Adelaide University Internship Experience and Industry Project - Mostafa Didar Mahdi
Welcome Mostafa!
Mostafa Didar Mahdi joined our SAcommunity Data Analytics Team for his University of Adelaide SET (Sciences, Engineering and Technology) Internship for his Master of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Trimester 1, 2024: 23 January 2024 - 22 May 2024. He is completing a 280 hour internship onsite with SAcommunity at the Connecting Up Office, Infoxchange for 3 days (22.5 hours) a week for ~14 weeks around his classes.
Mostafa is also undertaking his Industry Project at Connecting Up, looking at using AI and Machine Learning to improve the open SAcommunity directory field: 'Venue Availability' which includes details on community public spaces, such as meeting rooms, community centres and facilities available to the public. These community spaces and places allow for social activities, interaction, and support, fostering wellbeing and resilience. Mostafa's project will enhance the information architecture within this open field into a series of defined closed fields, improving search and access for people looking for public venues.
Total Hours 86 Joined 23 January 2024 Last Check-in 6 March 2024
Personal Biography
Mostafa is currently completing a Master's degree in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning at the University of Adelaide, following his undergraduate degree in Computer Science and Engineering from North South University, Bangladesh. Mostafa has worked as a research assistant in the fields of deep learning, and geospatial data mining. He has published and presented two papers in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) conferences held in Indonesia and the USA. He has also worked as a verified reviewer for the IEEE journal 'IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Letters'.
His current research interests include applied natural language processing, computer vision, and causal analysis, involving extracting crucial information from images, texts and videos and deriving insightful features that contribute to and improve overall decision making. He wants to gain more real-world experience in the world of data and expand his network, which is why he joined Connecting Up as an intern in the Data Analytics Team.
Mostafa's future plan is to use AI for social good, adhering to AI ethics and transparency. He plans to be actively involved in the AI ecosystem in Australia and help build a data driven future applied to the government or industry.
Dashboard created independently by Mostafa comparing preceding 4 years for his council
Community Services in Councils Project
Mostafa has selected Norwood, Payneham & St Peters for his Power BI council reports, a database of approximately 326 community services operating in the area for the financial years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023. His reports will follow previous data reports work by Stathis Avramis, and when completed will be found >>here.
The process of creating community service information data presentations involves several steps. Data trends are summarized by utilizing information from Google Analytics and SAcommunity. Subsequently, Power BI and Canva reports are generated, which may reveal data anomalies and the need for corrections. The database is then updated with improved information, and the reports are recreated. The final data reports are published on the website and introduced by Mostafa to council stakeholders for their information and feedback.
On March 13, 2024, Mostafa reached out to the Norwood, Payneham and St. Peters council via email and phone calls. His objective was to raise awareness about the SAcommunity service among potential stakeholders, specifically council staff involved in community consultation or community development areas. He presented his publicly available data reports, which can serve as an additional tool for understanding the community's needs in the area.
Additionally, Mostafa independently created a dashboard summarizing the community service information for Norwood, Payneham and St. Peters over the preceding four years (shown above). This comprehensive dashboard allows for comparison and analysis of the data over the previous four years. His in-depth data driven insights on User Engagement and Behavioral Analysis report for the council can be found here, where he dives deeper into the meaning behind the data and highlights key considerations that would help the council with their decision making.
Mostafa solving a data problem with Stathis Avramis who currently leads the Data Analytics Team
Capacity Building:
Mostafa created a work-around solution adressing some of PowerBI's limitations to effectively download, edit and manage reports. He used the PowerBI REST APIs to transfer reports from the PowerBI service to PowerBI desktop ensuring no data loss, saving time and resources and proving his skills in tackling complex data management problems. His step by step detailed tutorial can be found here and a more detailed tutorial on his medium here.
