Blogs

Ageism is holding back Australia’s tech workforce. Here’s why experience matters and how businesses can embrace age-inclusive hiring.

Welcome to Lunch With a Leader, where the Tech & Data People team sits down with IT leaders to uncover their career insights, challenges, and industry perspectives. Each conversation brings valuable lessons, trends, and advice to help our community grow and thrive. Grab a seat at the table and take in the insights from some of the best in the business.

Spoiler: “Competitive salary” isn’t the hook you think it is.

Welcome to Lunch with a Leader, where the Tech & Data People team sits down with IT leaders to uncover their career insights, challenges, and industry perspectives. Each conversation brings valuable lessons, trends, and advice to help our community grow and thrive. Grab a seat at the table and take in the insights from some of the best in the business.

Welcome to Lunch with a Leader, where the Tech & Data People team sits down with IT leaders to uncover their career insights, challenges, and industry perspectives. Each conversation brings valuable lessons, trends, and advice to help our community grow and thrive. Grab a seat at the table and take in the insights from some of the best in the business. 

Why the way you brief, partner, and align at the top matters more than ever.

Welcome to Lunch with a Leader, where the Tech & Data People team sits down with IT leaders to uncover their career insights, challenges, and industry perspectives. Each conversation brings valuable lessons, trends, and advice to help our community grow and thrive. Grab a seat at the table and take in the insights from some of the best in the business. 

We’ve entered an era where the smartest systems aren’t the loudest. they’re the ones you don’t even notice. Ambient Intelligence (AmI), or “ambient invisible intelligence,” is reshaping how we live and work, not with fanfare, but with subtlety. This is AI that whispers instead of shouts. It learns your habits, senses your environment, and responds without you lifting a finger. It’s the kind of intelligence that anticipates, not interrupts. So… why should tech professionals, recruiters, and business leaders care? What Is Ambient Intelligence (AmI), Really? Ambient intelligence refers to digital systems—AI, sensors, and networks—that are embedded into our environments to support humans quietly and contextually. Think beyond chatbots and flashy dashboards. This is: Smart lighting that adjusts based on mood or weather Healthcare systems that flag early symptoms before patients notice Cybersecurity that auto-defends without alert fatigue Enterprise tools that prioritise tasks based on your unique working patterns. It’s a tech layer that fades into the background. That is, until you realise you couldn’t function without it. A Silent Revolution in the Workplace Here’s the interesting bit: Ambient AI isn’t just for homes and smart cities. It’s quietly infiltrating our workplaces. Talent Platforms that serve candidates content before they search. Meeting Software that understands conversation flow and adjusts transcripts, follow-ups, or even sentiment analysis in real time. Facilities Management tools that adjust airflow, lighting, and noise levels based on occupancy and stress indicators. And all of this happens without user prompts. We’ve moved from “Hey Siri” to “Siri already knows.” Why It Matters for Tech Recruitment Let’s talk talent. As ambient intelligence grows, we’ll see rising demand for: AI/ML engineers with human-centred design experience Data privacy and ethics specialists IoT security experts UX professionals who understand invisible design Integration architects who can make fragmented systems feel cohesive. And here’s the catch: these roles often require cross-functional fluency. Tech meets psychology, meets ethics, meets design. Are we ready for that shift? Ethical Design in the Background There’s power in invisibility. But there’s risk too. When tech becomes ambient, it also becomes less visible to scrutiny. That means: Bias can go unchecked Data privacy can slip through the cracks Users can be nudged without realising it. The question is no longer can we do this? —But should we? Smart businesses will bring in people who can answer that. Invisible, but Intentional The future of AI isn’t a robot in the boardroom. It’s the algorithm silently removing barriers before they appear. Ambient intelligence is already here. You may have just not noticed it. Yet.

Growing a tech team goes a little more in-depth than just getting bums on seats. That is, if you want to scale efficiently. As businesses expand, they often face a common dilemma: should they build an in-house team, buy talent through hiring full-time employees, or partner with external agencies and contractors? Each approach has its pros and cons, and choosing the right one depends on factors like budget, project scope, and long-term business goals. The Build, Buy or Partner Framework When to build (upskill & develop internal talent) Best for: Companies with existing talent that can be developed for long-term growth. Pros: Retains institutional knowledge Fosters a strong company culture Reduces external hiring costs over time. Cons: Takes time and investment in training Can be challenging if internal talent lacks specialised skills. When to choose this approach: When you have a solid foundation of junior-to-mid-level employees who can be trained When you’re looking to promote from within and build long-term loyalty When hiring budgets are tight, but internal development is feasible. When to buy (hire full-time employees directly or through an agency) Best for: Businesses needing stability and long-term expertise in critical roles. Pros: Provides dedicated resources fully committed to company goals Helps establish a strong, cohesive team culture. Cons: Lengthy hiring processes if running a direct process Higher upfront costs (salary, benefits, onboarding, training) Risk of turnover. When to choose this approach: When core business functions require in-house expertise (e.g., software engineers, DevOps, cybersecurity specialists) When long-term stability outweighs short-term cost savings When hiring in a talent-competitive industry where full-time employment is a key attractor. When to partner (contractors and recruitment agencies) Best for: Businesses needing flexibility, speed, or niche expertise. Pros: Faster time-to-hire, especially for specialised roles Cost-effective for short-term projects Access to a broader talent pool. Cons: Cultural integration can be trickier if partners aren’t well-briefed on your values and team dynamics May carry higher long-term costs but manageable with a strong partner who can help you strike the right balance with lasting talent. When to choose this approach: When working on short-term projects that don’t justify full-time hires When needing specialised skills that are difficult to recruit in-house When scaling rapidly and requiring immediate talent solutions When the target talent requires a more strategic brand positioning. Making the Right Hiring Decision Assess business goals: Align hiring strategy with long-term company objectives. Evaluate current team capabilities: Determine whether upskilling is an option before going to market. Consider cost vs. speed: Weigh the urgency of hiring needs against budget constraints. Mix & match approaches: A hybrid approach—combining direct hires with external partners—can offer the best balance of cost, flexibility, and expertise. Scaling a tech team effectively requires a strategic mix of building, buying, and partnering. By understanding the strengths and limitations of each approach, hiring managers can make informed decisions that support both immediate needs and long-term growth. Get in touch with our team to see how we can help set your business up for efficient and effective hiring.