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Kelly Knowles

Bachelor of Arts (Politics and Industrial relations) - 2000

UOW graduate Kelly Knowles believes in putting something back into the community.

It’s what inspired the 29-year-old employment and industrial relations consultant to run for Sutherland Shire Council, and to take on the role of chair of the Sutherland Shire Hub of Economic Development (SSHED).

Now Kelly is putting something back into the University of Wollongong, from where she graduated in 2000 with an Arts degree, majoring in Politics and Industrial Relations.

Kelly has been elected to a four-year term to represent graduates on UOW’s governing body, the University Council – a high-powered group of senior politicians, public officials, academics and business leaders.

She sees it as a chance to contribute to the future development of her University, while dovetailing perfectly with her role at the SSHED - a business incubator that shares premises with UOW’s Loftus Education Centre at a site adjoining Loftus TAFE.

“The (Shire) Council sees great benefits in strengthening our relationship with the University of Wollongong,” she said. “We already have very strong connections because over the years so many Shire students have chosen to study in Wollongong. And now UOW also offers some courses at Loftus, while some of the people who have started their businesses at the SSHED have been UOW graduates.

“I’d like to make those links even stronger, and I’d particularly like to work on ways to keep Shire graduates more connected with their old university.

“The SSHED is all about building employment opportunities in the Shire, and I see a larger role for UOW supporting its graduates to turn their ideas into business propositions.

“And so much of the work UOW is doing in innovation connects well with what we are doing at the SSHED, so it makes sense to foster even closer relations.”

Kelly has fond memories of her student days at UOW.

“I liked the course outline and the opportunities to choose a lot of different subjects. There was a lot of diversity and varied learning experiences that weren’t available at other universities,” she said. “And the course really met my expectations, whereas so many of my colleagues from other universities missed out on that diversity.

“Studying at Wollongong was also a lifestyle choice … one of the things that sets UOW apart is its great environment and the student lifestyle that it offers, which is integrated into the university on a number of levels. I am keen to see that the university doesn’t lose that lifestyle as it grows.”

After graduating from UOW Cr Knowles spent a year in Canberra in a graduate position with the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, before moving back to Sydney.

She now works as a consultant for the Australian Industry Group, advising companies in the airline and printing and packaging industries on a range of industrial and legislative matters including wage negotiations, unfair dismissal legislation and laws covering the broad range of equal opportunity issues, including bullying and harassment in the workplace, and discrimination on such issues as sex, race, religion, ethnicity and political affiliation.

“I really enjoy what I do,” Cr Knowles said. “I get to know about a lot of different businesses, because you really have to understand the businesses in order to provide the best advice.”