Welcome to February’s roundup newsletter!  

Wow and just like that January is well and truly behind us!
February is jam packed with activities including our first teams catch-up of the year.
We also have the Picnic for the Pinnacle foundation, which is an event (and foundation) that is very close to my heart, and I hope that I get to see as many of you attending as possible. You can find more info about that, and our employee of the month below so please take a few minutes to read through the newsletter. 

Wishing you all a great month ahead. Happy Reading! Nic.

Up Close and personal with Ashita Shashidharan 

1., Tell us about yourself.  

I live in Melbourne with my husband and 2 daughters (8 and 4 years old). My career started as a C/C++ developer for telecom and retail clients. Over the years, I found my interest in automation testing where I can leverage my experience across software lifecycle and business consultation.   

Outside of work, I nourish my creative side with lots of DIY projects. I love music, dancing, shopping, trying new restaurants and cuisines, and exploring new places with unique landscapes 

I always look forward to playing board/card games with friends and family during weekends. I also enjoy listening to music and playing badminton.

2., What do you do at ESTA/Talentplicity 

I have been at ESTA for the last 3 years as an Automation Test Analyst.  I automate ESTA’s testing process which in turn helps ESTA respond to emergency calls better and improve time to market.  

My role involves: 

  • Working with system test team and gathering functionalities to be tested, prepare BDD test cases and, priorities tests for new releases.
  • Estimate test scripting timelines and maintain backlog items for release rollouts. 
  • Converting BDD test cases into python test scripts and resolve script issues 
  • Work closely with the Apps team to resolve environment and App issues 
  • Execute automated test scripts during releases, share results and reports with the test team 

 

3., What do you love about your job? 

I work with functional teams to understand the process and help incorporate automation in the testing life cycle. The opportunity to learn numerous features because each functionality is different from another excites me about my job. 

The goal is to ensure repeatable tests are done with highest accuracy and predictability which is crucial in emergency services. 

4., What is your favourite recipe/dish?  

I love seafood and my all-time favorite still is my mom-made Malabar fish curry. 😊 

5., What is your favourite holiday destination? 

I have always loved my summer travels. My favourite cities for holiday are in Eastern Europe – Prague and Dubrovnik. In Australia, North Stradie is one of the scenic relaxing places I love.  

Pinnacle Picnic in the Park

You’re invited to a scrumptious Picnic on Wednesday 22nd February 2023 at the Palace Rose Garden & Pavilion in the Royal Botanical Garden 🙂 

As a proud multi-year gold partner of the Pinnacle Foundation, the Picnic for Pinnacle is an event close to Nic’s heart and he would love to get your support and your attendance on the day.  

During the event, we will not only get to enjoy some delicious food, but we more importantly will finally get to meet and talk to our scholar, who we will be supporting financially throughout their educational journey.   

We would love to get you all to come along and will organsie transport to pick you up and drop you back at work before anyone even notices you are gone 🙂. The event kicks off at 12.00 pm and depending on your schedule, you are welcome to stick around for your lunch break or a little longer. 

The Pinnacle Foundation educates and supports young LGBTIQ+ Australians, many of whom have faced family, faith, and community rejection, to realise their full potential.  Click here for more info: https://thepinnaclefoundation.org/ 

Hope to see you all there 🙂 

Marina 

Get Paid to Stay Fit Competition

Get $600 up for grabs each year 

Talentplicity employees can claim and be reimbursed for a gym membership, Yoga or Pilates classes, sporting classes, or any other fitness class/activity up to the value of $50 per month.