Technology & Turnaround

Orchestrating Transformation with Systems Thinking.

Hi, I’m Harshitha Rajashekara. An agile-certified delivery leader with 16+ years of ICT experience. I bridge the gap between deep software engineering foundations and human-centric design to drive high-impact infrastructure, digital programs, and community-scale innovation.

Interstate Toastmasters Champion (2026) GovHack Board Chair AusTTA Chapter President Distinguished Toastmaster
Explore Career Journey Get in Touch
Harshitha Rajashekara

Pillars of Competence & Impact

Driving complexity to execution requires balancing technical foundations with empathetic governance.

Strategic & Systems Thinking

Applying curiosity and deep systems thinking to untangle complex problems. I model dependencies, analyze historical metrics, and formulate structured roadmaps that align organizational strategy with technology delivery.

Project Planning & Scope Management

Technical Roots

With a Bachelor of Engineering (EEE) and early career roots as a Software Engineer (Java, C++, SQL, TIBCO) at HCL Technologies, I speak the language of development teams and resolve technical bottlenecks quickly.

Technical Resolution & QA

Human-Centric Design

Passionate about user-centric design (HCD). I conduct customer research, map user journeys, run discovery workshops, and design interfaces that minimize cognitive friction—proven in our COVID-19 QR app click-reduction audits.

Discovery & User Research

Governance & Leadership

Orchestrated multiple complex projects simultaneously, managing $9M budgets, leading cross-functional teams, and working with top-tier vendors. I set up strong data governance, establish business continuity plans, and guide teams through major structural transitions.

Agile Coaching & PMO Best Practices

Interactive Career Journey

A history of delivering high-assurance systems across utilities, state government, transport, and consulting.

2022 - PRESENT

Technology Project Manager (Consultant)

South Australia Water / DXC

Critical Infrastructure

Directing technical planning and cross-functional teams to deliver critical infrastructure, computing systems, and knowledge architectures.

Key Initiatives (1/2):

Starlink Deployment, CCTV Security Upgrades, PowerBI & Collibra integration, Tacit Knowledge Management, Visitor Access Management, Video Conference Upgrades.

Key Initiatives (2/2):

MOE Maintenance, End User Computing, Citrix platform upgrades, and High-Performance Computing (HPC) systems engineering.

2020 - 2022

Project Manager (Digital & Infrastructure)

Department of the Premier and Cabinet SA

Digital & Security

Managed the delivery of state-wide digital solutions and network infrastructures under strict timelines and governance schemes, coordinating between 20+ agencies and major carriers.

Statewide Public Safety:

Spearheaded the development of the COVID QR Code Application, facilitating real-time safety data ingestion for SAPolice/SAHealth. Optimized UX to reduce user clicks within 2 weeks.

Procurement & Networks:

Completed $9M project budget oversight. Executed procurement for entry into the Federal Canberra Data Centre (CDC) in a record 2.5 months; managed StateNet Core and SD-WAN upgrades.

2020

Project Manager (e-Planning Reform)

Department of Planning, Transportation & Infrastructure

Testing & PMO

Led end-to-end testing audits and QA reviews for the state planning platform. Mentored and coached junior PMs to promote strict adherence to PMO policies and cost control.

Quality Assurance:

Led end-to-end testing processes and User Acceptance Testing (UAT) to validate software quality and platform ease of use before statewide release.

Incident Management:

Swiftly resolved critical P1 platform outages and issues, collaborating with technical units to achieve a 30-minute average resolution SLA.

2020

PMO Project Manager (Salesforce)

Department of Human Services

Cloud & BCP

Structured customer data collection frameworks and governance protocols in Salesforce for the disability sector. Authored the department-wide Business Continuity Plan (BCP) at the onset of COVID-19.

CRM Governance:

Established data collection architectures in Salesforce, analyzed client insights, and prepared reports informing executive planning.

Business Continuity:

Formulated and executed the department-wide BCP at the start of COVID-19, stabilizing remote work. Conducted internal workshops in Agile/SAFe.

2019 - 2020

Project Manager / IT Consultant (Group IT)

Transport for NSW

Agile Consulting

Led digital projects focusing on human-centric design, aligning system transformations with Transport's customer experience framework.

Agile Facilitation:

Coached software engineering teams on Scrum, managed backlogs, and implemented controls to mitigate scope creep.

Strategic Diagnostics:

Evaluated the viability of innovative projects, analyzed system parameters, and recommended process improvements.

2019

Product and UX Consultant

Disruptor's Handbook (Catalyst Lab & Department of Education)

UX & Design

Redesigned student digital user experiences, aligning multi-agency stakeholders around a unified, empathetic product vision.