Mostafa Didar discussing his Industry Project with Cameron Brown - Web Developer (left) and James Newport - Senior Web Developer (right) at Connecting Up
AI & Machine Learning Industry Project:
Mostafa is working on an AI & machine learning industry project at the University of Adelaide, utilizing the SAcommunity open data community information database containing approximately 14,500 records. The project aims to enhance the efficiency and utility of digital information management, particularly in the context of event management. Mostafa is leveraging state-of-the-art deep learning models to automate the extraction of structured data from unstructured text summaries. The primary focus is on transforming free-text descriptions of community service information into structured, MARC standard-compliant data elements, specifically targeting details related to meeting rooms and facilities, referred to as "venue availability." By integrating transformer-based models, the project seeks to elevate its capabilities, ensuring robust and context-aware extraction of information, ultimately streamlining the process of managing community directories and event-related data.
Connecting Up monthly staff meeting with InfoXchange COO, Jo Davies.
Work experience - Internal/External Connections & Networks - Meetings, Training and Events:
Volunteers and interns are encouraged to attend monthly SAcommunity Team meetings, Connecting Up staff meetings, as well as quarterly all-staff Infoxchange Town Hall meetings to understand more about the organisation as a whole.
Organisation-wide news, events and projects are communicated through the staff channels, with weekly CEO Updates from David Spriggs, informal 'Lunch and Learn' educational sessions, and network meetings create connections with staff and other volunteers. Interns are also given opportunities to attend stakeholder and partner events.
Relevant meetings Mostafa has attended include:
Connecting Up Monthly Staff Meeting
13 February 2024
Introduction to Jo Davies the COO of Infoxchange
I recently had the chance to meet Jo Davies, the new Chief Operating Officer at Infoxchange. It was incredibly interesting to hear about her journey, where she has led teams of various sizes through the complexities of designing, developing, and managing innovative technology solutions. One of the most compelling aspects of our conversation was Jo’s deep passion for using technology and data to create positive change within the sector.
13 February 2024
Introduction to Jo Davies the COO of Infoxchange
I recently had the chance to meet Jo Davies, the new Chief Operating Officer at Infoxchange. It was incredibly interesting to hear about her journey, where she has led teams of various sizes through the complexities of designing, developing, and managing innovative technology solutions. One of the most compelling aspects of our conversation was Jo’s deep passion for using technology and data to create positive change within the sector.
Jo's strong commitment to putting customers first really stood out. She stressed the importance of ensuring that our technological solutions are perfectly aligned with the needs and expectations of our clients. This approach not only enriches the services we offer but also ensures that we're fully leveraging technology to benefit those we serve.
Moreover, Jo's focus on the employee experience was clearly visible as she talked about building a workplace culture that supports talent development and innovation. The time spent with Jo was truly enlightening, offering a glimpse into the thoughtful leadership at Infoxchange. Her extensive knowledge and authentic enthusiasm for harnessing the power of technology and data were not only impressive but also quite inspiring.
12 March 2024
Updates from the Connecting Up Team includes monthly highlights, plans, activities
Infoxchange All Staff Town Hall Meeting 27 February 2024
Updates from the Infoxchange CEO, Operations, Finance, People & Culture, Lightning Talks from IX Teams, and IXcel Awards
Lunch and Learn
Lunch and Learn sessions are informal development opportunities for staff, volunteers and interns held during their lunch hour on a range of topics related to their work or life skills. Mostafa attended the following Lunch and Learn session:
Effective Meeting & Communication Skills
The "Lunch & Learn: Effective Meeting & Communication Skills" session on March 5, 2024, led by Jo Davies, COO of Infoxchange and Kate Hickman CPO of Infoxchange, offered valuable insights into enhancing meeting effectiveness and communication within professional settings. The webinar emphasized the importance of choosing the right communication channel, being concise and clear in written communication, and employing effective meeting strategies to ensure productivity and clarity. It highlighted practical tips on email etiquette, the significance of subject lines, and strategies for managing and prioritizing communication tasks. The session served as a reminder of the importance of mindful communication practices in fostering a collaborative and efficient workplace.
Lunch and Learn: World Autism Month
I attended the "Lunch and Learn" session focused on autism, led by Jim Mullan, CEO at Amaze, as part of World Autism Month on Friday April 5th, 2024. During the session, I learned about the challenges faced by autistic individuals, including employment difficulties and societal misconceptions. Jim Mullan discussed the evolution of societal understanding of autism, moving away from outdated stereotypes to recognizing the unique abilities and needs of autistic people.
