Grad Girls Virtual Tech Panel #3- Trends in Tech & Emerging Technologies
Description
Join us for Virtual Tech Panel 3. This session looks at where the tech industry is heading, what skills actually matter, and how grads can position themselves early - whether you're coming from a technical background or considering a career change.
We'll cover:
Emerging tech trends shaping how companies build and grow
Where the real opportunities are for graduates right now
Transferable skills that matter in IT and tech more broadly
What it actually takes to grow quickly early in your career
Honest advice for women and gender-diverse students unsure where to start
What nobody tells you about working in tech before you start
📅 Wednesday 5 August 2026
⏰ 6:00pm - 7:30pm AEST
📍 Online (Zoom link sent in confirmation email)
Exclusive to all Grad Girls participants, partners & mentors
Lineup
Ele Marie De Guzman
Title: Technical Lead - IFM Investors A passionate Software Engineer with 20 years of experience building impactful digital products. With a career that is driven by a deep love for coding, continuous learning, and solving complex problems with technology. I am excited to connect with the next generation of tech talent and share real-world insights from my journey in the software industry.
Rebecca Rizzo
Rebecca Rizzo is currently the Executive General Manager of Marketing, Product and Brand at Aussie Broadband. She has worked in the Tech and Start Up world for over 20 years with previous roles at carsales.com Ltd. Supporting businesses from their Start Up to ASX Fast100/200 listed era's is where her experience lies. She was recently named on B&T's The Women Leading Tech Power List. Customer centric, and passionate about continuous improvement, Rebecca is a leader who is not afraid to look for a better way and unafraid to champion gender diversity in the workplace.
Akasha Jenkins-Jaiswal
Akasha Jenkins-Jaiswal is an emerging leader in the IT industry, currently serving as the Frontline Service Desk Team Leader at Unified IT. Since joining the business in August 2025 as an IT Support Technician, Akasha has quickly built a reputation for technical capability, strong customer service, and a proactive, solutions-focused mindset. With a Diploma of Information Technology from Torrens University, Akasha brings a solid foundation across core IT disciplines including Active Directory, Microsoft 365, networking, and cybersecurity. Prior to joining Unified IT, he supported large-scale environments of over 800 users and more than 1,500 devices, gaining hands-on experience in troubleshooting, infrastructure management, and system deployment. His ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders has been a key driver in his rapid career progression. Akasha’s leadership style is grounded in collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement. In his current role, he leads frontline service delivery, mentoring support technicians while ensuring consistent, high-quality outcomes for clients.
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
