Victoria EPC 2025 Wrap-Up
The Victoria Emerging Professional Committee (EPC) works to represent the interests of ACS’s emerging professional members, from students to graduates to those in the early stages of their tech career.
2025 was a highly successful year, with multiple engaging events that delivered insights and opportunities for our VIC emerging professional members.
Hear below from Vic EPC Chair, Nayan Mahendra Jain, about his thoughts on 2025:
Left to Right: Ujjwal Sachdeva, Alannah Grech, James Quang, Akansha Pandey, Nayan M Jain (ACS V-EPC Chair), Dolly Brtan (ACS V-BEC Chair), Kelsey Capaldo, Jay Shah, Deepali Prakash, Sara Al Lawati, Rushabh Pancholi, Andrew Gurrin (not in picture).
ACS VEPC 2025 in Review: Building the Community We All Wished We Had
As we close the curtain on 2025, I find myself reflecting on the incredible momentum the ACS Victoria Emerging Professionals Committee (VEPC) has built. Our mission this year was simple yet ambitious: to foster true growth for our emerging professionals, talents, and students within the ICT sector.
We didn't just set out to host events; we set out to build a movement one that enrols passionate individuals, engages them with meaningful content, and empowers them to support the community and to take the next step in their careers.
The Heart of Our Community: Bytes & Banter Series
One of our proudest achievements this year was the launch of the Bytes & Banter series. We wanted to move beyond standard networking to create a platform that genuinely showcases the capabilities of our diverse talents and strengthen their credibility.
The community response was resounding doubling the registration numbers in the very second iteration of the event.
Crucially, Bytes and Banter became a platform which allowed us to highlight local talent, featuring an exceptionally well-received Talent Project Showcase by emerging professional Mabrur Rehman and a deep-dive knowledge session on Exploring Careers in Cybersecurity by Akansha Pandey. This series proved that when you give emerging professionals a stage, the whole community benefits.
Enabling Support Across Victoria
Our vision for a thriving ecosystem relies on consistent support at every stage of the professional journey – from secondary students to university graduates and early-career talents. Each and every committee member extended their support through a direct or indirect engagement across the year.
Throughout 2025, we focused on meeting the community where they are to provide direct support and guidance:
- Supporting the University Transition: We actively connected and engaged with students at Deakin University, RMIT University, University of Melbourne, and Victoria University.
- Inspiring the Next Generation: We worked to spark interest in tech careers early through the Victoria University Secondary College (VUSC) Y10 Career Panels and Big Day In - Melbourne 2025.
- Bridging the Industry Gap: Events like the ACS Victoria Branch Forum: Wired Debate and the Study Melbourne International Student Careers Fair allowed us to break down barriers between students and the wider industry.
Continued Growth in 2026
2025 was about laying a strong foundation and proving that this community is hungry for connection, earning and wishes to grow together. 2026 is about scaling that support. I am glad to highlight that VEPC has heard the community’s feedback and will be returning with: Bytes and Banter: 3 times in 2026 with 6 speaking spots alongside many other events and opportunities.
ACS VEPC is committed to further grow, support and strengthen the community and in becoming the true gateway to the industry for emerging professionals, providing access, knowledge, and credibility.
To everyone who volunteered, attended, spoke, or supported the community: A heart felt thank you for being an integral part of the community’s success.
Want to help shape the future of the Victorian ICT community? We are opening up more opportunities to volunteer and lead.
ACS Victoria – Opportunities Expression of Interest (EOI) Form
Well done to the Victoria EPC on a successful 2025, and good luck for 2026! If you’d like to keep up to date on what the EPC are up to, follow the ACS Victoria page here.