Member Spotlight: Neville Turbit MACS
Neville Turbit, a valued member of the ACS Technical Advisory Board, brings a global perspective and deep purpose to his volunteer work. As Australia’s representative on an international standard, his work addresses inefficiency, corruption, and waste, ensuring resources reach those who need them most. For Neville, volunteering with ACS is about more than technology - it’s about shaping a better IT future for Australia and using his expertise to create meaningful, lasting impact.
What made you want to volunteer with ACS?
I was asked to help in setting up the Project Management SIG. I was not a member at the time, and for some reason never got around to joining. After about 3 years, I was the Convener and thought it was about time I joined. I surprised everyone when they found out I was not a member.
Volunteering is all about connection, how has being part of ACS helped you build community in tech?
I became involved in Standards and have worked as an Australian representative on three ISO standards. I have a network of people from all over the world and maintain contact with them both professionally and personally.
How do you think volunteers like you help drive innovation and progress in Australia’s tech industry?
Everyone is so focused on their day job that they rarely have time to think or act to create a better IT future for Australia. It is only organisations like ACS that provide a path for people in IT, and the innovators who will give the companies of the future.
What’s something unexpected you’ve learned or gained through volunteering with ACS?
I suppose I was aware of Standards, but I thought of them as an impediment. As we move into more global activities, I have realised that to do business with another country, there must be a global approach. There must be standards that set common expectations between, say, a developer in Australia and a developer in India.
What’s the best part about knowing your time and skills are helping shape Australia’s tech future?
I am the Australian representative on a standard to provide the basis for assessing organisations' Project Management ability. Think ISO 9001 for PM. It is driven by developing nations, which see billions of dollars lost in aid through inefficiency, corruption, and waste caused by inadequate skills. If the organisation had to meet an assessable standard, many billions could reach the people it is intended to help. It is not just IT. It is projects delivering food, medicine, education and infrastructure. I have told many people that, in terms of the impact on people's lives, this is the most important thing I will ever do.