itSMF Bulletin April 2020 | Page 27

ITSM professinals need to do to address these challenges/opportunities?

We are going through very unique and tough times. So rather than thinking about challenges over the next two years, it’s important to focus our energy on staying afloat over the next few months first. Given the COVID-19 situation we’re in, I believe the most pressing challenge for ITSM professionals (as well as most other professions) is maintaining some kind of continuity. In addition to staying safe, staying in business (for small companies and for consultants) and staying employed (for full time employees) is what’s on everyone’s mind. As challenging as it is at this stage of the pandemic, we need to be realistic and expect that things are going to get harder and more challenging over the next few months. As a community, we need to try to find ways to help and support each other as much as possible. itSMF is well positioned to be the platform of choice (by our community) to gather suggestions on this topic and implement out of the box solutions.

What's the most valuable piece of advice you have been given in your professional career?

If you always do what you always did, you will always get what you always got! So we need to continually improve and adapt to change.

What advice would you give young people who have chosen a career in technology?

Be willing to invest effort and time to gain experience in many disciplines even if that means volunteering. Expand your horizon and

develop supplementary skills. Think Comb shape skills as promoted by DevOps.

What do you like to do when you are not working?

Travel, socialise with family and friends, learn new things and new skills, watch sci fi and action movies.

What was the title and author of the last book you read?

The Phoenix Project by Gene Kim, Kevin Behr, and George Spafford.

One word that could describe your experience of itSMF Australia?

Memorable

Have you ever been to an itSMF Conference, if so what was your Conference experience like and do you have a lasting memory?

Attended several conferences in Australia and the US. Some as a volunteer when I was on the itSMF board of directors. My experience with the conferences is that there is a lot of valuable information and more importantly opportunities to meet with industry leaders face to face. Having the ability to ask this burning question to an author is invaluable.