I attended the "Lunch and Learn" session focused on autism, led by Jim Mullan, CEO at Amaze, as part of World Autism Month on Friday April 5th, 2024. During the session, I learned about the challenges faced by autistic individuals, including employment difficulties and societal misconceptions. Jim Mullan discussed the evolution of societal understanding of autism, moving away from outdated stereotypes to recognizing the unique abilities and needs of autistic people.
I also gained insights into the initiatives aimed at improving inclusivity and support for the autistic community. This includes the development of programs that assist autistic individuals with faster and more affordable access to diagnosis and support services. Furthermore, the session highlighted the importance of creating employment opportunities for autistic individuals and the benefits of workplace diversity and inclusion.
In summary, my learning from the session emphasized the ongoing efforts to enhance societal and workplace inclusion for autistic individuals, the challenges that remain, and the strategies being implemented to address these challenges. This knowledge enhanced my understanding of autism and the importance of advocacy and supportive policies.
Lunch and Learn: Surplus for Purpose
The "Lunch and Learn" session titled "Surplus for Purpose," led by the CFO of Infoxchange Tomer Ginel, on April 16th, 2024, focused on financial sustainability within the not-for-profit sector. The session was inspired by a similar event at the Institute of Community Directors, emphasizing the need for not-for-profits to generate a surplus to support their missions effectively.
During the session, I learned about the financial challenges facing the sector, including increasing demand for services coupled with shrinking funding sources. This creates a pressure on not-for-profits to generate their own revenue and reconsider the traditional view that generating a surplus contradicts their purpose. Instead, the concept of "Surplus for Purpose" was introduced, suggesting that surplus funds are not profit but rather resources reinvested into fulfilling the organization's social objectives. In summary, my key takeaway was the vital role that surplus management plays in ensuring the sustainability and impact of not-for-profit organizations, challenging the traditional perspective that generating surplus conflicts with charitable purposes. This knowledge enhanced my understanding of financial strategies that align with the values and goals of not-for-profit entities.
Community & Cultural Events & Activities
International Women's Day Afternoon Tea and Talk 13 March 2024
Jo Davies Chief Operating Officer Infoxchange & David Spriggs CEO Infoxchange
Stakeholder Events:
The Data Catalyst Network is made up of close to 50 organisations working with data from the not-for-profit community sector. Interns were invited to a presentation hosted by Infoxchange with other members of the network including 54 Reasons, Mission Australia, The Smith Family, Relationships Australia South Australia, Raising Literacy Australia, the South Australian Government, Social Ventures Australia, the University of Melbourne and more.
Augmented Intelligence: Combining Organisation Data with Large Language Models
presented by Dr. Amir Aryani, Associate Professor at the Swinburne University of Technology, on February 29, 2024, delved into the innovative integration of large language models (LLMs) with organizational workflows and data. It delved into the concept of Augmented Retrieval Generative (RAG) intelligence, detailing how external knowledge bases can enrich LLMs for more accurate and context-relevant outputs. The webinar explored the practical applications and ethical considerations of deploying LLMs in business environments, highlighting the balance between leveraging AI's power for operational efficiency and maintaining data privacy, security, and ethical use. This discussion was critical for understanding how organizations can responsibly harness AI technologies to improve operations while adhering to ethical standards.
Aboriginal Data Sovreignty
Mostafa attended the The Data Catalyst Network Webinar, "Aboriginal Data Sovreignty”conducted by Jim O'Shea, COO & Company Secretary at VACCHO on 20th March 2024. He learned about the inherent right of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to govern the collection, ownership, and application of data about themselves and their communities, rooted in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). The webinar highlighted several guiding principles like the CARE Principles and First Nations Information Governance Centre Principles, as well as growing efforts across different jurisdictions to develop supporting frameworks. "However, I also gained insight into the frustrations of Aboriginal individuals and communities regarding lack of access, control and consent over data collected about them, underscoring the need for greater transparency, data-sharing agreements and co-governance models." Aboriginal Community Controlled Organizations are taking steps towards data sovereignty by developing their own data repositories. Overall, this webinar provided a valuable perspective on the critical importance of recognizing Aboriginal Data Sovereignty as a means of empowerment, self-determination and aligning data practices with the priorities and values of Aboriginal communities.
