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Profile: Harold Lucero

ACS staff, Information Age

14/10/2002 17:13:40

Harold Lucero

The industry downturn may have made life more difficult for most ICT professionals when it comes to finding work or keeping their business afloat in tough times, but for Harold Lucero of Sydney, Australia remains a land of opportunity.

An American resident who was born in Ecuador, Harold came to Australia for a brief holiday in 1993 and loved it so much he returned a year later. Already a computer science graduate, he had been planning to undertake a Master's degree in the US but decided Australia represented a better option in pursuing his studies.

"I was accepted into the Graduate Diploma in Accounting at Macquarie University and quickly found a job working with IT training company, Martin Ridge & Associates," said Harold.

"When I applied for Australian residency, they required me to have ACS membership so I initially joined as an Associate member, later upgrading to full professional status once my qualifications and experience met the ACS criteria."

Since then, Harold has completed a Master's in Finance, combining his IT knowledge and hands-on technical skills with a strong background in finance. He has also established a consulting firm, Lucsan Capital, which provides technology solutions and services to the finance industry.

"The financial sector is a fantastic niche market and only a relatively small number of people have the specialised knowledge and expertise to meet the needs of organisations operating in this space. Having both the IT skills and in-depth financial and business knowledge is a great combination," he said.

Harold believes his membership of the ACS is also extremely important to his clients' recognition of his skills and expertise.

"Professional membership says you're a person who is serious about their career, particularly once you achieve full membership status. While my clients don't require me to be an ACS member, it certainly gives me added credibility in their eyes when they see it on my resume."

The fact that the ACS has one of the most demanding membership structures of any IT professional society in the world is a huge plus as far as Harold is concerned.

"When I was practising in America, I joined the ACM, but the only real requirement they had for membership was that you paid their fee.

"The ACS structure, where you have to qualify for any level of membership and then progress through the ranks as your qualifications and experience increases, has far greater credibility and respect. I also like the fact that you're assessed by your peers and need letters of recommendation to become a professional member, so there's a high degree of accountability," he said.

For Harold, ACS membership offers far more than professional credibility. In addition to attending branch meetings to update his knowledge, he's taken the time to investigate the value-added benefits the ACS offers, and is taking full advantage.

"I'm into property investment as a way of building wealth and reducing my tax liability, and the AMP Home Loan package available through the ACS offers me a 65 basis points discount on the standard variable mortgage rate, which is a great saving. I don't know too many banks that will give you that rate.

"I also take advantage of the discount Qantas Club membership and the Gold membership with Hertz for rental cars, both of which give me very attractive rates and are extremely useful when I'm travelling for work."

Despite the current industry downturn, Harold believes Australia offers enormous opportunities for anyone prepared to get in and have a go.

"Australia is very sophisticated in terms of technology, but the society is a little more conservative and risk averse than you find in America. However that means that people who are prepared to take risks and try new things to take advantage of the opportunities can really stand out," he said.

So appreciative is Harold of the quality of life and career opportunities on offer in Australia, he persuaded his brother to emigrate and complete an IT degree here.

"My brother came to Australia a couple of years ago and is now a permanent resident and an ACS Associate member, working for a company at Cremorne in Sydney," he said.

Harold himself balances his professional life with a growing family and a passion for sport.

"My wife and I have two children and another on the way and I try to spend as much time with them as possible."

He also believes his Christian faith gives him better perspective on the current industry downturn.

"My faith influences my choices in both life and work, giving me more confidence in my abilities as well as a greater commitment to honesty and integrity in my dealings with clients. Although being in a consulting business is harder right now, I don't worry about it, but just enjoy life as a gift from God and try to live it to the fullest," he said.

"I have a long-term goal to become more involved in teaching and coaching younger IT professionals and trying to instil more passion into the industry. I think it's really important to bring lots of energy to what you do and want to create opportunities for other people to enter this market."