Big Day in IT: Why Technology Is Everywhere
A glimpse into the future of work for Year 10
On Wednesday the 4th of March 2026, myself and four of our Year 10 students travelled into the city for The Big Day in IT at UTS, an industry conference designed to give students a real insight into how technology is shaping the future workforce.
Throughout the day we heard from professionals working at Adobe, Microsoft, Google, Westpac, Woolworths Group, Tata Consultancy Services, the ABC and the Australian Defence Force, and one message came through loud and clear:
Technology is embedded in almost every industry you can imagine. Banking. Retail. Media. Defence. Engineering. If a workplace uses data, customers, systems or security… technology is at the centre of it.
A Career Is No Longer a Ladder
One of the most powerful sessions came from James Hull from Adobe, who spoke about how the world of work has changed.
Instead of climbing a traditional career ladder, young people today are building career portfolios. I love seeing this message reiterated, and the strength of this message compounded because of AI integration.
A portfolio career means developing a collection of skills, experiences and interests that open multiple opportunities over time. In other words, you don’t need to have your whole career mapped out at 16, but it is more important than ever to build skills that travel with you across industries.
The AI Conversation
Of course, the topic that came up again and again throughout the day was Artificial Intelligence.
Students learned that AI is rapidly changing the way technology is built and used. One example shared by Microsoft highlighted just how quickly things are evolving. Only a few years ago, building a new app might involve:
Learning multiple coding frameworks
Writing thousands of lines of code
Debugging for days
Deploying systems manually
This process could take three months or more. Today, with AI tools assisting developers, a working prototype can be created in around an hour. Microsoft provided a working example of an App the developer created overnight that allowed students to run practice interview questions and recieve real-time feedback and evaluation of their responses. It was a powerful example of how quickly ideas can now move from concept to working product. But the bigger message from the session was even more important. In today’s workforce, AI is becoming a fundamental tool for productivity and efficiency.
For a little reassurance, AI is automating tasks within jobs, not replacing the need for people. For example, instead of spending time writing repetitive code, professionals are now focusing on:
Designing better systems
Solving complex problems
Improving products
Thinking strategically
The Skills That Matter Most
Several speakers emphasised that technical skills alone are no longer enough.
The most valuable professionals combine technology with strong human capabilities.
The key skills highlighted included:
Problem solving: identifying what needs to be built
Architecture thinking: understanding how systems scale
Communication: explaining ideas clearly
Iteration: improving solutions based on feedback
Domain knowledge: understanding real-world industries
One speaker summarised it perfectly: “Code is becoming a commodity. Your unique insights and decision-making are not.”
This is why human judgement, creativity and ethics will play a critical role in shaping how AI is used.
Technology in Unexpected Places
Another fascinating takeaway from the day was just how many organisations rely on technology teams behind the scenes.
Westpac
Westpac shared that nearly 18% of their workforce works in technology roles, with large teams dedicated to areas like cyber security, protecting banking systems, financial infrastructure and customer data.
What many people don’t realise is that cyber security teams have been operating behind the scenes in banking for years. The financial sector has long relied on sophisticated technology and security systems to monitor transactions, detect fraud and protect customer information.
In fact, AI has quietly been supporting the finance and banking industry for many years. From fraud detection to transaction monitoring and risk analysis, machine learning systems have been helping banks process enormous volumes of data safely and efficiently.
Woolworths Group
At Woolworths, technology supports everything from:
Online shopping systems
Automation and logistics
Data analytics
Cyber security
AI chatbots
Automation tools alone have completed millions of digital tasks, saving hundreds of thousands of hours of manual work. That doesn’t remove people from the workplace, it allows them to focus on innovation, improvement and customer experience.
A Global Skillset: Computational Thinking
Another session from Tata Consultancy Services introduced students to the idea of computational thinking.
This involves learning how to break down complex problems into manageable parts. A skill used not only by programmers, but by engineers, scientists, designers and analysts.
These problem-solving strategies are increasingly seen as essential 21st-century skills.
What Do Google Engineers Actually Do?
Students also heard from a Google engineer, who spoke about her journey from studying mechatronics and computer science to working on the Identity Verification team at Google.
Her message to students was refreshingly honest:
You don’t need to know exactly where you’re heading yet.
Curiosity, experimentation and strong foundational skills will often lead you to opportunities you didn’t even know existed. She made it very clear, as did almost every other speaker… success, opportunity and growth lives outside your comfort zone.
Careers Beyond the Obvious
The day also highlighted some surprising pathways where technology plays a major role.
For example:
• The ABC uses sophisticated technology to broadcast events like New Year’s Eve fireworks around the world.
• The Australian Defence Force offers technology and engineering roles across the Navy, Army and Air Force.
• Retail and banking organisations employ thousands of cybersecurity specialists.
The common thread?
Technology skills are needed everywhere.
Opportunities Students Can Start Exploring Now
Speakers also shared practical ways students can start building their skills today.
Some great starting points include:
• Microsoft and Google learning pathways offering free certifications
• Coding practice platforms like HackerRank and LeetCode
• Programming and robotics competitions such as UNSW ProgComp and FIRST Robotics
These experiences help students build the skills and portfolios that employers increasingly value.
Scholarship Opportunity: Women in STEM
Students also learned about the Women of STEM Scholarship, which offers $5,000 per year for the duration of a STEM degree
The scholarship is designed to support young women aged 17–20 pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
What Our Students Took Away
When reflecting on the day, our students highlighted several important ideas.
Technology careers are far broader than just coding.
Success in the future workforce will depend on:
• Staying curious
• Continuously learning
• Building transferable skills
• Understanding how to work with AI
• Developing a unique portfolio of experiences
Perhaps the biggest takeaway of all was this:
You don’t need to be locked into one career pathway. In a rapidly changing world, the students who thrive will be those who are flexible, resilient and curious about learning new things.
The Big Message
The future of work isn’t about choosing one job for life.
It’s about building skills, curiosity and adaptability.
Technology will continue to transform industries, but the people who succeed will be those who bring creativity, judgement and human insight to the problems technology helps us solve.
Or as one speaker put it:
Be visible. Stay curious. Build your portfolio.