Career Essentials

The workplace will undergo more change in the next five years than it has experienced in the previous twenty. AI is a key driver of this, even for ‘non-technical’ roles, and the ability to harness AI in your work is key to success regardless of the sector you work in. And it doesn’t stop there. According to QS, the skill type experiencing the biggest increase in demand among employers is green skills.

This session will explore what employers are looking for in today’s fast-changing landscape and how you can position yourself for success. Hear from industry experts and careers professionals as they share insights on emerging skills, career strategies, and future trends.

• Insight into the AI, digital, and green skills most in demand across industries.
• Practical strategies to develop and demonstrate these skills.
• Guidance on futureproofing your career in a rapidly changing workplace.
• First-hand perspectives from employers and industry experts.

Shanton Chang, Professor, School of Computing and Information Systems, The University of Melbourne

Shanton Chang (PhD) is Professor of Information Behaviour and Information Systems at the School of Computing and Information Systems, The University of Melbourne. Born in Kuching and educated in Malaysia, Singapore and Australia, he brings an international perspective to his work and was also Associate Dean (International) at the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology between 2018 and 2025. He is currently also the Program Lead for Digital Access and Equity Research at the Melbourne Social Equity Institute (MSEI) at the University. He is also an active member of the Centre for AI and Digital Ethics (CAIDE), as the co-lead for the AI, Society and Digital Divide research  program.

Siobhan Qadir, Senior Careers Consultant, The University of Warwick

Siobhan Qadir is a Senior Careers Consultant at the University of Warwick, where she specialises in supporting international students across a wide range of disciplines to navigate graduate employment and build meaningful careers. With a background in guidance and a strong commitment to accessible, authentic careers education, she brings warmth and practical insight to her work. Siobhan is co-host of The Careers Chat (with Konstantina Dee), a podcast created specifically for international students, offering honest, conversational guidance on everything from job searching to settling into life in the UK.

Konstantina Dee, Alumni Careers Manager, The University of Warwick

Konstantina Dee is a Careers Manager and Coach dedicated to helping global professionals navigate career transitions. Combining an MSc in Management with advanced training in Career Education (Warwick), she creates high-impact supportive environment to support international students and alumni explore options, ideas and plan forward. A Fellow of the HEA and an EMCC practitioner-in-training, Konstantina specialises in aligning professional strategy with personal meaning to create sustainable, long-term success. Konstantina regularly writes blogs for the WBS Alumni Newsletter and is delighted to be a co-host (with Siobhan Qadir) to The Careers Chat podcast.

Sam French, Responsible AI Specialist, Accenture UK

Sam French is a Responsible AI Specialist in Accenture’s global Responsible AI team. Since graduating, Sam has worked in responsible AI across two major global consultancy firms, supporting organisations to scale AI with confidence. Their work focuses on governance, risk management, and tackling real‑-world ethical challenges across financial services, utilities, public services, and public safety. Motivated by finding practical solutions to difficult ethical problems, Sam brings a human‑-centred perspective shaped by an academic background in philosophy, science, and technology studies.

Andrew McBean, Partner, Advisory Services – Technology and Digital Services, Grant Thornton Thailand

Andrew is in the 9th year at Grant Thornton. He started his career in 1985 working in leading global IT companies including IBM and Microsoft where he spent 10 years, 6 as a General Manager across 4 countries. He worked in the UK, South Africa, Japan, Indonesia and Thailand, where he is a Permanent Resident. He was Senior Vice President for dtac for business and strategy, Managing Director of dtac Broadband company and Managing Director of dtac subsidiary PaySBuy. Latterly was the Director of Thailand for the world’s largest Robotic Process Automation company, UiPath. He consults on strategy, innovation, process improvement, digital transformation, robotic process automation, artificial intelligence and space commercialisation.

Sarina Ratnabhas, Data Scientist, Advisory Services – Technology and Digital Services, Grant Thornton Thailand

Sarina has a background in data science, analytics, finance and consulting, with experience applying data-driven approaches to solve complex business problems. She has worked across data analysis and machine learning, including forecasting to support strategic and operational decision-making. Her experience spans the full analytical lifecycle, from understanding business context and data limitations through model development, validation and interpretation of results. She is comfortable working with complex datasets and translating analytical outputs into clear, actionable recommendations. She brings a structured end-to-end approach to analytics, combining quantitative rigour with commercial awareness and clear communication.

• Final year students and graduates exploring future career paths.
• Early- to mid-career professionals across all sectors.
• Alumni looking to stay competitive in a changing job market.
• Anyone interested in AI, digital transformation, and sustainability skills.
  

• Stay ahead of emerging workplace trends.
• Understand how to adapt and thrive in a changing environment.
• Gain actionable insights from leading experts and employers.
• Build the skills and mindset needed to succeed in the future of work.