Hi Everyone,
For those of you that don’t know me, my name is Michelle Sandford and I am the Chairman of the ACS in WA. I work for Microsoft and I sit on several Advisory Boards, mostly helping the education sector ready the next generation for working in tech.
Our Branch Manager asked me to share a few words on the current crisis. So here they are:
We are living in dark and dangerous times and I know that many people are suffering. We have seen whole sectors disrupted, many have lost their income, and even for those who’s employment has been seemingly unimpacted – the stress, the anxiety, the working conditions (hiring freezes, wage cuts, enforced sabbaticals, childcare, home office conditions, bandwidth) – are causing us all to feel the pain.
But we who work in technology are Creatives, World Builders, Legacy Leavers. We were not placed here on this rock hurtling through space to grind. We are here to make a difference. Because of the work we have done over the last few months people are connected – to each other and to the internet. They are collaborating, and engaging in a work-from-anywhere modern workplace. Blockers that had held industry back have been overcome in a matter of weeks, and a new way of working has burst forth. We have enabled people to work from anywhere in those industries that do not require a physically hands-on approach. We have opened a more diverse education to anyone with an internet connection and a laptop. And Conferences and Events have made their content free. At ACS we have a 6 month fee hiatus in place, to allow people the time and space to get back on their feet. We have opened-up Free Certification Assessments to all Associate Members. And more and more content is being put online to help members stay up to date with knowledge and trends, retaining their professionalism in difficult times.
We are part of an industry that enables and connects people. We have the power in our hands to do stuff that can help those around us. We have much to be proud of, and even more we can do. But… my final message to you all, is very simple: Be Kind to one another.
Michelle Sandford, Chairman of the ACS in WA