Tech enthusiasts eager for a career in Information Communication Technology (ICT) will be given a special insight into the sector’s diverse and dynamic world at a free careers day at Bond University tomorrow (Tuesday May 12).
The I Choose Technology Conference will provide students and teachers with exposure to industry leaders experienced in cutting edge industry elements including virtual mapping, visual effects, innovative sales and marketing and artificial intelligence.
Professor Iain Morrison, Head of Bond University’s School of Information Technology, said the free seminars will enable students to understand the increasing importance of IT in its everyday applications, its role in the economy, and of the broad range of fulfilling career and employment opportunities enabled by an IT qualification.
“We have over the past few years been hampered in recognising this through historic stereotypes of an ‘IT’ career,’’ he said.
“The Information Economy is very real and IT career options now range from traditional software design, database and operations through to exciting new areas in Business Intelligence, Media, and Process Automation through Information, Technology and Channel Management.”
The sector can be rewarding in more ways than one, said Prof Morrison.
“The US Government recently predicted looking forward several years that nearly half of all well paid employment opportunities would be in IT.’’
Registration for the careers day is at Bond University’s Princeton Room at 8.30am with the seminars starting at 9am.
Mike Jones, an engineer in Google's Sydney Research and Development centre, will speak at the careers day about what it's like to work at Google, and share some technical information about his specialist area, Google Maps.
Mr Jones will also discuss some significant projects he's been involved with, including Google's Santa Tracker map and Google Australia’s Flash map – remarkably developed over one weekend - in response to the Victoria bush fires.
Kirsty Garrett, Director of Valintus and chair of the Australian Information Industry Association, said the ICT industry played a major role in the state’s economy.
“There’s over 7,000 registered IT businesses in Queensland,’’ said Ms Garrett, another guest speaker.
“And there’s also a workforce of around 70,000 throughout Queensland that also enables operations to exist in many other areas like mining.
“It’s a $29 billion industry for Queensland, and the diversity of roles in IT has changed so much over the last 10 years: it’s no longer about programming, bits and bytes and hardware.
“(IT) is now much more closely aligned with business.’’
Prof Morrison said it was difficult to predict key growth areas in ICT, but expected healthcare, community and government service delivery to figure prominently
I Choose Technology Conference guest speakers
Google (Michael Jones)
The technical lead for Google’s Maps API for Flash. The engineer is based in Sydney where he works from the Maps Developer Platform group.
Prior to Google Mr Jones explored virtual reality as an academic and virtual anatomy as a clinical scientists in the UK’s National Health Service.
Valintus (Kirsty Garrett)
Director of Valintus and chair of the Australian Information Industry Association, Ms Garrett has held executive positions in general management, business development, international marketing, communications and public relations.
She has built large and geographically dispersed teams with an international market focus during her time with Hewlett-Packard and Mincom.
My CyberTwin (Dr John Zakos and Tracy Whitelaw)
Tracy is Chief Knowledge Engineer at MyCyberTwin, a Gold Coast-based company which develops artificial intelligence systems for a number of large corporations.
MyCyberTwin’s aim is to give every person and company the ability to create an advanced artificial intelligence to represent them online.
Photon VFX (Marcus Wells)
Mr Wells has worked and studied in visual effects since 1995, including time at London post-house, Cinesite.
Since 2001, Mr Wells has worked in various management and operational positions on projects including the film Australia, Superman Returns, House of Wax, Ghost Ship and Scooby Doo.