Adelaide University Internship Experience - Sylvia Shiwen Cao
Welcome Sylvia!
Sylvia Shiwen Cao joined our SAcommunity Data Analytics Team for her University of Adelaide SET (Sciences, Engineering and Technology) Internship for her Masters of Computing and Innovation Trimester 1, 2024: 20 February 2024 - 24 May 2024.
She completed a 140 hour internship onsite with SAcommunity at the Connecting Up Office, Infoxchange for 2 days (15 hours) a week for ~9 weeks around her classes.
Sylvia returned to the SAcommunity Team on the 19 June 2024 as a volunteer, to continue to explore new aspects of Power BI and methods of presenting data for her council. - Welcome Back Sylvia!
Total Hours 158.5 Joined 20 February 2024 Last Check-in 3 July 2024
Personal Biography
Sylvia is currently in her second year of her Masters in Computing and Innovation at the University of Adelaide. She has a Bachelor's degree in software engineering from Central South University in China and has also completed a Masters in Management at the University of Glasgow in the UK where she worked as a web developer at IT company - VectorCloud. Sylvia moved to Australia, drawn by the prospects of a promising future and more importantly, the appealing weather.
Sylvia is passionate about volunteering and has been involved with several volunteering organizations, including Aachener Netzwerk in Germany, where she helped raise funds, collect, sort and deliver donations to refugees in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Sylvia also served as the Vice President of Incoming Global Volunteers for AIESEC in CSU, leading a team of 40 international volunteers from 12 countries to teach youths about physical hygiene, impacting over 400 youths and gaining coverage by local media outlets.
Currently, Sylvia is an intern in the Data Analytics Team at Connecting Up, where she aims to gain practical, real-world experience in data analytics and leverage her skills and knowledge to contribute to the organization's mission of supporting communities through data-driven insights. She's excited to apply her university knowledge in a practical setting and deepen her understanding of data analysis in a real-world context. She's also looking forward to collaborate with people who share her passion for making a difference through technology.
In the future, Sylvia's career ambition is to become a full-stack developer within the IT sector. She is motivated by the life-long, continuous learning needed to thrive in the dynamic and challenging environment of technology.
Community Services in Councils Project
Sylvia has selected Yankalilla for her Power BI council reports, a database of approximately 89 community services operating in the area for the financial years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023. Her reports, can be found >>here. Returning as a volunteer Sylvia is now looking at creating a dashboard to compare data across these years and gain further insights. Sylvia has followed up on council engagement by contacting Yankalilla Council's Group Manager Economic, Tourism & Community by phone on 12th June 2024 to introduce her reports.
Sylvia is passionate about volunteering and has been involved with several volunteering organizations, including Aachener Netzwerk in Germany, where she helped raise funds, collect, sort and deliver donations to refugees in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Sylvia also served as the Vice President of Incoming Global Volunteers for AIESEC in CSU, leading a team of 40 international volunteers from 12 countries to teach youths about physical hygiene, impacting over 400 youths and gaining coverage by local media outlets.
Currently, Sylvia is an intern in the Data Analytics Team at Connecting Up, where she aims to gain practical, real-world experience in data analytics and leverage her skills and knowledge to contribute to the organization's mission of supporting communities through data-driven insights. She's excited to apply her university knowledge in a practical setting and deepen her understanding of data analysis in a real-world context. She's also looking forward to collaborate with people who share her passion for making a difference through technology.
In the future, Sylvia's career ambition is to become a full-stack developer within the IT sector. She is motivated by the life-long, continuous learning needed to thrive in the dynamic and challenging environment of technology.
Community Services in Councils Project
Sylvia has selected Yankalilla for her Power BI council reports, a database of approximately 89 community services operating in the area for the financial years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023. Her reports, can be found >>here. Returning as a volunteer Sylvia is now looking at creating a dashboard to compare data across these years and gain further insights. Sylvia has followed up on council engagement by contacting Yankalilla Council's Group Manager Economic, Tourism & Community by phone on 12th June 2024 to introduce her reports.
There are a number of steps involved in the creation of community service information data presentations. A summary of data trends prepared, using information from Google Analytics and SAcommunity with subsequent Power BI and Canva reports revealing data anomalies and corrections required, the database is updated and reports re-created with improved information. Final data reports are published to the website, and will be introduced by Sylvia to council stakeholders by phone and email for information and/or feedback and to be used as a tool to understand community needs in their area.
