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Registrations have now opened for the 2008 International Young ICT Professionals Conference. To register for the event, go to the official conference website: http://www.acs.org.au/youngit/2008conference/index.cfm

My role with the conference is as the conference chair. I must say that I am so pleased with the positive response that we (the conference committee) have received to date. The conference is something that I personally have taken so much pride in helping bring together. I am so lucky to be working with such wonderful people, who without their regular attendance to the many teleconferences we have (weekly at around 2 hours a meeting) and not to mention the amount of work done on a weekly basis, we wouldn’t be able to bring to you the wonderful conference that we can.

Honestly, if there is going to be any conference worth attending this year, it is definitely this one. Not only are the speakers the cream of the crop (the committee has tirelessly worked on ensuring that the speakers chosen were the best we could possibly get), but the whole format of the conference is top notch.

The aim of the conference is to provide those that attend with the skills to go on to develop their careers in to the leadership roles that they have always wanted. I love being inspired by people. Hearing how people got to be where they are in their career and what they did, is something that always inspires me. (If you haven’t read the Interview with an IT Professional series on this site, I recommend you do it to see where I am coming from).

Speakers

Didier Elzinga. I have interviewed Didier on this site. I have also had Didier present at the first conference I was ever involved in. Didier’s presentation was so good that everyone that watched (we got to see the animation his company has worked on) was completely blown away. Didier is so amazing, and also so friendly and down to earth.

Jo Stewart Rattray, also interviewed on my site, is another truly amazing person. Jo’s knowledge of security and her way of communicating all that she knows to everyone is honestly a joy to listen to.

Alan Noble of Google!! Google!! Did someone say GOOGLE???? Google is going to be at our conference!?!??! Honestly, having Google present is a dream come true. I wanted Google to be at the conference so badly. When I was informed that Alan Noble, Engineering Director of Google would be presenting at the conference, I was over the moon. I love Google!

Rob Thomsett… I remember when I was studying Project Management, having to study the works of Rob Thomsett. To have Rob teach us at the conference how to Project Manage our Careers is going to be a presentation that is definitely worth attending. I really look forward to listening to him.

I honestly could go on about all of the speakers at the conference (and no doubt between now and the conference, I will). For more information on the speakers, please go to the conference website. The bios for each speaker is being added regularly. The program also states the presentation title and times.

Sponsors

Without a doubt, the conference could not be what it aims to be without the support of the sponsors. I would love to publicly thank all of the sponsors (to date) for their support.

Thank you Microsoft, Government of South Australia – Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology, Google, CSIRO, JobServe, NICTA and PC Authority.

Your support with the conference will enable us to show the world what it takes to be a leader in ICT. For that I thank you!

Exhibition

As well as the conference, we will be hosting an exhibition in the foyer of the venue. On the Wednesday 28th May, we will be opening up the exhibition to the public for free. The aim of the exhibition is to attract high school students to the ICT industry.

As someone who is very passionate about the ICT industry, I love the opportunity to have this special day available for students.

Tapan Dave and Robby William are both leading the organising of the Exhibition. Tapan Dave is the SA Young IT Representative for the ACS. With Tapan and Robby in charge, I am positive that the exhibition is going to be a huge hit!

On the Thursday 29th May, the exhibition will be for conference delegates only. Anyone attending the conference will be able to speak to the many sponsors and stall holders in the foyer and discuss their careers in ICT.

Venue

The venue for the conference is the Adelaide Convention Centre. The Adelaide Convention Centre is the best location for any conference in Adelaide (and I am not just saying that because that is where the conference is located).

Adelaide Convention Centre is situated right in the heart of the City.

Just outside the conference is the train station that can take you to most places within the metropolitan area. There are hotels and shops right outside, parks, the zoo (within walking distance) and of course pubs! Adelaide is also one of the cheaper cities in Australia to visit. Your money goes a longer way when you stay in Adelaide!

Participants

This year the conference is an International one. Already we are receiving emails from people all over the world wanting to attend. In the past people have attended the conference from all over Australia.

I really look forward to meeting people not only from all over the country, but from overseas as well.

There is going to be so many opportunities for participants of the conference to get to talk and meet other people. The tea breaks and lunches, and also the Conference Dinner, are a perfect way to meet new people. Contacts that you make at the conference really can last a lifetime.

Personally, I have attended, and been involved in conferences in the past. I have made several friends that to this day keep in regular contact. It really is a wonderful opportunity to not only learn so much from the presentations, but also to gain so much by listening to the experience of the people attending the conference too.

If you have any questions at all about the conference or Adelaide in general, please leave a comment and I will answer you!

See you in May!

