Adjusting to Australian Workplace Culture

Landing a job is only the first step. Knowing how to thrive in an Australian workplace is what sets you apart. Join us for an engaging evening of honest conversations, practical advice and real stories from industry professionals and alumni who have successfully built their careers in Australia. Learn what employers expect, how to communicate with confidence and the workplace skills that aren't always taught in the classroom. Whether you're preparing for your first internship, graduate role, part-time job or looking to take the next step in your career, you'll leave with practical tips and greater confidence to navigate the Australian workplace. Why should you attend: • Discover what Australian employers value and expect in the workplace. • Learn about communication styles, workplace etiquette, and building professional relationships. • Gain practical tips to build confidence in meetings, interviews, networking, and everyday workplace interactions. • Hear authentic stories, challenges, and lessons from industry professionals and international graduates who have successfully navigated the Australian workforce. • Walk away with practical strategies and insights you can apply to your next internship, placement, or graduate opportunity. Our Panel: Tinaika Pereira – Study Melbourne Ambassador Moderator Tinaika is originally from the vibrant culture and famous beaches of Goa, India. She describes herself as a student advocate, community builder and a storyteller, and someone who genuinely cares about the international student community. Guided by her values, or what she likes to call the 4 C’s: Creativity, Curiosity, Collaboration, and Community, Tinaika wants to create spaces where international students feel confident, supported and connected. Moving to Melbourne has taught her many things. Hearing stories from other international students showed her that she wasn’t alone in her journey and she realised how storytelling can build confidence and connection. Her experiences reshaped her identity and purpose, turning them into a journey of personal growth, along with developing a love for Melbourne’s coffee culture. Tinaika is also a founder and a podcast host where she shares honest conversations about personal growth, friendships, careers and navigating life abroad, hoping to uplift or inspire other international students. Tinaika believes that if the space you’re looking for doesn’t exist, create it! Ms. Melania Guzman – Human Resources Director at L'Oréal Melania is a strategic and transformative HR leader with over 20 years of experience driving employee engagement, empowerment, and business growth. She is a global award-winning HR professional with a strong focus on organisational and people development, known for her innovative and pragmatic leadership approach. She has a proven track record in international HR across diverse markets, including Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, the USA, England, China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Her work consistently focuses on building high-performing cultures, strengthening leadership capability, and enabling sustainable people and business outcomes across global organisations. Mr. Sumit Nair – AI Engineer at Freight Cyber He is an AI Engineer and Backend Developer with hands-on experience delivering production-ready AI systems using Python, PostgreSQL, and Amazon Web Services. He is currently working on AI-powered backend services using AWS Lambda, serverless architectures, and scalable data pipelines. His background spans machine learning, computer vision, real-time simulation, and intelligent transport systems, with a strong focus on applying AI to real-world problems. He has experience across the full development lifecycle, from data preprocessing and model development to cloud deployment and system integration. He enjoys working at the intersection of AI, backend engineering, and cloud infrastructure, and is motivated by roles that create measurable real-world impact. Ms. Natalie Badawy – Talent Acquisition Specialist at Andromeda Robotics Natalie is a specialist software recruiter with a background in science and a strong passion for the tech industry. She began her career after completing a Bachelor of Science at Monash University, majoring in human science subjects, and working as a Neurophysiology Scientist at Monash Health. While this role provided valuable experience, it also helped her realise her true passion lay elsewhere, leading her to make a bold career shift into recruitment. Since transitioning into the tech world, Natalie has built her expertise across agency and in-house recruitment, most recently working with an innovative startup, Andromeda, where she helps connect top talent to cutting-edge projects. She is deeply involved in the tech community, regularly attending and sponsoring meetups, co-organising the Melbourne Talent Meetup, and volunteering with Her Tech Circle. Her focus is on delivering exceptional candidate experiences and building effective, people-first talent strategies. Your next career opportunity starts with understanding the culture behind the workplace. We look forward to seeing you there! This is a free event. Registrations are essential.