What did you study?
Bachelor of Laws majoring in Corporate/Commercial Law
When did you graduate?
2023
Do you identify with a particular tribe or people?
Gunaikurnai on the matriarchal bloodlines, Yuin on my Pop’s side
Where did you grow up?
I grew up all over the country. I have lived in 30+ places and went to 11 schools. I spent a lot of time on the country in the Nowra/Wreck Bay area and a lot of time in Rural Australia around Lightning Ridge.
How did you get to your current job position?
I was told by an Indigenous coordinator at university about the role I’m in now and I started in September 2020.
Did you face obstacles as an indigenous student/graduate?
My Indigenous heritage has been a major factor in my studying and working life. I was able to obtain an Indigenous scholarship at university to live at college. This enabled me to actually live in Sydney and study on campus which wouldn’t have been possible otherwise. Career-wise, the CareerTrackers program has given me invaluable experience thus far with professional development and finding internships at Tier 1 companies. This opportunity has meant I’ve worked at various banks and multinationals and seen how these companies run internally and what it takes to make it in the corporate world.
How did you choose your specialisation (compared to others)?
I’ve changed my degree’s three times and still not sure where I see my long-term career heading but I really enjoy the work I’m doing now and the role I have here at Fujitsu.
What was your interview process like?
The interview process was standard STAR responses, as well as just back and forth questions with my interviewer, who is now my manager. If it wasn’t for CareerTrackers I don’t think I would’ve been well versed on what STAR responses are or how to answer them, so I am grateful for those professional development days.
What does your employer do?
Fujitsu partners with customers to consult, design, build, operate and support business solutions. From strategic consulting to application and infrastructure solutions and services, Fujitsu has earned a reputation as the single supplier of choice for leading government and corporate organisations throughout Australia.
What are your areas of responsibility?
I work in Responsible Business. This encompasses a range of areas including supplier diversity, environmental sustainability and charity partnerships, virtually all things CSR. I mainly focus on Fujitsu’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Program and working out how to meet our commitments as a company, as well as how we could do better in this area.
Can you describe a typical workday?
I typically focus on how to meet RAP objectives and things we can do as a company to increase Indigenous participation in the ICT sector. Currently, I’m working on the Cultural Training Strategy, as well as drafting the new Innovate RAP, which will launch in June 2021. The Cultural Training Strategy is going to be extremely important going forward. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia have such a rich history that is often overlooked and undertaught and this is a really important initiative in spreading awareness.
What are the career prospects with your job?
From working on the RAP, you could go into Diversity more broadly. It’s a really growing sector and crucial to any company.
What would your career be if you weren’t doing what you’re doing now?
Investment Banking. Still a really enticing career but being Aboriginal I find a lot of satisfaction in what I do now and that’s really important in a job.
What do you love the most about your job?
I like that what I’m doing has real world effects and it helps other mob progress. Too many of my siblings, cousins and other family members see the corporate world as unattainable and work like mine is helping to bridge that gap.
What’s the biggest limitation of your job?
The biggest limitation to my job is obviously funding. With chance creation in a sector like tech financial restrictions obviously dictate a lot of our capabilities but that’s where being creative and resourceful comes in and our mob are nothing if not resourceful.
Which three pieces of advice would you give to Indigenous students nearing graduation?
Take any opportunity you’re given, don’t be afraid of people’s roles and titles and ask questions, nothing is too dumb to ask.