NSW Member Spotlight: Grant Engelbrecht
In this Member Spotlight, we feature Grant Engelbrecht, whose lifelong curiosity about “how things work” sparked a career that’s evolved alongside technology itself. From early programming on a Sinclair ZX81 to tackling today’s challenges in cloud-native systems and AI, Grant shares how curiosity, adaptability, and strong communication skills have guided his journey through an ever-changing tech landscape.
Looking back at the start of your career, what first drew you into technology, and how has that changed or evolved?
Curiosity has always drawn me to technology. Wondering “how things work” or “how do they get ‘that’ to happen?” fuelled that initial curiosity which led me to programming on an early Sinclair ZX81 and then on to later languages as technology evolved over the years.
With technology changing at such a rapid pace, over the course of my career the move from monolithic, tightly controlled systems to distributed, cloud-native architectures and now the new realm of AI opens incredible opportunities, but it’s also made things infinitely more complex. The fact that today we can spin up agentic global services in minutes is amazing. But with that comes the challenge of keeping it observable, secure, accessible and reliable. There’s always a new challenge to solve.
What have been some of the biggest turning points or shifts in your career, and how did you navigate those changes?
Moving into pre-sales consulting and later team leadership from my earlier technical roles seemed like a shift at the time, but in hindsight, really a natural progression. I found myself really enjoying the conversations with customers, understanding their challenges and translating complex technical concepts into practical solutions. My development and delivery background has been invaluable there. When a customer says, “Our app is slow, but we don’t know why,” I can empathise because I’ve been in the trenches diagnosing those exact problems. It builds credibility and makes the solutions we propose feel grounded, not theoretical.
Are there particular ACS programs, events, or opportunities that helped you take the next step in your career?
I owe my start in IT to an ACS Fellow, Derrick Davey, who was pivotal in the Computer Industry Training Program back in the early 90s. This joint government initiative jump started many development careers, including my own, outside of the normal formal degree pathways at the time.
The ACS membership over the years has allowed me to attend a range of in-person events enabling me to keep up with technology and providing valuable networking opportunities.
What advice would you share with others in tech who may be considering different career directions or exploring new opportunities within the field?
My advice would be, “don’t be afraid to follow your curiosity”, even if it takes you somewhere unexpected. My career has traversed programming, testing, monitoring and observability, and into pre-sales engineering. I found that each step has added a layer that made the next one possible. The key is to keep learning and not box yourself into thinking you must follow a “straight path.” Technology evolves so quickly that adaptability is just as valuable as deep expertise. And don’t underestimate the investment the soft skills of listening, explaining, and collaborating which will take you as far as technical know-how.
What advice would you share with others in tech who may be considering different career directions or exploring new opportunities within the field?
A sense of curiosity is, in my opinion, crucial for every profession, but it is possibly even more so in IT. Because technology evolves so quickly, it requires an enquiring mind to stay current and deliver outcomes based on what is not only available now but also in the future. Albert Einstein's remark "The important thing is not to stop questioning" emphasises the value of curiosity, continuous inquiry, and a lifelong learning mindset for growth.
Beyond curiosity, the art and ability of storytelling and empathy also helps us to connect at a more human level and may sometimes be the difference between being someone who 'knows something' and 'someone who can influence direction, shape strategy, and guide others'.
Our Member Spotlight series celebrates the diverse and evolving career journeys of ACS members, showcasing how they’ve navigated change, seized new opportunities, and shaped the tech landscape. Each story highlights how ACS has supported their growth through skills development, networking, and professional guidance.