Adelaide University Internship Experience - Kristen Ngoc Khanh Mai Nguyen
Welcome Kristen!
Kristen Ngoc Khanh Mai Nguyen joined our SAcommunity Data Analytics Team for her University of Adelaide SET (Sciences, Engineering and Technology) Internship for her Master of Data Science Semester 1, 2024: 22 March 2024 - 14 May 2024.
She is completing a 140 hour internship onsite with SAcommunity at the Connecting Up Office, Infoxchange for 3 days (22.5 hours) a week for ~10 weeks around her classes.
Total Hours 140 Joined 22 March 2024 Last Check-in 14 May 2024 (Retired)
Personal Biography
Kristen is currently in her final trimester of a Master of Data Science at the University of Adelaide 2022-2024. With a Bachelor’s degree with Honors in Business Management from the University of Bolton in 2022, she also worked as a junior marketing account manager in her final year. It was through this role, she realized the importance of data for decision-making in successful business. Therefore, she decided to upgrade her knowledge, specializing in data science and machine learning to pursue her passion for leveraging data to drive business decisions. While studying, she works at an accounting firm in Adelaide and has gained hands-on experience in data processing to serve the different needs of businesses.
Kristen recently completed a research project April 2024 focused on the textile industry, specifically in predicting the difficulty score of sock patterns on the Ravelry website, a yarn and pattern database, using machine learning models such as Linear Regression, Gradient Boosting Machine, and Random Forest. This endeavor stems from the crucial role difficulty ratings play in users' pattern selection process. Without reliable ratings, users may struggle to find suitable patterns, potentially leading to frustration. The research aims to address this challenge of complexity by providing accurate predictions and enhancing the accessibility and usefulness of Ravelry. This project not only allows her to refine her predictive modeling skills but also applies her expertise to solve practical problems in the realm of data science.
Currently interning with Infoxchange's Data Analytics Team, Kristen is dedicated to applying her theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios, particularly in practicing essential skills such as data cleaning and data visualization using business intelligence tools to deliver impactful insights for community development.
On her Master's Graduation in June 2024, Kristen’s future career plans involve pursuing work that applies mining Big Data and Machine Learning to solve business challenges. She plans to work as a Data Analyst in the financial consulting industry, as she firmly believes that data holds the key to unlocking untapped potential and driving sustainable growth for businesses across industries.
Image: Kristen and Anju printing their personal biography used to introduce staff and team members
Councils Project for Community Services
Kristen has selected Wudinna District Council for her Power BI council reports, a database of approximately 41 community services operating in the area for the financial years 2020-2021, 2021-2022, and 2022 - 2023. Her reports can be found >>here. Kristen contacted Wudinna District Council by email on 14 May 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: Kristen and Olivia working on PowerBI
Image: Kristen and Olivia discussing with Stathis Volunteer Data Analytics Team SAcommunity about Google Analytics GT4
Work experience - Internal & External Events, Connections & Networks
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.
Relevant meetings and training sessions Kristen has attend include:
Image: Kristen attending Infoxchange Meeting about World Autism Month on 05 April 2024
Infoxchange (IX) Meeting - People & Culture - Lunch & Learn Sessions
During the session about World Autism Month on 05 April 2024, Kristen attended an informative talk on Amaze from CEO of Amaze - Jim Mullan, who served as the keynote speaker during World Autism Month on 05 April 2024. His presentation focused on Amaze's initiatives, World Autism Month, and the importance of autistic inclusion in the workplace. Amaze is renowned for its efforts in fostering autism understanding, advocating for policy changes benefiting autistic individuals and their families, and offering reliable information and resources to various stakeholders, including individuals, families, professionals, government entities, and the broader community.
Image: Kristen attending the Connecting Up (CU) Monthly Staff Meeting led by Head of Connecting Up - Pankaj Chhalotre 9 April 2024.