Image: SAcommunity Volunteers and Interns
Work experience - Internal and External Events, Connections and Networks
Work experience - Internal and External Events, Connections and Networks
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 attended include:
Connecting Up Staff Meeting 9 April 2024
Updates from the Connecting Up Team includes monthly highlights, plans, activities
Infoxchange (IX) 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
Infoxchange (IX) Lunch & Learn Sessions
Effective Meeting & Communication Skills
5 March 2024
Kate Hickman Chief People Officer Infoxchange & Jo Davies Chief Operating Officer Infoxchange delivered this session about how to implement effective meeting and communication skills in your day-to-day work activities.
As an intern at Infoxchange, I found this session is particularly helpful in understanding how to navigate communication and meetings within a professional setting. Ms. Hickman showed me how to improve communication and meeting effectiveness by emphasizing the importance of choosing the most appropriate channels, being outcome-focused, and preparing properly.
I get to know that Infoxchange offers a range of learning resources on their learnxchange platform, which will help me identify the most valuable content to enhance my skills. The session also encouraged seeking guidance from managers or leaders when unsure about drafting challenging emails or organizing meetings.
These insights will undoubtedly help me improve my communication skills, prepare better for meetings, and contribute more effectively to the organization's goals as I progress through my internship and future career.
Infoxchange (IX) Stakeholder Events
Data Catalyst Network (DCN): Brings together people from across sectors, to break cycles of disadvantage through the innovative use of data. As an intern at Infoxchange, I had the opportunity to attend many valuable Data Catalyst Network webinars that brought together people from across sectors to break cycles of disadvantage through the innovative use of data.
DCN: Augmented Intelligence: Combining Organisation Data with Large Language Models
29 February 2024
Associate Professor Amir Aryani, Head of the Social Data Analytics Lab at Swinburne University.
This webinar provided me with valuable insights into the potential of using Response-Augmented Generation (RAG) and generative AI to create customized tools for organizations while ensuring data security and privacy.
I learned about the benefits of collaborating with universities to leverage their expertise in AI implementation and the importance of regular maintenance and ethical considerations when working with these technologies. The webinar served as an accessible introduction to the possibilities of augmented intelligence, emphasizing collaboration, continuous learning, and ethics in AI solutions.
As an intern working with data at Infoxchange, these webinars provided me with invaluable knowledge and a deeper understanding of the possibilities and responsibilities surrounding data use. I look forward to applying the insights gained from these sessions in my work and throughout my future career in the tech industry, always keeping in mind the importance of collaboration, continuous learning, ethics, and respect for data sovereignty.
DCN: Indigenous Data Sovereignty
20 March 2024
Jim O’Shea Gumbaynggirr man from New South Wales and Chief Operating Officer at VACCHO, Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation Inc.
The webinar presented by Jim O'Shea provided me with valuable insights into the importance of Indigenous data sovereignty and the steps being taken to ensure that Aboriginal communities maintain control over their data. Although I had a lecture at university during the live webinar, I was grateful for the opportunity to view the recording afterwards.
I learned about the client management system developed by VACCHO (Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation Inc.) in collaboration with Infoxchange, which allows Aboriginal community-controlled organizations to collect, store, and deidentify non-clinical data before sharing it with the government. This system ensures that communities retain ownership and control over their data while benefiting from insights generated through dashboards and reports. The webinar emphasized the significance of collecting data that is relevant and important to Aboriginal communities, beyond government requirements, to enable more culturally appropriate insights and drive change.
Image: Sylvia and Training and Development - Telephone Techniques
Telephone techniques assist Data Analytics Team members with understanding more about the directory and data collection methods, in data cleaning and updating their individual dataset information, and, in finally introducing and presenting their data reports to council stakeholders.
Image: Alison Ramsay, Chief Technology Officer, Infoxchange with Sylvia Cao and Intern Joe Xuanqiao Zhang
Mentor Meeting 14th May 2024
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 Sylvia shared her experience in meeting Alison Ramsay, the Chief Technology Officer at Infoxchange.
