NSW Monthly Wrap Up - March 2025

Welcome to the March 2025 wrap-up from your NSW branch, highlighting the key activities and events that brought our community together and showcasing our shared achievements and memorable moments. 

ACS NSW hosts successful Emerging Professional event and celebrates Google Scholarship Program

On Wednesday 19 March, ACS NSW Emerging Professional Committee (EPC) hosted their first event of 2025 at the Sydney Hub.

Bringing together over sixty enthusiastic and engaging emerging professionals eager to explore multiple pathways to launch and accelerate their professional career, while also celebrating the dedication to professional learning and development of five NSW attendees from the ACS Google Scholarships Program 2024.

 

The event kicked off with a warm welcome from our two EPC members (Hendra Lim & Michael Lee) facilitating the event as MC’s. Before attendees then heard first-hand experiences and insights from our six incredible and diverse panellists: 

  • Clare Xu, Corporate Strategy Advisor at Wesfarmers

  • Ida Victoria Konradsen, Customer Success Manager at LEAP Strategies

  • Kalyan Pandey, IT Service Delivery Analyst at Charter Hall

  • Sangeetha Ravisankar, Senior Data Analyst – Audit & Assurance at PKF Sydney & Newcastle 

  • Noah Pincini, Cybersecurity & Privacy Consultant at PwC Australia

  • Vivian Shen, Software Engineer at Google, Toastie Co-Founder

 

Entry pathways to an IT career 

During the panel discussion, and considering our diverse panellist and the different entry pathways to launch their career, there was some common themes on:

  1. Adaptability to manage change

  2. Commitment to professional learning & development

  3. Focus on people skills development 

 

Celebrating ACS Google Scholarship Program 2024

The panel discussion was followed with lots of questions for our panellists, offering deeper insights into how each panelist navigated uncertainty, leveraged mentorship, and cultivated networking opportunities to progress their career. With the event wrapped up and started with, the opportunity for attendees to network and connect.

ACS NSW Branch was also proud to recognise and celebrate five NSW participants of the ACS Google Scholarships Program 2024 for their dedication and commitment to professional learning and development.

The celebration included an invite to ACS NSW Emerging Professional event – Your Career Path: Listen and learn from Emerging Professionals – with attendees excited to have the opportunity to network and engage with the ACS Google Scholarship Program 2024 attendees.

ACS recently launched its third year of the ACS Google Scholarship Program, and we look forward to engaging and celebrating the commitment of our members professional learning and development.

The Big Day In Inspires hundreds of high school students to explore tech careers

The Big Day In made its way to Sydney on 18-19 March, bringing together hundreds of high school students eager to explore careers in technology. 

Our IT intern, Zack Tauhore, generously volunteered his time to staff the ACS booth, engaging with attendees and highlighting the wide range of career pathways available for young people in the tech industry.

Additionally, ACS member Noah Pincini from our NSW Emerging Professionals Committee took centre stage to share his inspiring journey within the tech sector.  

His presentation captivated students, offering valuable insights and motivating them to pursue their own tech careers. 

ACS’s support of the Big Day In aims to inspire and educate the next generation of tech professionals, aligning with our mission to grow and nurture the future talent pipeline for the tech industry.

Learn more about Big Day In: https://www.thebigdayin.com.au

Former Prime Minister visits Sydney Hub

This March ACS was honoured to welcome to the Sydney Tech Hub the Hon John Howard AC and The Hon David Coleman MP - Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs. 

The roundtable discussion was hosted by our Corporate Affairs and Public Policy team led by Director Troy Steer and included leaders from industry in finance, technology and other fields. 

It was truly fascinating to hear from Mr Howard and learn from his time in office as one of Australia’s longest serving Prime Ministers. 

Mr Coleman gave an update on current world affairs, ACS is pleased to continue our long standing relationship with David and look forward to working with him in his new shadow portfolio. 

Shadow Ministers visit ACS Sydney

ACS CEO Josh Griggs was pleased to welcome back to our Sydney Tech Hub Senator the Hon Jane Hume - Shadow Minister for Finance and Shadow Special Minister of State for a roundtable discussion on the economy, tech, AI regulation, investment and the upcoming federal government election.

 We were delighted to be joined by the Hon Andrew Constance - Candidate for Gilmore and the Hon Marise Payne, along with many leaders in business and technology.

 Josh spoke of the work ACS is doing in skills, AI, cyber and the importance of tech to the economy. Senator Hume gave a detailed overview the opposition’s plan for the economy and how important tech is to Australia’s future along with other topics of interest.

 We thank the Shadow Minster, Andrew and Marise for taking the time to visit ACS. We look forward to continuing to work on developing good policy for both opposition and government into the future.

Kaplan O-week in Sydney

To support one of our newer national Education Partners, Kaplan Business School, the Community and National Partnerships teams attended orientation days across the country.

 In Sydney, this was an opportunity for ACS New South Wales Manager, Elana Huthnance, to talk to IT and Business Analytics students (Bachelors and Masters) as they start their studies of the role ACS can play for their ongoing professional and career development across their career.

As we conclude this month’s review, 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 months ahead.

Explore our upcoming events here.  

 

ACS New South Wales Team

Elana Huthnance, NSW State Manager 
Cindy Chung, NSW BEC Chair