Dr Christobel Ferguson

Good morning, presiding Chancellor, Vice Chancellor, the Dean, University Secretary and Director of GSU, the Professor of the Academic Board, distinguished guests and graduating academics. I’d also like to acknowledge the Aboriginal owners of the land on which we meet, the Gadigal people of the Eora nation, and pay my respects to the Elders, both past and present. It is a truly great honour for me to speak with you today. 

A little over 30 years ago, I also sat where you are sitting now, and I must say, on somewhat harder looking seats. When I graduated as a biomedical science student from this university, it was still called the Institute of Technology. However, there is one thing that has remained the same, I believe, since that time, and it is the unerring commitment of this university to equip and prepare young students with skills that will enable them to go out into the world and successfully make your own way. That is what attracted me to this university in the first place, and I’m sure it’s one of the reasons many of you are sitting here now. 

So, firstly, I would like to congratulate all of you today for achieving your qualifications in the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology at UTS. This qualification is one you should be justifiably proud of, and I know as well as technical skills, in the course of your studies, you will have picked up many other life skills. Things like communication, collaboration, knowledge sharing, creative thinking and teamwork. My advice to you is that you view this achievement as the beginning of a lifelong journey into learning. Because in some ways, a degree is a little bit like a Swiss army knife. It’s a great multifunctional tool – you can use it every day, there’s lots of uses for it, it can take you in many different directions – but it won’t be the only tool you’re going to need in this fast-paced technology and data-driven world. Even predicting what tools you’re going to need in the next 30 years or so of your career, it’s an incredibly difficult task. When I graduated, there was no internet. No one I knew owned a computer or a mobile phone, and almost all my assignments were handwritten with a pen. So yes, I know. I am ancient. At least we weren’t carving it on stone tablets. Anyway, while the extent of change has been significant, one thing that is guaranteed is that it won’t be any different for you. 
The world in 30 years’ time will look vastly different to what it is today. So, rather than trying to predict what you should be doing or what you will be doing or what tools you are going to learn in the next 20 years, I thought I would share with you now a few life skills that have helped me to continue to succeed in our ever-changing world. And the first of these, and the most important, I believe, is a willingness to learn. It’s a fundamental truth that no matter how smart you are or how much you know, there’s always going to be something new to learn. And having the curiosity to want to learn new things and develop new skills, I believe, is the essential key to being able to continuously reinvent yourself and enable you to have a successful and rewarding career. 

This might involve additional study; it might be as simple as teaching yourself how to learn a new language or play a musical instrument. It might be learning to touch type in your spare time. It could be something completely unrelated to your actual chosen career. But you never know when these things will come in handy, and so, don’t be afraid to try new things, because while you might fail and mistakes are inevitable, it is the challenge and the learning experience that will sometimes provide you with the biggest opportunity to learn something absolutely new and amazing. Another key skill is being adaptable. 

Having the ability to respond flexibly and positively to changing circumstances is a characteristic that will enable you to make the most of opportunities that present themselves. Now, while routine and structure might provide a level of comfort in the workplace, be wary of becoming too comfortable. If you’re too comfortable, then you’re probably not stretching yourself. You need to become resilient. Take criticism and use it to improve yourself. This will make you stronger and better able to deal with future challenges. Learn techniques for problem solving, and practice the art of looking at complex issues from different angles. 

Many complex problems facing the world, like plastic waste in the oceans, contamination of groundwater, air pollution in cities, climate change, these are all going to require a concerted effort by smart people from many different disciplines to come together and collaborate and innovate and find solutions. Listen to what others have to say, and think about why they are saying it and how it might apply to what you’re working on together. Be data literate. In a Forbes report in 2015, it was stated that in the previous two years, more data had been created than in the entire history of the human race. And this explosion in the volume of data will continue, and increases in computer power available to analyse it are prompting many governments and countries to look at the issue of data.

Just this week, the Australian Government released its response to the Productivity Commission looking at data availability and use. And they estimate that data-driven innovation adds up to 64 billion dollars per annum to the Australian economy. They also recognise that while this exponential increase information offers great opportunity, it also requires new governance frameworks and the need for insightful analysis to derive meaning from this huge mass of material. 

Development of artificial intelligence is already leading us into new territory where the only limit is the imagination. Many different types of skills will be required to ensure that we can effectively make the most of these growing data lakes that are available. Learn to also spot the opportunities. I can guarantee you now, your career will not be a straight line from A to B, nor can you expect to go from being a data entry analyst to being a CEO in a week. 

Look for the opportunities that are on your periphery – those things that you kind of see out of the corner of your eye and think wow that looks interesting. I did that, and in 2000 I landed a job as a cast coordinator, managing almost 3000 volunteers for one of the segments of the Opening Ceremony of the 2000 Olympic Games. It was an industry I had little experience in, and I had taken an opportunity to work on a TV advertisement and subsequently been recommended for the role. So, taking that opportunity, knowing my way around an Excel spreadsheet, having good communication and organising skills, were what enabled me to win a role in an industry that I had not worked in before, and needless to say I met some amazing people and enjoyed a very exciting role in a once-in-a-lifetime event. 

So, follow your passion. It’s true that when you work on something that’s something you love, then it’s not like work. It’s fun. So, if you’re drawn strongly to an area or an industry or a sector or you have an idea, then trust your instincts and find a way to be able to  do what you think needs to be done, and to make a contribution. Be professional. Remember that you are the manager of your own career, and you are your own brand. Be authentic to yourself, and you will able to be confident then wherever you area. With the prevalence of social media and international travel, the world is becoming an incredibly small place, and you never know when you’ll bump into someone again, sometimes 30 years later.

Remember that your behaviour and your attitude are your own, and you will be remembered for them. So, being generous with your time and showing consideration for others will always be well-respected character traits. IN the diverse world we live in, tolerance for others and the ability to see things from multiple points of view and working in teams that reflect that diversity will help you to find solutions where others may fail. It is with great pleasure that I have watched the number of women involved in STEM subjects continue to increase in Australia, and we are also seeing multicultural diversity increasing, and we live in a more tolerant society than that of 30 years ago. So I encourage you all to stand up for what you believe in, and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something. We all have the ability to be pioneers and to blaze a new trail. So, use your imagination. The future is yours to create. Go for it.