Get to Know Your Canberra Branch Executive Committee - Neil Brittliff
6th October 2020
Highlights
- This week we have the spotlight on Neil Brittliff, ACS Canberra Branch Executive Committee Member
- Neil provides insights on what interests him about the tech industry, how he keeps his skills up-to-date and how ACS Membership has supported him in his career journey.
1. What do you enjoy most about working in the tech industry?
I enjoy the challenge of having to adapt to new innovations within the IT sector. I also enjoy learning new computer languages and solve complex computer problems.
2. What is the key piece of advice you’d give to your younger self?
Other than to buy Apple, Amazon or Microsoft shares when they were affordable, I would say to say to myself don’t be frightened to take risks and always look for new opportunities. Perhaps, don’t get despondent when things don’t go your way, things will always change and sometimes in an unexpected way.
3. Tech changes fast. How do you keep your tech skills up-to-date?
I work for Microsoft which introduces a new service almost every day. What is true on a given day may be false the next day. I addressed this problem by gaining some kind of academic qualification relating to IT every 10 years. I regularly present at conferences and attend as many meet-up groups where I can interact with my fellow piers.
4. What is your greatest challenge as a leader/ business owner?
Keeping up-to-date with technological changes and abreast of trends within IT landscape. What change will win and what will lose, how to move from a Mainframe to cloud centric solution. Furthermore, the System Development Life-Cycle has shrunk to such a point where changes in software almost happen on daily basis.
5. How has ACS membership supported your career journey in tech?
The ACS gave me the opportunity to meet people with similar interests and problems. The ACS may not have the influence that some say it should but it provides a platform for piers to communicate their ideas: (right and wrong; modern and anachronistic; and industry or public sector focused.
'Get to Know Your ACS Canberra BEC' series aims to shed the spotlight on your Canberra BEC members and get their insights on key topics related to your ACS membership and the IT sector. This week we continue our ‘Get to Know Your ACS Canberra BEC’ series, with Grant Hopcroft, providing insights into keeping your skills updated and how to make the most of your ACS Membership.