User Research & Ideation:

Collaborated with researchers to gather student feedback, ran interviews, and structured educational cost-reduction schemas.

Mentorship & Hackathons:

Coached public school teachers on HCD and Agile principles, and orchestrated innovation hackathons for collaborative problem-solving.

2017 - 2019

Project Manager & Scrum Master

ServiceNSW

Agile Delivery

Transformed legacy Business-as-Usual (BAU) activities into product-oriented, customer-centric digital pipelines using Agile/Scrum structures.

Process Transformation:

Integrated design thinking to establish backlogs, analyzed new product ideas, and trained communication staff on platform features.

Stakeholder Alliances:

Built strong relationships with transit partners like Sydney Light Rail to deploy unified customer experience (CX) frameworks.

2015 - 2017

Consultant & Project Manager

University of Technology Sydney

Higher Education

Managed project documentation, scoped industry engagements, and engineered business engagement models. Designed branding strategies for UTS Alumni, coached student cohorts on careers, and verified product test cases.

2012 - 2015

Software Engineer / Developer / Analyst

HCL Technologies Limited

Software Engineering

Developed, tested, and resolved complex issues for enterprise applications, building a strong technical foundation.

Development & Outage Fixes:

Programmed dynamic web pages using Java (JSP). Maintained issue logs, created a Knowledge Database (KEDB), and resolved P1 production incidents in under 30 minutes.

QA & Test Automation:

Created detailed end-to-end test cases and conducted rigorous quality testing using SOAP UI, Tibco systems, and Java-Selenium automated scripts.

2009 - 2012

Analyst / Business Support

Tax Consulting

Business Administration

Coordinated customer front desk services, prepared tax records and meeting documentation, and managed executive schedules.

Operations & Reporting:

Conducted data entry, drafted administrative records, verified tax files, and assisted management with database research and reports.

Office IT Logistics:

Provided front-line tech support to colleagues, managed hardware inventories, and verified smooth office IT operations.

PUBLIC SPEAKING & ADVOCACY

"Delivering complex digital transformations in the government sector requires more than technical compliance—it mandates community alignment, open communication, and public trust."

Podcast Speaker
Projects in Government Sector, Adelaide

Community Advocacy & Leadership

Beyond organizational walls, I advocate for transparency, innovation, and public engagement through key leadership positions.

GovHack Australia | Board Chair (2023 - 2024)

Deputy Director (2021 - 2022)

Led the governance, planning, and execution of the largest open-data hackathon in the Southern Hemisphere. We coordinate thousands of developers, researchers, and government data sponsors annually to turn public data into community prototypes.

AusTTA | VIC, SA & TAS Chapter President (2020 - 2024)

Australian Transformation and Turnaround Association

Pioneered structural transformation and turnaround strategy workshops for industries facing technological disruption. Leading regional executives through strategic frameworks to secure adaptation.

Toastmasters International | Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM)

Global Speech Marathon Team Leader & Triple Crown Winner

Awarded the highest educational recognition (DTM) for communication and leadership skills. Served as Area Director, coordinated international marathon speech grids, and won regional humorous speech contests.

Advocacy & Extracurricular Impact

Driving value beyond the workplace through professional consulting competitions, civic engagement, and community welfare.

Civic Thought Leadership

Selected as a national finalist in Apolitical’s Women in Government Writing Competition (2020) and Citizen Engagement Writing Competition (2019) for insights on public sector digital service delivery and structural reform.

Apolitical Finalist (2019, 2020)

Consulting & Problem Solving

Winner of the Univative Annual Inter-University Consultation Competition. Led cross-disciplinary university cohorts to engineer strategic recommendations and resolve critical operational blockages for corporate partners.

Univative Winner (UTS, 2016)

Social Leadership & Volunteering

Recipient of the UTS SOUL Award and SOUL STAR recognition for completing over 100+ hours of community-focused volunteering, social impact projects, and peer network student support.

UTS SOUL Award & SOUL STAR (2016)

Oratory & Storytelling

Humorous Speech Contest Winner (Area Level) with Toastmasters International. Coached cohort teams in communication styles and negotiation skills, combining business leadership with high-impact public speaking.

Toastmasters Speech Winner (2016)

Venture Acceleration & Space Systems

Completed the Venture Catalyst Space Accelerator program through the Innovation & Collaboration Centre (ICC) SA, developing strategic business frameworks, scaling roadmaps, and stakeholder alignment strategies for high-assurance space technologies.

Space Accelerator Alumna (2021)

The Professional Toolkit

A comprehensive map of systems, programming frameworks, and management toolkits.

