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Be a problem finder to future proof your career

Problem solving and coding fluency alone won’t be enough to cement long term employment according to information technology heavyweights speaking at an Australian Catholic University careers roundtable.

In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, ACU hosted a forward-looking careers roundtable titled Future-Proofing Your Career in the Age of AI. The event convened senior voices from academia, consulting, and technology to explore how students and professionals can build resilient, adaptive careers in an AI-driven world.

Moderated by Associate Professor Niusha Shafiabady, Head of IT Discipline at ACU, the panel featured ACU Inaugural Dean (Enterprise) Professor Myriem Amielh, Director and Head of Data and AI Shahab Dayanati, AI Lead Jessica Wyndham (both KPMG) and Artificial Intelligence Specialist Adam Rappaport from Data3.

The panelists emphasised that while coding fluency and technical skills remain essential, long-term employability will increasingly depend on ethical reasoning, communication, and the ability to anticipate future challenges.

“Industry wants problem finders,” Professor Amielh said. “You may be good at solving a problem … but the people who find (problems) to work on, they create the business opportunities for tomorrow.”

Key themes explored included:

• Problem Finding as a Strategic Skill: Panelists underscored the growing value of individuals who can anticipate future challenges and frame them as opportunities. This proactive mindset is increasingly sought after in hiring and innovation contexts.
• Soft Skills and Ethical Awareness: Beyond coding, the ability to engage clients, communicate complex ideas, and integrate responsible AI principles into technical builds was highlighted as a differentiator in today’s job market.
• Initiative and Experience: Attendees were encouraged to seek out experiential learning opportunities—such as hackathons or industry projects—not necessarily to win, but to demonstrate curiosity, initiative, and a willingness to think beyond conventional boundaries.
• Lifelong Learning and Adaptability: The panel reinforced the importance of continuous upskilling and agile thinking, especially as AI accelerates change across sectors.

The roundtable served as a powerful reminder that future-proofing a career is not just about keeping pace with technology—it’s about leading with insight, ethics, and imagination.

Media Contact: Damien Stannard, 0484 387349, Damien.Stannard@acu.edu.au