for over 24 years. During his career, Ben has held roles spanning the gamut from engineer, solution architect, manager, bizdev, CEO, Head of Gaming and now service management.
Passionate about authentic partnerships and the participation of Indigenous people in STEAM careers, Ben works to break down systemic barriers so that Indigenous people can thrive and have a future powered by choice. 
Ben has played in internationally-streamed Dungeons & Dragons events, run live on-stage games and panels, and has a published short story based on the characters and stories from his forever Dungeon Mastering.
One of the 2024 recipients of the AGDAs (Australian Game Developers) Rising Star Award, Ben has been recognised as a person who has made significant contributions to the Australian digital games industry in the past five years.

Connect with Ben: LinkedIn 

Shaun Christie-David (UTS Business School)
Shaun Christie-David stands as a catalyst for innovation and social empowerment through his initiative, Plate It Forward.
Embracing his inner misfit and rebellious side, Shaun transitioned from the corporate world to become a transformative figure in the social enterprise realm. He spearheaded significant projects like the Aboriginal Health Television Network, to founding social enterprise Plate It Forward (which includes Sydney restaurants Colombo Social, Kyiv Social, and Kabul Social).
Shaun is dedicated to elevating underrepresented communities, and his leadership has opened doors for over 200 individuals from marginalized backgrounds, offering them jobs and pathways to a brighter future. Additionally, his efforts have culminated in the donation of more than 560,000 meals to tackle food insecurity.
He has been featured on Australian Story, and is a recipient of the Australian Human Rights Commission’s Community Human Rights Champion award. He was also the winner of the 2024 UTS Alumni Award for the UTS Business School.

Connect with Shaun: LinkedIn | Website 

Dr. Naomi Koh Belic (UTS Faculty of Science)
Dr Naomi Koh Belic 許佳丽 (she/her) is a biracial, bisexual, bimbo biologist. She is a second-generation Australian and a first-generation university graduate with a PhD in stem cell biology.
Dr Naomi is passionate about making science accessible and amplifying voices of minority communities. She is the creator of the science drag show ‘The Drag Experiment’ and co-creator of the matchmaking experiment ‘Love Lab’.
She is most proud of her work with DeadlyScience. In DeadlyLabs: Robinson River she supported Elders in developing a science kit and captured their stories in a short documentary that she produced and directed. In DeadlyLabs: Kickin’ It, she supported boys in a juvenile prison to develop a science kit and create a documentary.
Dr Naomi has also been a presenter and producer at ABC and a biology expert on the Discovery Channel.

Connect with Naomi: LinkedIn | Website | Instagram| TikTok

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UTS Young Alumni program
The UTS Young Alumni program creates opportunities for our graduates to connect, collaborate, empower each other to grow, and make a difference in the wider community. UTS Young Alumni Committee has a strong focus on increasing diversity and representation through inclusion and social justice, and raises funds for the UTS Equal Access Scholarship (make a donation).

UTS Careers
This event is proudly supported by UTS Careers. UTS Careers offers a variety of services and resources for recent UTS graduates.

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Acknowledgement of Country
UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.