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The paper presents the findings of an industry engagement project leveraged off the UTS work-ready attribute matrix to improve graduates professional attributes through peer-reviewed and prioritized attributes specific to the third sector. All respondents were practitioners in the field, and the survey results show that the majority identified ‘strategic planning’ as the most important knowledge area required, followed by ‘financial management’ and then ‘human resource development’. Graduate attributes identified as most significant for the third sector were ‘communication skills’, ‘ethics and professionalism’ and ‘problem solving and critical thinking’ whilst ‘technology literacy’ was considered of least significance. With regards to fields of expertise the results suggest that there is increasing interest in developing knowledge and skills relating to the areas of social innovation and entrepreneurship; the methodologies used to measure social impact; and the techniques and skills associated with non-profit strategic communications and marketing. These findings provide a framework to assist in the development of new subject offerings consonant with the sector’s preferences.