ANNUAL REPORT 2019 Ten Year Vision Statement
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ANNUAL REPORT 2019 Ten Year Vision Statement 2015 Our purpose is to enrich each UTS student’s learning experience. As a key strategic partner 2016 of the University, ActivateUTS is first and foremost a student-centric organisation that 2017 also caters for the whole UTS community, 2018 with a particular focus on the provision of co-curricular programs that complement and 2019 enhance graduate attributes. 2020 2021 ‘ActivateUTS creates a 2022 vibrant, exciting culture that is dedicated to 2023 enhancing the UTS 2024 community experience.’ 2 ActivateUTS Annual Report 2019 3 ActivateUTS Annual Report 2019 Contents Chairman’s Report 4 President’s Report 6 CEO Report 8 Marketing and Communications 10 ActivateSocial 14 UTS Sport 18 ActivateFit.Gym 21 ActivateUTS Commercial 22 (ActivateEat+Drink, Aerial UTS Function Centre & ActivateRetail) People & Culture 26 Financial Report 28 4 ActivateUTS Annual Report 2019 5 In 2019 ActivateUTS continued the programs impact student attrition and achievement of its excellent strong delivery of its objectives of: and performance more generally. outcomes yet again during 2019. Insights from this research will The Board would also like to • Valuing accessibility, diversity enable ActivateUTS to ensure that acknowledge all the student and sustainability, and providing its programs and activities are leadership teams and members of safe and inclusive environments focused on providing the greatest the ActivateUTS clubs and societies that maximise the experience of impact where needed the most. for the strong contributions that they our community. make; they are a truly outstanding Another significant outcome worthy and high achieving group. Finally, I • Being an organisation that was of mention was the expansion of want to acknowledge the high levels innovative and dynamic, that ActivateUTS commercial services of commitment and the excellent strives for best practice, with a to match the developing campus. advice provided by the ActivateUTS firm commitment to continuous The opening of The Terrace and Board members, who it has been an improvement. Upper Terrace were not only an absolute delight to work with during expansion of offering but more the year yet again. • Developing key graduate importantly, a significant uplift in attributes, ultimately enhancing the quality and sustainability of In closing, the Board thanks UTS the employability of UTS ActivateUTS food and beverage for its ongoing strong support graduates. services. While only operating for and effective engagement with the last quarter of 2019, they are ActivateUTS. In particular, the • Providing products and services both significant successes. high levels of advocacy from the that are relevant, valuable, Vice-Chancellor, Professor Attila sustainable and enriching to A continuing challenge for Brungs and the Provost, Professor meet the needs of the ever- ActivateUTS has been obtaining the Andrew Parfitt, and the unwavering changing UTS community. full potential of the UTS Haberfield commitment and engagement Club. During the year, a strategic from our UTS connection point, • Providing visible, adaptive refocus took place to reposition the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education and contemporary spaces offerings as more of a restaurant and Students), Professor Shirley that maximise their usage and than a club, and in the second half Alexander, are greatly appreciated. functionality. of the year to moved to table service All the UTS senior executives and for the main dining area. These staff make regular contributions • Providing a rewarding and changes took time to settle into to ActivateUTS activities and inclusive workplace that values place and significant retraining and strategies, and it would not be Chairman’s and enriches our workforce. positioning of staffing but started possible to achieve the high to have positive impacts late in outcomes that it does without 2019 continued the strong, strategic the year. Unfortunately, the smoke this highly positive and engaging performance of ActivateUTS in and hot weather somewhat offset environment. Report strengthening student engagement, these benefits. The foundations social and sporting activities, for a consistently more successful I commend this Annual Report to working steadily towards the performance are now in place the University community. ActivateUTS is a key strategic a broad view of the community achievement of our Corporate and we look forward to improved partner of the University catering it serves; including past, present Plan 2019. To provide further, outcomes in 2020. Emeritus Professor Peter Booth for the whole UTS community. and future students, university research-informed, insights into Chair Its