The Benevolent Society & Microsoft talk about Fabric
This Data Catalyst Network webinar conducted by Marcello Sequeira, Head of Data Governance, Analytics and Architecture at The Benevolent Society and Benny Austin, Cloud Solution Architect at Microsoft provided a comprehensive insight into the advancements and integrations in data management, particularly through the use of Microsoft Fabric. I learned about the critical challenges and opportunities that modern data platforms address, focusing on data accessibility, security, and the integration of AI to enhance data utilization.
The webinar highlighted the need for an integrated data environment where various tools from different vendors can work seamlessly together. This is vital for improving data governance, reducing complexity, and enabling more effective data-driven decisions. The concept of a unified data platform, as discussed, simplifies the management and accessibility of data across different teams within an organization, eliminating data silos and enhancing collaboration. Furthermore, the integration of AI and machine learning capabilities into these platforms was a key takeaway. These technologies not only automate mundane tasks but also enable more sophisticated data analysis and insights, which are crucial for the effective deployment of resources and improving operational efficiencies.
Overall, attending this webinar deepened my understanding of the state-of-the-art in data management technologies and their practical implications for organizations striving to leverage data as a strategic asset.
Mentor Meeting
Connecting Up Volunteers and Interns are provided with the opportunity to select staff members from across the wider Infoxchange organisation for an informational mentor meeting. Here they have the opportunity to ask more about staff members job roles and employment journey, and learn about their career and professional development, to gain insights and guidance that can be applied towards their own success.
Volunteers and interns both prepare 5 questions for their mentors and then are encouraged to record 5 aspects they felt were helpful for them to share on their portfolio for both themselves and other volunteers, and Mostafa shared his experience in meeting Kristen Moeller-Saxone Data Capability Lead, Infoxchange.
Reflecting on the mentor meeting with Dr. Kristen Moeller-Saxone, I gained a deeper appreciation for the challenges and opportunities presented by data-driven roles, especially within the not-for-profit sector. Dr. Moeller-Saxone's insights into data strategy and her emphasis on the ethical considerations of data use in vulnerable populations were particularly enlightening. Her experience reinforced the importance of building networks and connecting with like-minded professionals who can share knowledge and opportunities.
One key takeaway was the potential for data science to make significant impacts beyond the commercial sector, especially in social good initiatives where technology can greatly improve outcomes for disadvantaged groups. Dr. Moeller-Saxone's discussion about predictive analytics in not-for-profit organizations opened up avenues on how I might leverage my skills to predict and improve outcomes for such communities.
Another important lesson was the value of soft skills and creativity in data science roles. The ability to communicate complex ideas simply and effectively can set one apart in the field and is crucial when working with non-technical stakeholders.
Lastly, Dr. Moeller-Saxone highlighted the dynamic nature of data-related careers and the importance of staying adaptable and continually learning. She encouraged participation in projects even outside one's direct field of study to gain diverse experiences, which resonated with me as I look to expand my own career horizons.
Overall, the meeting was not only a great learning opportunity but also an inspiration to pursue AI not just as a career but as a tool for real-world impact.
Mostafa and Kristen practicing telephone techniques.Telephone Techniques
Telephone techniques are an important skill in the workplace, and a key aspect of understanding and contributing to the data collection methods for the SAcommunity directory. Telephone contact is required as part of the many processes of data cleaning, and is used to update community service record information, this is the data used to create council data analysis reports.
At Connecting Up, opportunities are created where volunteers and interns undertake sessions in-house to learn a universal telephone script, and practice introducing themselves, their services, and to gather information. Firstly through demonstrations with our Customer Service Team Lead, David Webb, and secondly in practice workshops with our long-standing volunteers and also with their peers. When students are ready, they can begin to contact community services where data is older or anomalous, ahead of contacting council stakeholders to introduce data reports to stakeholders.