Connecting Up (CU) Monthly Staff Meeting
The monthly Connecting Up Team meeting is a formal meeting for sharing updates, plans, and highlights, ensuring all members stay informed about ongoing initiatives and upcoming events. These meetings aim to foster collaboration and teamwork, aligning everyone with organizational goals. As a participant, Kristen gained valuable insight into agendas, activities, and team roles, enhancing her understanding of our operations and promoting better collaboration among the organization’s members.
Infoxchange (IX) Meeting - 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, Kristen 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. As a collective, the network will harness data and knowledge from the not-for-profit community sector, academia, government and business to better use and manage data to improve the lives of people across Australia.
DCN: Tools to get control of your data: The Benevolent Society & Microsoft talk about Fabric 24 April 2024
Kristen attended a DCN webinar that provided a comprehensive examination of Microsoft Fabric's ability to integrate data management and AI. Benny Austin's analysis of its components, functionalities, and governance highlighted its potential for secure and collaborative data usage, promoting innovation in organizations.
The webinar not only deepened Kristen's understanding of Microsoft Fabric's capabilities but also enhanced her knowledge of effective data management strategies. By elucidating the platform's features, governance protocols, and integration capabilities, the webinar empowered Kristen to understand how Fabric can streamline data processes, bolster security measures, and encourage collaboration among various user roles. This newfound knowledge expanded Kristen's perspective on leveraging advanced analytics platforms to drive innovation and informed decision-making within organizations.
Image: Kristen and Intern Olivia with David Zhao IT Project Manager of Infoxchange, 10 May 2024
Mentor Meeting
Connecting Up 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.
Kristen met her self-chosen mentor David Zhao, Infoxchange IT Project Manager on 10 May 2024. She discussed about her education and career possibilities and gained professional development advice, guidance and gathered insights into her career pathway and connections.
Image: Data Analytics Team celebrate Shawwal Cresent Moon Sighting with Mostafa's cupcakes.
Training and Development
Relevant training sessions were selected, attended and summarised below by Kristen to enhance her internship experience include:
Image: Kristen and Mostafa practicing Telephone Techniques
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.
AI opportunities, risks & benefits for NFPs
The session taught about AI and its benefits for non-profits, led by Rita Arrigo from CSIRO National AI Centre. As the former Deputy Director of the Centre of Industrial AI Research and Innovation (CIAIRI) and Chief Digital Advisor at Microsoft, she spearheaded innovation across various sectors using cutting-edge technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Generative AI, Machine Learning (ML), Mixed Reality (MR), and Digital Twin. Her work extended to industries such as health, transport, energy, education, urban planning, customer engagement, and environmental stewardship.
Kristen found the session incredibly informative and insightful, gaining a comprehensive understanding of AI, machine learning, and generative AI. She appreciated the practical examples tailored for not-for-profits, particularly the strategies for driving cost savings, boosting productivity, and maximizing impact. Kristen feels empowered to implement these tools and strategies to make a meaningful difference in the future.
Kristen Ngoc Khanh Mai Nguyen Certificate of Completion >> here
A Practical Introduction to Power BI
The session Kristen attended provided her with a comprehensive overview of PowerBI, a powerful tool for data visualization and analysis. The A Practical Introduction to Power BI webinar delivered by Marcus Harvey, who leads Infoxchange's IT consulting and services teams in Australia and New Zealand.
During the session, Kristen learned about the diverse range of data sources that PowerBI can access, from databases to online services, allowing analysts to aggregate and analyze data from various sources in one centralized location. Kristen discovered how to generate visualizations within PowerBI, including charts, graphs, maps, and tables, and how to customize these visualizations to convey insights effectively.
Use spreadsheets like a pro for data analysis and visualization
From the webinar "Use spreadsheets like a pro for Data analysis and visualization," Kristen gained valuable insights into structured thinking and organizing data effectively. The course covered essential mathematics functions and formulas, empowering her to manipulate and analyze data efficiently within Google Spreadsheets. Kristen also learned how to visualize data directly within the spreadsheet using common charts and graphs, enhancing her ability to communicate insights effectively. Overall, the webinar provided Kristen with practical skills to excel in data analysis and visualization using spreadsheet tools, contributing to her proficiency in managing and presenting data in her professional endeavors.
