On Thursday, 14 May 2026, the IEEE Young Professionals Affinity Group (New Zealand Central Section), in collaboration with Victoria University of Wellington, hosted a panel discussion on transitioning from study and research into professional careers.

The event attracted around 40 attendees and featured industry professionals from AI, software engineering, and data science backgrounds, who shared valuable insights into industry expectations, career pathways, and the skills needed to thrive in today’s competitive job market.