UTS spent $1.5m on leadership coach before job cuts: Report
Synopsis
Documents cited by ABC reveal UTS spent heavily on leadership coaching before implementing major job and course cuts.
Documents cited by ABC show the University of Technology Sydney spent nearly $1.5 million on executive coaching before implementing major job and course cuts, raising questions about spending priorities during what it described as a financial crisis.
Key highlights
- UTS spent nearly $1.5 million on executive coaching
- Majority of spending occurred in 2024 during cost-cutting planning
- Up to 400 jobs and over 1,000 subjects initially targeted
- Travel costs for consultant exceeded $126,000
- Procurement exemptions bypassed standard tender processes
- Staff backlash led to no-confidence vote in vice-chancellor
Documents reveal spending amid cost-cutting push
According to documents obtained by Four Corners through the Government Information (Public Access) Act (GIPA), the university paid about $1.487 million to executive coaching firm Beyond Excellence between 2021 and early 2025.
More than half of that, roughly $783,000, was spent in 2024.
This was the same year Vice-Chancellor Andrew Parfitt began planning major budget cuts to address what he described as a financial crisis.
At the time, the university aimed to save $100 million annually due to recurring deficits.
Job and course cuts reshape university operations
Initial plans included cutting around 400 jobs, or about 10% of the workforce.
The proposal also targeted 167 courses and more than 1,100 subjects.
A revised plan reduced the scale but still delivered major cuts:
- Around 120 academic jobs removed
- 143 courses discontinued
- 839 subjects scrapped
- Further cuts to professional staff delayed
The university also spent about $7 million on consulting advice from KPMG.
Union backlash intensifies over spending priorities
The spending has drawn strong criticism from the National Tertiary Education Union.
NSW secretary Vince Caughley said leadership decisions had damaged trust and morale.
He told Four Corners the university “spent big on coaching” but delivered poor outcomes for staff.
A motion of no confidence in the vice-chancellor later passed with support from 95% of more than 1,500 voting staff.
Inside the coaching relationship
The documents show Beyond Excellence founder Julie Birtles worked closely with UTS leadership.
Her role expanded considerably after an initial six-month contract in 2021.
She provided services including:
- Executive transition support
- Leadership feedback programs
- Confidential interviews with senior staff
- Strategy and cultural transformation advice
She also conducted leadership retreats, including a two-day session at Manly Beach in 2024.
Travel costs and procurement exemptions raise questions
The university spent more than $126,000 on travel for the consultant.
This included:
- 91 flights between Melbourne and Sydney
- Over 80 hotel stays
Most of these costs were incurred between 2024 and 2025.
Documents also show multiple procurement exemptions were granted.
Some contracts exceeded $250,000 and bypassed standard tender processes.
UTS executives justified this by citing the importance of trust between coach and leadership.
Impact on students and academic programs
The cuts have had major academic consequences.
The School of Public Health lost more than half of its academic staff and two degree programs.
Professor Andrew Hayen said students were directly affected.
He questioned how large sums could be spent on consultants while core teaching and research faced reductions.
University response and policy stance
A UTS spokesperson said consultants are used only when internal expertise is insufficient.
The university maintained that the engagement complied with procurement policies.
It added that leadership development is common practice to improve organisational performance.
However, UTS also has internal leadership programs, including an Executive MBA and dedicated training units.
Governance scrutiny set to increase
The revelations come as the Australian federal government moves to tighten university governance.
New rules are expected to require clearer disclosure of consultancy spending.
This could increase transparency across the higher education sector.
The UTS case may become a benchmark for how universities justify external advisory costs during financial restructuring.
What happens next
The controversy is likely to trigger further scrutiny from regulators and policymakers.
Universities may face pressure to justify spending decisions during cost-cutting phases.
The issue could also influence future governance reforms across Australia’s higher education sector.
FAQs
Q1: Why is UTS under scrutiny?
Documents cited by ABC show the university spent heavily on leadership coaching before implementing job and course cuts.
Q2: How much did UTS spend on the coach?
About $1.487 million between 2021 and 2025.
Q3: What cuts were made by UTS?
The university reduced jobs, courses and subjects to save costs, including cutting over 100 academic roles.
Q4: Who criticised the spending?
The National Tertiary Education Union and academic staff have raised concerns.
Q5: What changes could follow in Australia?
The federal government is planning stricter rules on transparency in university consultancy spending.
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