Victoria Monthly Wrap Up - September 24
Welcome to the September wrap-up from your ACS VIC branch, highlighting the key activities and events that brought our community together and showcasing our shared achievements and memorable moments.
Victorian Institute of Technology Students' Launchpad to Success with ACS
It's rightly said that "Your network is your net worth"
Anshul Aggarwal, our Victoria Branch Manager, on 04 September connected with over a hundred VIT students, sharing how ACS can help kickstart their careers. He talked about how our Student Supported Memberships (SSM) give access to events, networking nights with industry leaders, upskilling opportunities, even migration advice—and so much more! The session was super interactive, with students keen to learn how ACS can boost their learning and career growth. Plus, there were some cool prizes for students who nailed a short quiz.
Victorian Branch Forum celebrates members’ achievements and explores the pull of the cloud
At our Victorian September branch forum, that took place on 10 September, attendees celebrated our members’ accomplishments and had a compelling presentation on Digital Gravity: The Pull of the Cloud from Alex Setchin, Managing Director - Enterprise Cloud, Tech Consulting at Protiviti AU.
The three key takeaways from the session:
The Need for Cloud Transformation: Organisations are shifting to cloud-based infrastructures to meet business needs, leverage technological advancements, and enhance efficiency. This cloud transformation involves not only migrating data and applications but also rethinking operations and value delivery.
Unpacked Spotify's Cloud Strategy in Action: As Spotify scaled to 248 million users, it faced performance bottlenecks and infrastructure challenges. By adopting a multi-cloud approach with GCP and AWS, they cut operational costs by 60% and improved resilience
Best Practices and Continuous Improvement: We explored best practices for cloud strategies, focusing on security, compliance, and ongoing enhancements
A big thanks to Alex for being an incredible speaker, to our emcee, Dr. Rod Dilnutt FACS FBCS CP - Chair ACS Victoria, and to all our 130+ attendees for joining us!
Another highlight of our branch forum evening was celebrating our outstanding members and their significant milestones.
We raised our glasses to:
Duncan Roe FACS, elected as a Fellow Member at ACS
Prof. Rahul Thakkar MACS CP, for becoming a certified professional
Robert James Delmenico, winner of the ACS Student Award for the Bachelor of Information Technology course at La Trobe University
Congratulations to all for reaching such significant milestones and making a tremendous impact in the tech industry!
ACS Awards Ceremony at Deakin University
A Anshul Aggarwal, Victorian Branch Manager, and Kelsey Capaldo, Stakeholder Relations Manager, on 11 September presented the ACS Student Awards at Deakin University. It was an honour to recognise and support these exceptional students for their remarkable dedication and hard work!
Congratulations to Paul Ketteringham, Jessica Ng, and Charlotte Humphries for being the top-performing students at Deakin University, recognised for their excellence in ACS-accredited undergraduate and postgraduate courses. These students were nominated by their university for their outstanding academic achievements.
Victorian Branch Manager Anshul Aggarwal and Stakeholder Relations Manager, Kelsey Capaldo recently, on 11 September, engaged with over 100 Victoria University students, with Anshul showcasing how ACS can jumpstart their careers.
Anshul highlighted how our Student Supported Memberships (SSM) offer access to events, networking nights with industry leaders, upskilling opportunities, and even migration advice. The session was highly interactive, with students eager to discover how ACS can enhance their learning and career prospects.
The Story behind Social Media's green Upgrade
ACS Victoria was delighted to host the 'Social Media’s Green Upgrade' event, where we explored how social media can be a powerful tool for driving sustainability, thanks to Glimmer, a platform making waves in the ESG space.
The panel delivered some truly thought-provoking insights that left us all rethinking how we can turn everyday actions into meaningful impact. The youth panellists reminded us that sustainability isn’t just about the environment—it’s about social governance too.
They stressed the need to reduce waste and engage communities in driving real change. Youth are co-designing solutions for a greener, fairer future, and there’s always so much to learn from their fresh perspectives. It’s not enough to discuss change; we need to actively implement strategies that drive sustainability across both social and environmental fronts.
We also explored how Glimmer connects people and organisations committed to creating impact. Nancy Lutchman guided us through the platform’s innovative ways to build ESG skills and collaborate globally as one big community.
A shoutout to Dilan Jayasekara MACS for facilitating the discussion! Click the link to watch the video and relive the evening’s highlights! And stay tuned till the end of the video for a big Glimmer x ACS victory shoutout. Let’s continue building a sustainable future—one post, one action at a time.
On 17 September, Anshul Aggarwal, Kelsey Capaldo, and Nayan Jain MACS , brought their expertise to an inspiring student event, organised with ACS, Deakin Business Analytics Society, and Deakin Software Engineering Society. The evening featured Deakin Alumni sharing their personal journeys from classrooms to careers, offering real-world wisdom.
Anshul also participated in the panel discussion titled 'The Future and Power of AI: Innovations, Challenges, and Opportunities,' which covered a wide range of topics crucial to both students and professionals navigating the evolving AI landscape. Key takeaways from the session included:
Challenges for Migrant Students: The panel highlighted the unique hurdles faced by migrant students as they pursue careers in AI, offering insights into how to overcome these barriers.
Opportunities in AI: The discussion explored emerging opportunities in the AI field, emphasizing how individuals can leverage these advancements at different stages of their careers, from entry-level to mid-career professionals.
Ethical Use of AI: A key focus was on the ethical implications of using AI, particularly in academic settings and the workplace. The panel examined how AI can be responsibly integrated into coursework and professional practice, ensuring both innovation and integrity.
Career Kickstart Strategies: The discussion provided valuable career advice, particularly for those starting their AI journey, offering strategies to stand out in the competitive tech landscape.
Networking and Engagement: The panel also shared strategies on the importance of networking and personal engagement within the AI community, emphasizing how these can accelerate career growth and open doors to new opportunities.
Speed Networking: In addition to the panel, there was a speed networking session where participants shared personal journeys and experiences, further fostering connections and providing real-world insights into career development in AI.
We took the time to explain how the Supported Student Membership program can boost students' learning and career prospects. With 55 attendees, it was an event filled with connections, insights, and a lot of fun!
As we close out this month, we encourage you to get involved in our upcoming events and community initiatives. Your presence and expertise add great value, and we welcome your insights to help drive our growth. We’re excited to have you with us and look forward to your continued engagement in the months ahead.
Explore our upcoming events here.
Until next time,