60 seconds with Shervie Maramot, 2016 ACS Student Ambassador

State your name and where you work (and/or University).
My name is Shervie Maramot and I’m in my fifth year at Monash University studying a double degree comprising of a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Law. I am also part of the ACS Young IT Committee and an incoming ACS Student Ambassador in 2016.

How long have you been in IT? (or been involved in)
I began my career in IT in 2015 as a Consultant Intern at IBM in the ANZ Banking Group Account.

What do you see are the challenges in IT today?
The biggest challenge in IT today is disconnect between professionals in the industry, as well as disconnect between professionals and students transitioning from university to the workforce.

What are you hoping to achieve as an ACS Student Ambassador?
It is my aim to bridge the gaps between students and professionals. I want to be able to share the advantages that I have as a member of ACS to my peers at university, and how they too can continue to grow and find support within a community.

Do you have any inspiring words of wisdom for young people wanting to work in IT?
Continue to possess a curious mind and collaborate more. It is with our different perspectives and multitude of experiences that we can achieve true innovation that powers a better working world.

What is your hope for the IT industry?
I hope to see more women in the IT industry to encourage fresh perspectives and experiences that can only add to greater innovation.

Why would you encourage others to become more involved in ACS?
The ACS provides a connection and supportive network between organisations, professionals and students. By being a member I have access to a wealth of information on the industry and how I can continue to develop and grow my skill set through programs and mentorship from experienced professionals.

What other industry initiatives and groups are you involved in?
I am the Partnerships Manager for Robogals Monash– a chapter of the global not-for-profit organisation, Robogals, which aims to encourage more women to participate in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). We strive towards this goal by teaching basic programming on EV3 Lego Mindstorms to children in primary and secondary schools across Victoria.