I Believe I Can Fly!

The 6th annual International Young ICT Professionals Conference will be held on the 3rd and 4th of September, 2009 at the Dockside Convention Centre, Darling Harbour in Sydney Australia. This year’s theme is “Future of ICT – Lead, Transform, and Succeed“. The conference will combine a trade show and draw top ICT Professionals and Graduates in addition to international guests.

The program will provide young professionals, recent graduates and university students around the world with the techniques, skills and confidence to advance their career in Information Communications Technology (ICT). A Panel Discussion is included as part of the 2 day program.

Other speakers include:

• Dr Paul Scully-Power (Australia’s first astronaut)
• Fiona Balfour (former CIO of Qantas and Telstra)
• Graeme Wood (Founder Wotif)
• Glenn Wightwick (Director, IBM Australian Development Lab)
• Richard White (CEO and founder of CargoWise edi Pty Ltd)
• Neville Roach (Former Chairman Fujitsu Australia)
• Varun Kapur (General Manager (ANZ) – Tata Consultancy Service)
• Bianca Wirth (Green IT advocate)
• Chris Johnson (Australian National University)
• Sarma Rajaraman (CIO, Genworth Financial)
• Debbie Timmins (Australian Young Professional of the Year 2005)
• Yohan Ramasundara (Immediate Past Director, Young IT Board)
• Jill Noble (Principal, Pivotal HR)
• Mark Lloyd (A National ICT Identity and Thought Leader)
• Tom Worthington (Author of the book ‘Net Traveller’)
• Julie Irwin (A Winner of IT’s Million $ Babes Award).
• Stephen Kowal (CIO, CSC Australia)
  
  

Inspirational presentations from a world-class selection of speakers provide an invaluable opportunity that should not be missed by young professionals all around the world!

To register, please go to the Conference website at: http://www.acs.org.au/youngit/2009conference/

The Conference is supported by:

Platinum Sponsor – IBM, Gold Sponsors – Tata Consultancy Services and UTS, Silver Sponsors – Data Agility, Express IT and ACS Foundation, Bronze Sponsors – Microsoft, CSIRO and NICTA and Corporate Sponsor – McGrath Nicol

I have been following both sides of the story in media regarding the so called “racist attacks” on Indian students in Australia and the stories have left many parents worrying. I condemn the attacks but would like to throw light on a different aspect as well.

The future is surely in our hands. If we look at the history of India, it was invaded by many kings and countries in the past which brought people from different countries, religion and culture in India. The excellent story that pops up in my mind is of Parsis who came and settled in India and when summoned by the King, came with a full glass of milk, added some sugar to it and said we will dissolve (mix) in your community like sugar. They respected our culture and community and hence we respect them back. Same applies to most of other communities. If you respect them, they will respect you.

Lot of my friends have very good relationship with local people and community. They all practice a saying “you will reap what you sow”. We need to LEARN to RESPECT other culture. If something is wrong according to our culture you don’t practice it but don’t make comments about that if that is right in their culture. Respect their feelings as well. Don’t forget, we are in THEIR country.

Although this all applies, I think it is also a responsibility of the local government to provide protection to the visitors. I am sure Government will take enough steps to ensure the same as the contribution of education industry in Australia is enormous and most of the revenue comes from International students.