Canberra Monthly Wrap Up - November 24
Welcome to the October -November 2024 wrap-up from your Canberra ACS branch, highlighting the key activities and events that brought our community together and showcasing our shared achievements and memorable moments.
Canberra branch hosts Career Conversation panel
On 3 October, the ACS Canberra had the incredible opportunity to partner with the University of Canberra (UC) to deliver a panel session on Career Conversations for Women in ICT. The event was filled with inspiring discussions from our female panel speakers about breaking barriers, advancing in the tech industry, and what it takes to succeed as a female in ICT.
One of the highlights was the focus on the top 3 skills essential for building a successful career in tech:
- Technical Proficiency: Keeping up with the fast pace of tech evolution is crucial. Constantly refining your technical skills and mastering new tools and platforms can set you apart.
- Resilience: The tech industry can be challenging, but resilience allows you to navigate obstacles, handle change, and grow from setbacks.
- Networking and Mentorship: Building strong relationships, seeking mentorship and finding an advocate are invaluable for career growth. They provide guidance, open doors to opportunities, and offer support when needed.
A special thanks to our speakers:
Sam Banagala, Director, IT Technical Specialist, ATO
Vi Nguyen, Digital Strategist & CEO, Ryka Global (https://www.linkedin.com/in/vipnguyen/)
Jessica O'Meara, Former head of national government capability and innovation, Telstra
Elizabeth Kinuthia, A/g Assistant Director, Cyber Strategy and Governance, ACT Government
Thanks to the University of Canberra for their support and partnership in bringing together such an empowering event. ACS is excited to continue supporting and advocating for more women in tech.
Canberra team dives into effective communications and leadership
As part of the ACS Canberra Mentoring Program, Canberra members were fortunate to have one of the ICT leaders, Stephen Dunkerley, who has been a member of ACS for over 18 years and shared a thought-provoking presentation on effective communication and leadership packed with valuable insights.
Stephen is one of the mentors at the ACS Canberra Mentoring Program, a Patrick Lencioni licenced facilitator, and an impassioned practitioner of the servant-leader philosophy devoted to nurturing the next generation of IT executive leaders.
Some of the highlights included:
- The importance of clear, positive, plain language to motivate teams and drive performance.
- Mastering difficult conversations and truth-telling to tackle challenges, provoke learning, and enrich workplace relationships.
- Applying persuasion techniques and contrasting reasoning strategies in various contexts to influence effectively.
- The value of "starting with WHY" and adapting communication styles to resonate with diverse groups and achieve impactful results.
- Communicating with technical clarity to business leadership—bridging the gap between technical complexity and business objectives.
This event is part of the ACS Canberra Mentoring Program; we are committed to providing resources and guidance to help members develop and boost their communication & networking skills.
A big thanks to our speaker, Stephen Dunkerley, and those who contributed ideas to the discussion to make the event an enriching experience!
Applications are now open for the next round of the ACS Canberra Mentoring Program - Starting from Feb 2025. This top-rated program is considered our tech professionals' most valuable membership benefit. We encourage you to submit your application ASAP to avoid disappointment. For full details, click here.
Canberra BEC member honoured as Male Champion of Change
A huge congratulations to Kevin Landale MACS Snr CP, ACS Canberra BEC Member, who received the WIC Male Champion of Change award at the recent WIC annual debate dinner on 15 November 2025.
The WIC Male Champion of Change award recognises the efforts of a male leader in the ICT Industry in the ACT region who, through their actions and influence, has advanced gender equity. The winner also receives an honorary position on the WIC committee.
Kevin's nomination stated: “Kevin is a technology leader in Canberra known for championing diversity and inclusion. With extensive volunteer experience at ACS, ANU Techlauncher, CBRIN InnovationACT, and more, he provides insights that elevate careers.
As the youngest chair of the ACS Canberra Board, he achieved a historic 50-50 gender parity and promoted women as keynote speakers.
Kevin co-founded the ACT Health LGBTQIA+ Pride community, fostering safe, inclusive workplaces. His advocacy, mentorship, and leadership make him a respected figure in Canberra’s tech community.”
Congratulations again to Kevin.
The ACS Canberra Team engages with academy and industry at the CIT
On Wed, 13 November, the ACS team was at the CIT Industry engagement event where we got to network with academic institutions such as CIT, UC, NSW Canberra and tech industry sectors Department of Home Affairs, Cyber CX, ISACA Canberra, Microsoft, ACT Government (Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate) and many other local tech businesses.
At this event, in addition to promoting SSM, we also had the opportunity to showcase ACS certification and mySFIA tools to teachers and students.
As we reach the end of 2024, we extend a formal invitation for you to engage more deeply with our upcoming events and community initiatives. As a valued member, your presence enriches our gatherings, fostering a sense of unity and purpose. We also recognise the expertise you bring, and we encourage you to share your knowledge and insights to contribute to the growth and success of our community. Your involvement is crucial in shaping the future of our branch, and we look forward to your continued participation in the next year.
Explore our upcoming events here.
Until next time,
ACS Canberra Team | E: acs.canb@acs.org.au
Jenalle Bushby MACS CT, Canberra Branch Manager, ACS
Dr Roger Clarke FACS, Canberra Branch Chair, ACS roger.clarke@acs.org.au