Methodologies & Frameworks

  • Scrum (Agile)
  • SAFe (Scaled Agile)
  • Waterfall (PMBOK)
  • PRINCE2
  • ITIL Service Management
  • Design Thinking (HCD)

Programming & Dev

  • Java, JSP
  • C, C++
  • SQL database querying
  • Selenium (Automation)
  • SOAP UI & Web Services
  • Tibco BW & Tibco BE

Project & Workforce

  • MS Project
  • JIRA Software & Slack
  • Saviom (Workforce)
  • Trello & MS Tasks
  • SharePoint

Collaboration & UX

  • Miro, Mural & Butter
  • MS PowerPoint & Prezi
  • Video Scribe

Systems & CRM

  • Salesforce CRM
  • Mailchimp & SendGrid
  • Typeform
  • Oracle DB & Windows OS

Finance & Records

  • Basware
  • SAP
  • RM8 / TRIM records
  • Objective systems

Academic Credentials

Master of Business Administration

2016

Project & Program Management

University of Technology Sydney, Australia. Advanced training in PMBOK, ITIL, Waterfall methodology, Design Thinking, and PRINCE2 frameworks.

Bachelor of Engineering

2011

Electrical and Electronics Engineering

Visvesvaraya Technological University, India. Engineering research and foundation courses in system architectures, software design, and digital circuits.

Professional Development

Professional Scrum Master I & II

Scrum.org

Certified Agile Professional

ICAgile

Azure Fundamentals

Microsoft

Deming Quality Management

Geelong Council

Hatchery Entrepreneurship

UTS Sydney

Tech Entrepreneurship Programme

DST India

OOPS, C & C++ Certificates

ECIL India

E-Craft Office Tools

ECIL India

Fitness & Wellness Coaching

Bridging elite movement science and high-energy community leadership. A certified trainer and instructor helping people evolve through Pilates, HIIT, strength, and mobility.

Follow @evolvewithharshitha

Wellness Philosophy

Combining deep anatomical safety with positive energy. I believe group exercise should be both challenging and accessible. By designing clear progressions and regressions, I ensure every participant—from athlete to beginner—moves with confidence, safety, and alignment.

Coaching & Instructional Experience

Group Fitness Instructor

Adelaide University (Pridham Hall)

2026 - Present

Leading structured classes for university student cohorts, faculty, and public members in full-body functional strength, cardio conditioning, yoga, and Les Mills BodyPump formats. Focuses on safe postural alignment, cueing corrections, and mixed-capacity class scaling.

Stretch & Recovery Coach

EFM Health Clubs (Bowden)

2025 - Present

Programming and instructing recovery-focused sessions. Improves joint range of motion, guides static and dynamic flex flows, integrates breathing exercises, and advises members on muscular tightness and recovery strategies.

HIIT Coach

EFM Health Clubs (Victoria Park & Cumberland Park)

2025 - Present

Conducting high-energy cardiorespiratory and metabolic conditioning classes. Specializes in managing high-heart-rate interval blocks, dynamic group dynamics, and adapting load vectors to protect injured or aging joints.

Fitness Coach

EFM Health Clubs (Victoria Park & Cumberland Park)

2025 - Present

Programming customized training tracks, coaching functional movement (kettlebells, suspension, free weights), and delivering strength programs tailored to individual health journeys.

Yoga Instructor & Sports Leader

Shri Pathanjali Yoga Shikshana Samiti

2007 - Present

Instructing traditional hatha/flow yoga in schools and civic centers since adolescence. Directing student cohorts, organizing community athletic squads, and promoting holistic recovery, deep stretching, and functional mobility.

Qualifications & Certifications

Certificate III in Fitness

SIS30321 - Completed

Certificate IV in Fitness

SIS40221 - In Progress

Les Mills BodyPump Instructor

Certified

Mat, Reformer, Pre/Post Natal Pilates

In Progress

Thump Boxing Trainer

Certified

Zumba Trainer

Certified

Certified Yoga Instructor

Certified

Flexologist Pre-Work Certificate

Completed

Registered Group Ex & Gym Instructor

AusActive Registered

First Aid, WWCC & CPR

Active Credentials

Coaching Expertise

  • Group Fitness
  • 1:1 Personal Training
  • Pilates Instruction
  • Yoga & Breathwork
  • HIIT Programming
  • Posture Alignment
  • Safety Regressions
  • Member Motivation

Let's Collaborate

Looking for a digital delivery consultant to run transformations, or an energetic fitness coach to elevate your studio? Reach out and discuss how we can work together.

Harshitha.Rajashekara@gmail.com
linkedin.com/in/harshitha-rajashekara
@evolvewithharshitha