Canberra Branch News & Updates – Aug & Sept 2025
23 Sept 2025 | By Jenalle Bushby, Canberra Branch Manager
Highlights
It's been a busy few weeks at ACS Canberra with various events and programs taking place. From masterclasses to leadership breakfasts, the team engaged and connected with IT professionals to support their career and growth.
- Welcoming a group of under-represented women
- Final Tech Masterclass series delivered to APSC participants
- International Cyber Collaboration with RMIT (CCSRI)
- The drivers of transformation on 16 Spet 2025 was a success
- Upcoming Leadership breakast on 28 Oct 2025
Here are the key highlights:
Welcoming a group of under-represented women: This September, we welcomed a group of under-represented women into ACS membership. As part of the Stepping Stone Social Impact Program and Strategic Initiatives, they will participate in three days of Tech Savvy Training with ACS Canberra.
Final Tech Masterclass series delivered to APSC Supported Pathway programs: On 3 September, ACS Canberra successfully hosted our final Tech Masterclass for APSC, engaged with 144 members, with 53% attended event.
International Cyber Collaboration: ACS Canberra partnered with the RMIT Centre for Cyber Security Research and Innovation (CCSRI) to host 25 cyber professionals from Indonesia for three days as part of the Australia Awards program. The event showcased inspiring collaboration and knowledge-sharing between Australia and Indonesia. *This engagement was introduced by Professor Matt Warren FACS CP, the Director of the RMIT CCSRI, who is a fellow and board member of ACS in Victoria.
Trust, purpose, culture, and leadership: It was a fantastic opportunity to come together and explore The True Drivers of Transformation on 16 Sept at the ACS Canberra Hub,
A big thank you to everyone who joined us, and especially to our inspiring speakers:
> Tony Castley, Chief Transformation Officer, Clean Energy Regulator
> Lin Hatfield Dodds, Non-executive Chair & Director, values-led leader & former CEO in social policy
Key Takeaways:
Trust is the foundation: Without trust from stakeholders, transformation loses momentum.
Purpose-driven leadership & social legitimacy: Leaders grounded in clear values align teams and communities more effectively.
Psychological safety & engagement: Change thrives when people feel safe to speak up, experiment, fail, and learn.
Balancing governance & agility: Strong structures and oversight can and should coexist with flexibility and adaptability.
Shared lessons across sectors: Regulatory and social sectors may face different pressures, but both show us how to deliver transformation with integrity and impact.
Special thanks also to our ACS Canberra Branch Chair Annie Ryan FCPA, MAHRI, MACS Snr CP for facilitating such a thoughtful discussion especially the self-reflections.
Once again, thank you to TBF Digital for sponsoring and supporting the ACS (Australian Computer Society), and to everyone who contributed to the conversation. Your energy, questions, and reflections made this breakfast more than an event; it was a chance to pause, learn, and grow together as a community.
Book your ticket for our ACS next Leadership breakfast: Empowering productivity through leadership (28 Oct 2025):
Click here to register now!
Join us to hear from Charles McHardie, Chief Information and Digital Officer, A/c CEO, Services Australia, and Kylie Watson, Head of Cyber Security, DXC Technology, as we discuss trust, scale & impact through emerging technologies while empowering productivity through leadership.
Find out more about ways we can work with you, contact us: acs.canb@acs.org.au
About the ACS Canberra Hub
The ACS Hub is a custom-built space for members to meet, collaborate, and attend events. Meeting rooms are also available for hire by both members and non-members.
📅 Book a room or find out more about upcoming events and member benefits.