Digital Training & Development
Volunteers and interns have access to the Connecting Up Digital Learning Platform providing live webinars and recorded webinars, workshops and webcons presented by subject-matter experts to understand more about a range of technology topics for the not-for-profit sector.
Relevant training sessions were selected, attended, summarised and assessed by Mostafa to look at how these sessions can enhance his internship experience have included:
Webinar 1: AI 101: Empowering NFPs for the Digital Era
The webinar, held on 20th February 2024 and led by Kate VanderVoort from SocialMediology, provided a detailed overview of how artificial intelligence can be leveraged by nonprofit organizations. Through the webinar, I gained insights into different types of AI, and practical applications of AI in organizational settings, such as enhancing content creation, improving volunteer management, and optimizing donor personalization. Key takeaways included the importance of understanding AI capabilities and limitations, effectively using prompt engineering for better AI outputs, and the potential of AI to not only streamline operations but also to enrich engagement with stakeholders. This session highlighted AI's transformative potential in the nonprofit sector, emphasizing strategic integration for efficiency, innovation, and greater impact.
Webinar 2: AI Opportunities, Risks, and Benefits for NFPs
The webinar, presented by Rita Arrigo at the National AI Centre at CSIRO in February 2024, delved into the transformative power of AI for not-for-profit organizations. The session highlighted the expansive role of generative AI in content creation, the utilization of AI algorithms for operational efficiency, and the enhancement of accessibility through technology. It stressed the importance of responsible AI adoption, focusing on ethical considerations, and the potential of AI to drive significant impact in various domains such as conservation and healthcare. The webinar highlighted the need for skill development and organizational readiness to harness the full potential of AI technologies.
Webinar 3: AI for Social Impact
The "AI for Social Impact: AI Ethics for Nonprofits" webinar, presented on February 21, 2024, by Ryan Harrington of the Data Innovation Lab at Tech Impact, focused on navigating the ethical landscape of AI utilization in the nonprofit sector. It emphasized understanding AI's potential risks and benefits, addressing biases, ensuring algorithmic accountability, and prioritizing transparency and fairness. The session encouraged nonprofits to critically evaluate AI technologies' impact on society, individuals, and the environment, and to implement AI solutions responsibly, aligning with ethical principles and human rights. This insightful discussion highlighted the importance of ethical considerations in leveraging AI to advance nonprofit missions.
Webinar 4: Generative AI for NFPs – Digital Transformation
This webinar, hosted on February 27, 2024, by Kaitlin Canalichio from Tech Impact's Data Innovation Lab, provided a deep dive into how generative AI technologies can empower nonprofits. The session covered AI's basic principles, ethical considerations, practical use cases for nonprofits, and the art of prompt engineering for optimizing AI outputs. It aimed at enhancing organizational capabilities in fundraising, communications, accessibility, risk detection, content personalization, and event planning through AI. This insightful presentation underscored the balance between embracing AI advancements and adhering to ethical standards for social good.
Webinar 5: How we introduced Ethical AI into our NFP
This webinar led by Rose Hyland, Innovation Project Lead at Justice Connect and Tom 0’ Doherty Head of Innovation at Justice connect focused on a practical example of how they developed and implemented AI into their organization, aimed at enhancing legal service delivery to those in need. By integrating AI technologies, Justice Connect successfully streamlined the process of matching individuals with appropriate legal services, thereby improving accessibility and efficiency. The project involved a collaborative effort with stakeholders across various sectors, ensuring a multidisciplinary approach to development and implementation. A strong emphasis was placed on the ethical use of AI, particularly in handling sensitive information, showcasing a model for responsible AI deployment in service-oriented contexts. The webinar highlighted the importance of data protection, ethical use of data, conducting regular security audits and testing to identify and address vulnerabilities, staying compliant with relevant regulations and standards governing data privacy and security and conducting regular health checks during the whole implementation lifecycle.
Mostafa with 