Gain a clear understanding of your organisation's data and impact using Power BI
Decisions with data - Business Intelligence for your organization
The webinar was delivered by Matt Walton who has over 20 years experience working in the community sector to improve their use of technology and currently working as consulting services manager. Through the webinar, Kristen learned how leveraging Microsoft's PowerBI can empower her organization with insights and business intelligence from both internal and external data sources. This knowledge allows for informed decision-making regarding service provision and enhances positioning for funding opportunities.
Microsoft Power Platform - Build your first app
The webinar was led by Cathy Xu, who is a skilled Power Platform Architect and Trainer at Microsoft, and Alexander Georges, who is a passionate Power Platform Solution Architect at Microsoft. They work to increase accessibility to innovation and promote low-code and no-code technology in Australia and New Zealand through Microsoft's partner network.
In this session, Kristen learned about the Power App maker's experience and gained the skills to create her first Power App. The content followed the App in a Day learning path, allowing her to apply what she has learned in her own environments.
Data Loss Prevention with Microsoft: Protecting sensitive data
In today's digital era, safeguarding sensitive data is crucial for organizations. Microsoft offers robust Data Loss Prevention (DLP) solutions through the Microsoft 365 Compliance Center, allowing centralized management of compliance tasks. Customizable DLP policies and sensitive information types of help detect and prevent unauthorized data sharing across Microsoft 365 services. User education is integral, supported by tools like Microsoft Information Protection (MIP) for a better understanding of data protection policies. Integration with Azure Information Protection (AIP) and Microsoft Cloud App Security (MCAS) enhances DLP effectiveness, while robust reporting enables continuous monitoring and refinement of strategies. Microsoft's DLP solutions provide a comprehensive approach to compliance and safeguarding valuable information assets.
After the webinar led by Partner CTO and Strategist at Microsoft James Buzzard, Kristen gained a clear understanding of Data Loss Prevention (DLP) solution of Microsoft. She learned the significance of safeguarding sensitive information, how to identify and classify such data, and practical methods for implementing Microsoft's tools and services to prevent breaches.
Image: Kristen and Data Analytics Team - photograph set by Jay
SAcommunity Team Members
L-R Back row: Rex Porter, Anubhav Dattagupta, Lynn Huang, Stathis Avramis, Harsh Bhatt, Yi Han, Joe Xuanrong Zhang, Jay Shijie Zhang
L- R Front Row; Tanvi Srviastava, Camille Sze Pui Ko, Sylvia Shiwen Cao, Anju Odedara, Kristen Ngoc Khanh Mai Nguyen
SAcommunity Team Members
L-R Back row: Rex Porter, Anubhav Dattagupta, Lynn Huang, Stathis Avramis, Harsh Bhatt, Yi Han, Joe Xuanrong Zhang, Jay Shijie Zhang
L- R Front Row; Tanvi Srviastava, Camille Sze Pui Ko, Sylvia Shiwen Cao, Anju Odedara, Kristen Ngoc Khanh Mai Nguyen
"During my internship with SAcommunity's Data Analytics Team from March 22 to May 14, 2024, I gained valuable skills and insights. Working on the Wudinna District council project using Power BI was particularly impactful, allowing me to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios and contribute to community service data analysis.
Engaging in stakeholder events like the Data Catalyst Network webinars exposed me to emerging trends like augmented intelligence and deepened my understanding of data ethics. Training sessions organized by Connecting Up further honed my data management and analytics expertise, covering tools like Power BI, Excel, Google Analytics, and IT management.
Mentorship from David Zhao, Infoxchange's IT Project Manager, provided invaluable guidance. Overall, this internship has equipped me with the confidence and skills to pursue a career as a data analyst, ready to make meaningful contributions to organizations aiming for data-driven decision-making and positive social impact."
