5 mins with Julie-Ann Kerin

How did you come to work for CSG?
I was looking to return to Australia after working in the US for most of my career and the opportunity at CSG came along. The timing was perfect.

How long did you live in the US?
I have lived and worked in the US for most of the last 15 years. In between coming back to Australia I lived in Asia. I have been responsible for operations in Asia, Europe, Africa and the Middle East and the Americas.

Do you miss the country at all?
I miss the size and scale of business in the US and I also miss the technology culture that comes with living in the Bay Area (San Francisco).

What don't you miss about the country?
I don't miss the security in airports and the time it takes to get from one city to another. I miss my friends and the buzz of the venture industry.

Where you always interested in working in the technology industry?
Yes. I've worked across many facets of the technology industry for my entire career. I've worked for software vendors, integrators and also in venture capital and mergers/acquisitions.

If you weren't in IT what career path would you choose?
I would be working in a not-for-profit to bring technology and education to children who don't have access to such privileges.

Why is bringing technology to children important to you?
I believe education and technology is life changing for children who live in underprivileged environments and would love every child to have access to a good education and enabling technology.

How does technology improve the lives of underprivileged children?
Technology creates access to education for children. The Ultranet project in Victoria will give every child in the public education system access to a world class teaching and learning environment. It will allow parents and teachers to collaborate and discuss the learning path for each student in every school across Victoria.

Have you been involved with charities that help children access technology?
I have been involved with building a boy's home in Sri Lanka following the tsunami (in 2004) and through the money we raised we were able to provide computers to the boys in their new home.

What's something you never leave home without?
My Blackberry, I can't imagine my life without it now.

Do you think mobile devices can be too intrusive on your life?
Absolutely not. I'm a gadget junky and I think I have owned every mobile device from the first Apple Newton.

What do you to relax?
I love going to the beach. It's something I definitely don't do enough.

If there was one thing you would take with you to a deserted island what would it be?
Sean Penn, without a doubt.

What's something you look back on and think thank goodness that stayed in that era?
It would have to be Elvis and that whole rock ‘n' roll thing.

What technology would you like to be invented to help make your life smoother?
Definitely robots that can cook, clean wash and get kids to school.