Screen Goddess Victoria

Senior Oracle Database Administrator, ACT

My IT career was kick-started while working in Advertising as a Promotions and Marketing Assistant, because I was interested in the software tools of the Graphic Artists. This led to an enrolment in a Multimedia degree which fed into the Bachelor of IT course. After heading up a successful multimedia company, which won the inaugural Westpac Business Accelerator award, I turned my focus to a career in Database Administration. Having consulted at a telco, airline, and all levels of Government over several years, I started a Database Management consultancy, D Squared (www.dsquared.net.au) where I am still very much the technical consultant in my position as Senior Oracle Database Administrator.

It's important to me to emphasise that IT and computing is only one aspect of my life. Life-work balance is integral. I make it a priority to spend quality time with my family and friends. I am a zealous traveller, often visiting new places and favourite haunts to experience the world and its delicacies on offer - this year I've studied and relaxed in Beijing, Hong Kong, Sydney and the Gold Coast and I will mangerai et marcherai my way through Paris, later in the year. I make time for my health and wellbeing combining long-distance running with cross-training; my favourite runs being up and down the mountains near home.

I am participating in the "Screen Goddesses" calendar to both encourage females of any age to study in the IT field for a technical role and to encourage technical women in IT to support each other in an industry where networking with 'the boys' and with other women is sometimes a challenge.

I'd like to see more women who are technical getting actively involved in the support of women in the IT industry, and not just the women in sales, business analysis, project management and owner/operators. I think there are too many women out there who still believe the technical roles are "unsocial" and "boring" - exactly the mentality this calendar is trying to change.

The truth is in technical roles (and I speak of those I am most familiar with - database administration, system administration, network and storage management) there is a huge requirement for advanced communication skills and creative thinking. You can learn technical skills, but creativity, charisma and influencing can't be taught.

My hope is the "Screen Goddesses" calendar empowers women in the IT industry, by proving the diversity in technical skills, achievements and personalities. I would be disappointed if this calendar was purely seen as a pictorial objectification of women.