Alison Ramsay, Chief Technology Officer, Infoxchange.
My mentor meeting with Alison was an incredibly enriching and inspiring experience. Her extensive career spanning over 20 years in the IT industry, coupled with her leadership roles across various domains such as software development, system architecture, and management, positioned her as an invaluable source of knowledge and guidance.
Throughout our conversation, Alison's passion for her work shone through as she shared her journey and the factors that have kept her motivated and engaged in the field. She provided us practical advice according to her deep understanding of the industry and its challenges.
1. Passion and Continuous Learning:
It’s important to stay motivated by doing what you love. Alison’s passion for her work and her continuous pursuit of knowledge have been crucial in sustaining her long career. As a student, this resonates deeply with me. It’s a reminder that choosing a career path should align with my interests and passions. The idea of continuously seeking new learning opportunities and not being afraid to seize career advancements, even without explicit permission, is empowering. It encourages me to be proactive and take control of my career trajectory.
2. Effective Management and Proactive Problem-Solving:
Alison highlighted the significance of understanding organisational dynamics and anticipating managerial needs. This takeaway is particularly relevant as I transition from academic life to the professional world. Learning to bring solutions along with problems not only demonstrates initiative but also positions me as a potential leader. This proactive approach is something I aim to incorporate into my work ethic, ensuring that I can add value to any team or project I am part of.
3. Building Confidence and Navigating Challenges:
Navigating male-dominated or culturally different environments can be challenging, but Alison’s advice on maintaining confidence in my abilities and actively participating in discussions is invaluable. Direct communication techniques like eye contact and handshakes can assert my presence and help me integrate into any professional setting. As a young woman and an immigrant aspiring to build a career in technology, these insights bolster my confidence and prepare me to face and overcome potential barriers.
4. Embrace AI and Data Analytics:
Alison’s perspective on AI as a tool to enhance human jobs rather than replace them was reassuring. It aligns with my consideration of shifting focus to machine learning or data analysis. Understanding AI and its potential applications can position me advantageously in the tech industry. This takeaway reinforces the importance of staying updated with technological advancements and continuously developing relevant skills to remain competitive in the job market.
5. Career Planning and Gaining Experience:
The advice to focus on short-term career goals while being open to new opportunities is particularly pertinent. As I approach graduation, the prospect of choosing between startups and established companies looms large. Alison’s guidance to select jobs based on interest and learning potential, and always striving to exceed expectations, offers a clear direction. This approach ensures that I gain valuable experience, build a strong professional foundation, and remain adaptable to future opportunities.
Overall, my mentor meeting with Alison Ramsay was an extraordinary opportunity to learn from a seasoned professional who generously shared her wisdom and experiences. Her insights, advice, and encouragement have left a lasting impact on me, providing a roadmap for navigating the dynamic and exciting world of technology. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to have connected with such an inspiring mentor.
Digital Skills Training and Development
Sylvia has been provided with access to the Connecting Up Digital Learning platform, a training and development online learning platform. She has the opportunity to understand more about data analytics or a range of other technology topics in the not-for-profit sector, through training sessions presented by subject-matter experts in a selection of relevant live webinars and recorded webinars, workshops and webcons.
Relevant weekly webinars, workshops and webcons selected, attended and summarised below by Sylvia to enhance her volunteer experience include:
Data Loss Prevention with Microsoft: Protecting sensitive data - 02 April 2024
There is a lot of training available on the Connecting Up learning platform, as a data analytics intern I choose to attend the webinar on Data Loss Prevention (DLP) with Microsoft. The session introduced me the importance of protecting sensitive data across various devices, apps, and services in today's complex digital landscape.
One of my key takeaways was the significance of identifying and classifying sensitive data to ensure proper governance and protection. Microsoft Purview offers a range of tools to help organizations classify and govern their data intelligently. The webinar also emphasized the need to prevent accidental or unauthorized sharing of sensitive information, with Microsoft Purview DLP providing comprehensive solutions to protect data in use, in motion, and at rest.
Attending this webinar has reinforced my understanding of the critical role that DLP plays in ensuring data security and compliance and also get to know how to protect the data from the organisation view.
Data basics to mastery: Getting started - 21 June 2024
Data basics to mastery: Getting started - 21 June 2024
