This interactive panel for students from The University of Melbourne's Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology (FEIT) explores what it takes to succeed as an international graduate entering the Australian workforce. Industry leaders will unpack the unwritten expectations of Australian workplace culture, the factors that influence hiring decisions beyond technical skills, and practical ways students can position themselves for success.
Delivered in partnership with Ask Community, a professional network led by Nirajit Syamal (Education Leader, Asia Pacific – Dassault Systèmes), the panel will be moderated by Nirajit and feature Melbourne-based STEM professionals from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds.
Building on the success of FEIT's Australian Grad Job Readiness Program, this event brings together a broad range of industry perspectives to provide practical, real-world advice.
Panellists will share what employers value in globally minded graduates, discuss workplace onboarding, inclusion and the skills needed for career success, and offer practical strategies for resumes, LinkedIn profiles and networking. Students will gain actionable insights to strengthen their employability and navigate the Australian graduate job market with greater confidence.
Global Youth Advisor (OECD Youthwise) and Asia Pacific South Education Leader for Dassault Systèmes
Nirajit Syamal is a Global Youth Advisor at OECD Youthwise and industry speaker who delivers graduate readiness programs across Australia and Southeast Asia. Nirajit also works full time as the Asia Pacific South Education Leader for Dassault Systèmes.
People Advisory Team Manager at Jemena
Simon is a Melbourne-based HR leader and People Advisory Team Manager at Jemena. Passionate about creating human-centered workplaces, he specializes in people leadership, business transformation, and building psychological resilience in teams.
General Manager at Engineers Australia, Victoria
Jerry is the General Manager at Engineers Australia Victoria. With 30 years of global leadership experience across regulated professional bodies, he specializes in membership strategy, digital experience design, and driving organizational growth and engagement.
Director at Trafficworks Pty Ltd
Kate Kennedy is a Director at Trafficworks Pty Ltd and Deputy President of the Victoria Division at Engineers Australia. A champion for inclusive workplaces and STEM initiatives, she specializes in traffic engineering, road safety, and advancing diversity in the engineering sector.
Founder & CEO of Great Monkey Innovation Group
Eva is an active leader in the Australian AI and startup ecosystem. A former AI Lead with a Master of Data Science from the University of Melbourne, she specializes in AI automation, AI education technology, and building practical, human-centered AI systems for businesses and emerging talent.
AI/ML Engineer and current international student in the Master of Computer Science
Lisa is an AI/ML Engineer and international student in the Master of Computer Science at the University of Melbourne. Combining a background in machine learning, natural language processing, and systems software engineering, she specializes in transformer architectures, LLM fine-tuning, and building reliable, high-performance AI systems and brings her perspective as a current international student to the panel.