primary focus is as a student- academic and professional staff, how to do this into the future, On behalf of the Board I would like ActivateUTS Board centred organisation, enhancing ActivateUTS workforce (staff and ActivateUTS commissioned further to acknowledge the CEO, Elizabeth the student experience through volunteers, board members and research by the UTS team led Morgan-Brett, her executive the provision of programs club administrators), members by Professor Simon Darcy and team and all the dedicated and that complement the learning, and patrons of UTS Haberfield Associate Professor Carmen Foley, hardworking ActivateUTS staff for development and social outcomes Rowing Club, as well as the precinct of the UTS Business School, with a their ongoing commitment to the of the University. ActivateUTS takes community and broader public. particular focus on how ActivateUTS mission and goals of ActivateUTS 6 ActivateUTS Annual Report 2019 7 President’s vital and necessary behind-the- By actively increasing presence in effective high-level discussions scenes efforts and support from on campus, it was truly an all- and decisions being made. Report ActivateUTS, working to ensure that encompassing and successful year UTS athletes are able to compete for ActivateUTS in engaging its Final Word and produce their best results. membership and UTS community. ActivateUTS are market leaders in Members and the Directors and the Board the provision of student services Community across universities in Australia. The ActivateUTS Board is comprised ActivateUTS’ performance was ActivateUTS raised the bar in 2019 of both UTS staff and student made possible through the when engaging students and directors. This balance aims to significant and ongoing support and members of the UTS community. account for the wide-ranging positive relationship with UTS and ActivateUTS successfully engaged views and interests of the UTS its Senior Executives. new UTS students at O’Day and the community. Staff and student Board start of semester parties, facilitated directors worked collaboratively in Thank you to the ActivateUTS cultural and social dialogue in the ActivateUTS Board Mentoring Board of Directors, both former and events such as Harmony Day and program; discussing Board matters, current, for providing mentorship Clubs Day and further spurred the sharing viewpoints, and exploring and support over the years, my UTS community to participate in possibility for new initiatives that fellow directors and I have learned activity-based events including benefited the UTS community. a wealth of knowledge from you. City2Surf and Tough Mudder by To the Chair of the Board, Emeritus subsidising ticket costs, coupled One of the initiatives that the Professor Peter Booth, thank you with the provision of free or Board of ActivateUTS unanimously for your guidance and insight that subsidised event-specific services, endorsed and executed was enabled the student Board Directors Clubs and Societies Sport food and drink. the New Member Engagement to carry out their duties. Thank you Award, worth $4,250. The award to CEO, Elizabeth Morgan-Brett, for ActivateUTS has long recognised ActivateUTS bolstered its With the opening of The Terrace, aimed to promote engagement the strong and continued support that the services clubs and commitment to sport at UTS in ActivateUTS upheld its ongoing in the number of new members and the willingness to be open to societies provided for students and 2019. The UTS High Performance commitment to the UTS community signing up to clubs and societies. new ideas and initiatives brought members of the UTS community Program (HPP) was implemented to and to environmental sustainability, It also served to acknowledge and forward by ActivateUTS’ Student are at the heart of its constitutional complement the existing Elite and with subsidies for all UTS students reward the clubs and societies that Board Directors. Thank you to values. ActivateUTS reflected Emerging Athlete Program (EAP), and staff, as well as providing a went the extra mile in engaging Vice-President Jessica Massih and this recognition by increasing the enabling and ensuring that UTS discount for anyone using re-usable new members. First place was fellow Student Board Directors offerings of events and activities, student athletes were given the containers or cups. awarded $3,000, second place were Rebecca Chea, Lachlan McFall, along with boosting grants and best opportunities and support to rewarded with $1,000 and $250 was Sabrina Ulis and Rohan Indra for all awards given to compete at the ActivateUTS supported students awarded to third place. From this of your dedication and commitment clubs and societies highest of levels. as they pursued academic and initiative, it was evident that there towards duties. The UTS campus saw to better enable