Up on the 29th floor of the International Towers in Barangaroo, the _nology office is bathed in natural light and a sense of endless possibility. In this bright, open space, surrounded by the harbour’s shimmering waters, Roisin greets us — her down-to-earth demeanour complemented by an unmistakable enthusiasm and a clear, unwavering vision for the future of tech talent.
Roisin’s journey began in Wales, though her childhood was spent moving between Wales, Spain, and Ireland. The constant shifting of landscapes left her with an “all over the place” accent as varied as her experiences. Roisin reflected on her upbringing, acknowledging the unique advantages of living in different places. “It had its pros and cons,” she admits, “but I loved everywhere I lived. The schools were great, and I have good memories from all of them.”
As a child, Roisin had imagined herself becoming a lawyer. “My parents would probably tell you I was very argumentative, so being a lawyer made a lot of sense,” she laughed. But as she grew older, her interests shifted towards science, leading her to pursue a degree in pharmacology and neuroscience. However, after graduation, it became clear that this path wasn’t the right fit for her. “As soon as I actually got into the nitty gritty of what careers in that space might look like, it became a lot less appealing. A lot of it was very lab oriented, not much interaction with people, things like that.”
After travelling across the US and South America, Roisin arrived in Australia with plans to stay for just a year. But something about Australia resonated with her. The lifestyle, the people – it all felt right. The longer she stayed, the more she realised that Australia was where she wanted to put down roots. With that realisation came the question that many young adults face: what to do next?
In the early days of her new life in Australia, Roisin found herself without a clear career path in mind. A role in recruitment, originally a means to secure a visa and settle down, unexpectedly became a source of profound insight. Working closely with candidates and hiring managers, Roisin began to see a pattern emerge: a pressing issue of diversity within the tech sector.
“There’s a huge pipeline problem in terms of the number of people studying university degrees in technology,” she notes. Additionally, there was a troubling drop-off rate for women reaching mid-career levels in tech. Roisin and her then CEO, Amy Golding, saw an opportunity to address this issue head-on. “We thought, why don’t we just get more women into the sector?” Roisin explains. “More women, in particular, should be taking advantage of opportunities that provide flexibility, great earning potential, and future-proof skillsets.”
Their solution was to tap into a pool of potential candidates who had not originally considered tech careers. “We wanted to bring in people who might not have thought about tech when they were 17 or 18, trying to figure out what to do with their lives,” she says. Many of these individuals had already spent a decade in the workforce, acquiring valuable skills and experiences that could be transferred to the tech sector.
Roisin is deeply motivated by the potential to make technology more inclusive. Her work initially focused on gender diversity, but she envisions a broader impact. “We just want the people who are building all of the tech that we use every day to be much more reflective of the community that it serves,” she says, emphasising the long-term benefits of designing tech with diverse perspectives.
Beyond the systemic impact, Roisin finds immense satisfaction in helping individuals find new career paths. The transformative experience for many is evident in their reactions. “The excitement, the enthusiasm, the gratitude that they have where they’re like, ‘Oh, there’s a pathway for me. I understand what that pathway looks like.I don’t have to do it all on my own.’”
For Roisin, proving people wrong is one of the most gratifying aspects of her role. “I truly cannot tell you still how many conversations we have with people who are so, so sceptical of what you can teach people in three months.” Yet, the results speak for themselves. “We’ve solved problems that we never thought we could solve. We’ve looked at things in ways that we never thought to look at them.”
The success of her initiative is also reflected in the strong loyalty of those who complete their placements. “Almost 100 per cent of _nologists who finish their 18-month placements end up moving into permanent roles with those companies,” Roisin points out. This success not only fills talent gaps but also contributes to a more inclusive industry. “In a few years, these individuals will be in leadership roles, hiring junior candidates and continuing to build more diverse teams,” she notes.
Looking to the future, Roisin envisions a more progressive tech sector that nurtures early talent and embraces all facets of diversity. “We need to be looking at every single piece of the talent puzzle,” she insists. “If we want to compete globally and attract investment into Australian startups, the talent and skills piece is crucial.”
Her advice to those considering a tech career? “Strip away your preconceptions about working in technology. Go to meetups, talk to people, and explore how your previous experiences and passions might align with tech roles.”
Roisin’s journey reflects a broader story of transformation and possibility. Her work is not just about filling roles, it’s about reshaping the tech landscape to be more inclusive and reflective of the diverse world we live in.