Sonja Bernhardt who I have previously interviewed on this site, is in the media again. This time it is to do with the Million $ Babes initiative that she has created. Sonja is a leader and a role model to men and women around the world, within the IT industry. Her passion and enthusiasm to promote the industry to the masses is something that I openly admire. I personally think Sonja is great. I look up to her as an amazing leader and am so inspired by her.

It has been a while since I have updated my blog. I have been busy with work (as everyone in IT no doubt is) and have also been very busy organising an international conference for the ACS Young IT. The conference (I will do another blog update entirely on this) is titled the 2008 International Young ICT Professionals Conference and is themed ‘Building a Successful ICT Career – Learn, Develop, Lead!’.

Since I have been so busy with the conference, I have had very little (or no) time to update my site.

Seeing Sonja’s initiative, has really inspired me again. I don’t know what she does, or how she does it, but she really makes you want to do better and to achieve more in your career.

I went to the Million $ Babes site which lists some extraordinary women who have been recognised for their achievements in the ICT industry. I have read the profiles of the women. If you haven’t seen the site, you really should go there and have a read. The profiles of all the women listed is so amazing. They have all really achieved so much in their careers and their companies are really so interesting. Good on them all I say!!

Once I started looking at the site, I couldn’t stop. It really is quite good. Already the site and the fact that it is another Sonja Bernhardt initiative, is gaining a lot of press in the media with the Sydney Morning Herald  and Computerworld all writing articles already.

Through looking through the site, I came across the page on Careers in IT  and my site was listed!!

Seeing my site on there has made me so happy! That is the real reason why this post (after such a long break) is up. Thank you Sonja, you have inspired me once again.

Recently I saw the movie ‘The Devil Wears Prada’. Although the movie was not IT related at all, the work ethics in the movie could be found in any industry. I can’t imagine working for such a demanding boss as was played by Meryl Streep, but I could easily imagine myself spending a majority of my time working in order to boost my career.

I have always been determined to have a successful career. Sometimes being so focussed on one thing can also mean that other things in your life come to a halt. I believe in order to have a successful career, one needs to find a balance. Working endless hours day after day can only lead to early burn out. Knowing how to spend your time, and being able to spread yourself out will not only lead to a more fulfilling personal life, but will also result in a more rewarding career. Make time to be with the people that you care about. Do the things that you enjoy. Learn to relax.

I really enjoyed the movie. My intention always was to read the book first, and then watch the movie. Being so busy all the time meant that the movie came first. I actually found it a real eye opener. My goal this Friday is to take the night off. No computer, no emails, possibly no phone (it will be there, I just won’t answer it). It feels great! I am really looking forward to it. When was the last time you actually took time off and spent it doing the things you loved?

There is a quote at the start of the book ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ by Lauren Weisberger that I found amusing. The quote is actually by Henry David Thoreau, Walden 1854, and he says ‘Beware of all enterprises that require new clothes’. I have only started reading the book (read the first chapter last night), but if the movie is anything to go by, I am sure I will really enjoy it.

In your quest for a successful career, never forget who you are, and always remember the people in your lives that matter.

Today I presented at the Careers-On-The-Go event at University of South Australia. It was great to get out there and talk to the students. I also enjoyed presenting. I was nervous beforehand but felt good once I started speaking (and remembered to breathe).

If you went to the Careers-On-The-Go event, I hope you liked what I had to say. If you are here for the first time, please have a read of my blog. It has been going since the end of February, so is several pages long. Each page has about 10 journal entries on it. Comments are always appreciated. If you wish to leave a comment on any of the journal entries, please do so. If you like what you see then please bookmark the site (or add it to an RSS feed).

Off to Melbourne

For the next few days I will be in Melbourne. I will be arriving Wednesday night and returning back on Sunday night. While I am away I will be attending the ACS National Young IT Conference (Thursday and Friday) and also the National Young IT Board meeting (Saturday and Sunday). As such there will be no Guild Wars playing until I return!?!

I am looking forward to the trip. It will be great to catch up with everyone from all over the country. It will also be good to meet up with new people that will be attending the Conference. I have made some excellent friends from attending the ACS Young IT Conferences.

I shall be taking my laptop while I am away (there is no way I could go without it). I should be able to update my journal with all that is happening. That is of course depending on how much free time I manage to get.

1. Mentors. Mentors can provide invaluable advice. Don’t limit yourself to just one mentor either.

Throughout my career I have relied on people senior to me to be my mentor. It is a good idea to have several mentors if possible. By mentor I refer to someone that you can go to in order to ask advice. Someone that you can trust to talk about your career, and is able to offer advice on what paths you need to take in order for you to obtain the success that you desire. Mentors are valuable people to have throughout your whole career, not just at the start.

