TECHx showcases Westpac’s tech evolution

The theme of this year’s TECHx, Westpac’s annual technology expo, is “the past informs, the future transforms”. 

It’s a fitting tagline for the event, which is marking it’s 10-year anniversary with a look back on the technological changes that have shaped the bank’s history, alongside an emphasis on inspiring the tech talent of the future. 

“TECHx is where we bring the community of technology people together. It’s an opportunity for them to learn and connect with each other,” says David Walker, Westpac’s Chief Technology Officer, on the sidelines of the TECHx in-person event at the bank’s offices in Kogarah. 

Walker’s keynote presentation took the audience on a journey from the bank’s earliest days, when every transaction was handwritten in a ledger book, to market-leading innovations in the mobile banking app, including budgeting tools and safety features, which have seen it recognised as the best in Australia for two years running.*

Westpac has a long tradition as a technology pioneer, Walker noted, citing the installation of FABACUS - First Australian Bank’s Accounting Computer Used in Sydney - in 1964. The GE225 General Electric machine, which took up the entire floor of an office block despite delivering just 20 kilobytes of computing power, is a far cry from the sleek laptops we use today but was revolutionary at the time. 

Turning to present day, Walker says that “tech is evolving at a faster pace than ever before.” That’s why events like TECHx are so important in helping to keep employees abreast of the work the bank and its partners are doing in areas such as artificial intelligence and cyber security. 

They can also discover more about Westpac’s UNITE program, which will simplify the bank’s tech stack with an extensive program of work over the next 3-4 years.

“UNITE is one of the most important things we’ll ever do,” Scott Collary, Westpac’s Chief Information Officer, said in his keynote speech at TECHx.

“The end goal is simplification, a better customer experience, and an improved experience for our people. What we have is good, but we have too many ways of doing things - UNITE is about choosing one best way of doing things, supported by one set of technology,” Collary said. 

Another focus of this year’s TECHx is nurturing future tech talent, with a special live event held for university and high school students to inspire them to consider a career in tech, potentially with Westpac.

Cindy Li, a senior automation engineer at Westpac and an alumni from the bank’s graduate program, took part in a panel discussion with the student attendees.

“They were asking lots of interesting questions about the program and internships, and about life and career in general,” Li says.

Li’s colleague Jessica Wicks says it was important to get the message across that you don’t need a tech-based degree or background to take the jump into a technology career. 

Li and Wicks were also involved in the Women in Tech stand at TECHx, just one of a range of booths hosted by teams across the bank. The event also included exhibits and presentations from partners including Microsoft, IBM, AWS, GitHub, and Atlassian. 

“10 years ago, TECHx was a single day event with just a few booths,” Walker says. “Now it’s a full week of events with virtual sessions that connect people from all over the world.”

There’s also a much stronger focus on education. 

“TECHx is a learning opportunity, but also showcases the spectrum of innovation and creative thinking across technology at Westpac – and how those ideas that can be applied in your day job.”

*As recognised by research group Forrester.