Dr Tristan Richards - Bachelor of Information Systems (Honours) graduate.
I commenced my information and communication technology (ICT) journey in 1997 as a mature-aged student.
I had already completed a Bachelor of Applied science (Fisheries) at the Australian Maritime College in 1995, and started working in fisheries research with the CSIRO Marine Laboratories and the Department of Primary Fisheries Laboratory at Taroona, now the Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS).
A significant proportion of this fisheries research work involved technology, data, databases, and spatial information systems, which became the impetus to do further studies in this field.
This started with a part-time Graduate Diploma of Science (Information Systems), followed by a full-time Bachelor of Information Systems (Honours) in 1999 with the School of ICT at the University of Tasmania.
I was able to integrate fisheries science into my honours thesis, looking at the role of technology in the Tasmanian rock lobster industry. During this time, my fisheries data collection work very much involved working between the fisheries biologists and the computer scientists.
I discovered that there was a liaison role that helped ensure the databases being developed were fit for purpose and met the requirements of the fisheries biologists who were involved in the data collection and analysis.
My time with the School of ICT also opened my mind to qualitative research, and the importance of the role of humans/users in information systems and technology. For me this was a big shift coming from a quantitative science background, where the consideration of the role of humans in fisheries perspective was in its infancy.
Today we have a Marine Sociology Centre at IMAS, but in 1999 my work in the fisheries context was very novel.
During this time, I was able to pick up some casual contract work with the Tasmanian Electronic Commerce Centre, located at the School of ICT, which provided me with the opportunity to undertake similar research work with the Tasmanian wool industry, the transport sector and the tuna industry.
My honours research led to an inter-disciplinary project PhD and thesis with the School of Geography and Environmental Science, which involved the Tasmanian rock lobster industry supply, natural resource management, information systems and technology, and human geography.
My cross-disciplinary foundation in science, technology, and human-centred systems positioned me well for my current role as Digital Workforce Capability Development Manager in the Digital Strategy and Services Division at the Department of Premier and Cabinet, where I now lead initiatives to strengthen digital capability across the public sector.