Since graduating with our Flinders Class of 2022, Charlie McMahon has hit the ground running.
Currently completing a double degree in IT and Finance at QUT, Charlie has already built an impressive global resume, including a six-month internship with BMW in Germany and a Disruptive Leaders Program in Singapore. In this profile, Charlie shares his highlights so far, such as being named the 2023 Westpac Young Technologist, and reflects on how each new opportunity continues to open doors for the next. Charlie created a short video of recent study and career highlights at this link.
Q&A PROFILE: Charlie McMahon
What does life look like for you now?
I live in Brisbane now, and am in my fourth and final year of uni completing a double degree in Information Technology (Information Systems) and Business (Finance), at QUT.
I chose this degree as I think having both IT and Finance skills means I can sit in a room with both developers and business executives and speak to both areas fluently, which has been incredibly useful in my career so far.
Alongside uni, I work in IT innovation at a foodservice company. My job involves leading the ‘Innovation Team’, and heavily involves working with AI. Whether that's building and deploying AI agents, developing AI-assisted tools that solve real operational problems, or prototyping new solutions that help the business work more efficiently. It's an incredibly exciting space to be in right now, and getting to apply that work in an industry where technology hasn't always been front of mind makes it even more interesting.
Please share some of the opportunities you've explored since graduation.
My favourite experience since graduating was a six-month internship that I completed at BMW Group in Regensburg, Germany. Packing up and moving from Queensland to Bavaria was a big leap, but it placed me right at the centre of digital transformation at one of the world's most iconic vehicle manufacturers. I was building and deploying AI-driven solutions used by teams across international production sites, working with a large tech stack, and collaborating with colleagues across Germany, the UK, the USA, China and Mexico. Two standout moments were site visits to the MINI Plant in Oxford and the Rolls-Royce Plant in Goodwood, as well as test driving *plenty* of cars.
Being named a 2023 Westpac Young Technologist was another huge milestone for me. The scholarship took me to Singapore for a week-long Disruptive Leaders Program, where I visited AWS (Amazon Web Services) and Accenture and connected further with the global tech scene. It’s also taken me to Sydney several times for the ‘Westpac Scholars Summit’, where alumni and new scholars connect, and I have also been lucky enough to present to the network on several occasions.
I've also been recognised as a QUT Dean's Scholar and received the Executive Dean's Commendation for Academic Excellence.
What was your favourite Flinders moment?
Serving as a Year 12 Prefect at Flinders was a real highlight for me. It came with a lot of responsibility but it was also a great way to finish school. Getting to give back to the community that had shaped me, and spending that last year alongside my cohort before everyone went their separate ways, is something I look back on really fondly.
Do you have a particular role model or inspirational figure?
One of my current inspirational figures is Anthony Miller, the CEO of Westpac. As a Westpac Scholar studying both Finance and IT, I find his leadership inspiring. He’s leading Australia’s first bank and oldest established company through rapid digital change, and what strikes me most is that he is very ‘people-first’, recognising the benefits that technology and AI can provide to businesses but still recognising that people are at the core of everything that we do. I also had the opportunity to meet and have a chat with Anthony this year in Sydney, which was an incredible experience.
How easy was it to decide what to do in life?
It was less of a single decision and more of a thread I kept following. I knew from pretty early on that I loved technology, whether that was getting Apple-certified while still at school, building apps and bots in my spare time, or just tinkering with things for fun. But I also got interested in the business and financial side of things, and I didn't want to give either up. Choosing a double degree in IT and Finance at QUT felt like the right way to keep both options open. From there, one opportunity has generally led to the next.
Did your further study or career go exactly as you planned?
Not at all, and I think that's a good thing. I never would have predicted at the end of Year 12 that I'd be living in Germany working on AI systems for BMW at 20 years old. My career has moved a lot faster than my degree, which means I'm now looking at a mid-2027 graduation rather than my original timeline of mid to late 2026. But the industry and life experience I've picked up along the way has been worth the extra semester. I've come to see my degree as a foundation, and the internships and projects as where the real learning happens.
What advice do you have for current students?
Say yes to the things that make you feel a little out of your depth or uncomfortable. Moving overseas on my own was daunting, but it ended up being the best experience of my life so far. Don't wait until you feel completely ready because that moment rarely comes. Also, keep building things outside of class just because you enjoy it. My personal projects have often been the things that sparked the most interesting conversations with employers or industry connections. The classroom gives you the theory, but the things you make in your own time show people who you actually are. And focus on soft skills! Knowledge is a key piece of the puzzle but soft skills are also incredibly crucial to succeeding in life.