2. Work Experience. To succeed in IT, the more skills you have, the better. If (for whatever reason) you cannot gain employment in your chosen field, develop programs, web site solutions, or help set up and maintain computers for friends and family. Any work experience you gain will help lead to future employment.

3. Network. Networking can be a very important tool throughout your career. You never know if the person you met at a function will be your next employer. Networking is also a great way to make new friends that share similar interests as you.

4. Plan. Plan what you want to do with your career, and how you expect to get there. Knowing what you want to achieve makes it a lot easier than if you have no idea as to where you want to go and what you want to accomplish. Make a plan of how you want your career to progress, and come up with small steps that will help you achieve your goals.

5. Work/life balance. Remember to set aside time for friends, family, and any outside interests or hobbies. Having a balanced work/life will lead to a longer, more fulfilling career.

Whether you are a student thinking about a career in IT, are already studying IT, have graduated, or are secure in your job, you should always think about the direction your career is headed. I believe that it pays to be active in the community. While I studied I volunteered as the student representative for the ACS. It is a role that I am really grateful that I took on. By the time I had graduated I was able to demonstrate that I wasn’t just a high achieving student, but I was also active in the community. Being involved in whatever organisation and promoting what you love is only going to benefit you.

When I first became the student representative I was shy and really felt overwhelmed talking to professionals in the industry. Having to attend all the meetings, conferences, and events allowed me to overtime overcome my shyness and allowed me to feel comfortable talking to people who I now feel I share a common interest with.

The skills gained from being the student representative (and later Deputy Chair of the SA ACS Branch Committee and Deputy Director of the National Young IT Board) added to the technical skills I had. One thing that I have learnt while working in the IT industry is that regardless of your technical skills, you will always need strong communication skills. So many projects require you to be able to communicate effectively (whether written or verbal) to a variety of people.

Whether you are going for a job interview, or going for a promotion, by being involved in the industry and taking the initiative to further the skills you have, you will stand out and be noticed. People that love what they do and are enthusiastic and motivated are always remembered.

If you are studying and want to do more, join a club, form a committee, and become an ambassador. There are so many options out there. A lot of universities have computer clubs. If they don’t, start one! One computer club that I am aware of is the Flinders Computer & Robotics Society. The computer club is always holding events for students to come together and network with one another. If you study IT at Flinders University make sure you attend some of the events and workshops put on by the computer club.

The ACS also has Ambassadors at all of the Universities and TAFE colleges around the country. If there isn’t an Ambassador at your campus then become one! The ACS Young IT web site has details about becoming an Ambassador. The role of the Ambassador is very similar to the role I had as the student representative, only now the role is spread amongst other students. Being involved is a great way to get to know other students studying at the various campuses around your state/territory.

If you are a professional there are so many workshops and special interest groups that are held on a regular basis (mostly in the evenings, but some are held during the day too). Attending presentations in your key field will keep you up to date with the latest technologies.

Well, I hope I have managed to motivate you if you weren’t already. Hopefully I will see you at a conference, workshop or event sometime in the future!

deb.foocode.net

I have been asked to present at the Careers-On-The-Go event at the University of South Australia on April 17, 2007. Presentations are the one thing I probably feel the most nervous about. It is also the one thing I am determined to do and not back down on because of a fear of public speaking. It is funny but growing up I was always on stage performing. Now that I am in IT I find the thought of standing in front of an audience and talking, something that scares me. I am sure with time the nerves will go away.

I have exactly one month until the presentation. I better get cracking on what I am going to talk about. I figure the more prepared I am, the less likely I am to be nervous on the day. I have been asked to talk about myself, my career and my role with the ACS. I should be able to come up with 30 minutes of stuff to talk about. I will have to mention my blog at least once during the presentation

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In an attempt to search Google to see if my blog has been found, I came across a link that took me to an article I helped write for Hobsons Grad Careers

I helped write the article late last year. I believe that the article is to be used in a magazine/booklet for Graduates.

At the time that I helped write the article I had just accepted the position of Systems Analyst. Prior to that I had been a programmer for 2 years full time (and 4 years previously while I studied). The line in the article about programmers not having to remain programmers their whole career was really due to how I was feeling at the time.

It is true though, it is amazing where your career can take you and what paths you may go down. I started as a programmer. To this day I love being involved in all things technical, but I started to feel that I enjoyed it more as a hobby than a career.

My Systems role is pretty challenging to me. I am still learning the ropes and also learning how not to be a programmer (at least during the day). A career in IT really can take you any where!

I would love to hear stories of where your IT career has taken you. If you are not too shy, and you are happy to share, please drop me a comment

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