Amara Tut: From Graduate to Manager and Beyond

After joining our Graduate Program in 2021, Amara has now worked in a variety of roles across risk systems implementation, assurance and automation, which has enabled her to grow her expertise across technology and cyber risk.

Read below to learn more about her journey from Graduate Consultant to Manager, and how the graduate program set her up for success.

Can you tell us about your background and why you pursued a career as a technology risk consultant?

I studied a Bachelor of IT (Co-op) at UTS, where I had the opportunity to work across four internships. After being exposed to business analysis, UX design and cyber security, I was drawn to consulting for the experience and skills I’d gain through working across different clients and industries. Throughout my degree, I was able to witness firsthand the critical role that technology plays in the day-to-day operations and objectives of every organisation. I joined Amstelveen because I really enjoyed the idea of helping clients understand and manage their technology risks to protect assets across different contexts.

Did the graduate program set you up for success?

Absolutely! I was lucky to have kickstarted my CRISC certification course from day one, which helped me build the foundational skills I needed as a risk consultant. Within the first week, I was already helping implement a risk system for a Major Australian Insurer. As a business analyst, I quickly learned how to navigate conversations around technology, business and risk outcomes. This experience, alongside the amazing support structure at Amstelveen, gave me the confidence and skills I needed to succeed and build trust with all the clients I’ve worked with.

I also supported different internal initiatives, such as future talent and marketing, which has helped me develop unique insights into the behind-the-scenes of running an organisation – skills that I wouldn’t have exposure to in a traditional technology or risk role. Being trusted to take ownership of these different activities has empowered me to continue to take pride in shaping the growth of our team, culture, and ways of working.

What have been your biggest challenges? What skills or knowledge were instrumental?

As a consultant, my biggest challenge has been learning to work with uncertainty – that is, learning to be adaptable and digging deeper because the context you’re working in can always change. One of my client engagements involved leading a cyber compliance program. They were dealing with lots of different challenges due to an unprecedented amount of change – several of their key suppliers had been replaced, leading to a loss of team members, skillsets, and resources. It was definitely a challenging project, but I navigated it by breaking down problems to the root cause, and articulating the critical path to solve them. Problem solving, communication, and stakeholder management skills were key, as well as being able to leverage past experiences in technology, cyber, and risk to tackle these challenges from different angles. There was a new challenge or ‘unknown’ almost every week – but it never stopped us from seeing the program to a successful close.

What are the most enjoyable or rewarding parts of your journey at Amstelveen?

I’m really grateful that I get to work alongside such an amazing, talented team that supports me and inspires me to grow every day. We’ve got a really supportive culture – everyone has their own strengths and interests that they specialise in, so there is always a wealth of knowledge for me to learn from. Likewise, it’s rewarding to be able to pass on my own learnings to set up others for success, or even introduce students to the world of all things technology risk consulting (which was once new to me too!). I’ve also enjoyed getting to know my team beyond our work commitments – it’s always nice to end the week racing against the team for the first spot on Mario Kart and Overcooked. I always look forward to our monthly social events, which have ranged from sculpting clay and making cheese, to archery tag and smash rooms – it’s a great way to relax and have fun with the team!

And finally, do you have any recommendations or advice for students looking to apply for the 2026 Graduate Program?

Being a consultant in the risk management space is definitely an exciting space to learn and grow in. It can feel daunting to apply, but it helps to find confidence in what you’re looking for in your career – whether it’s doing impactful work, solving problems, being exposed to a wide variety of projects across different industries, or being a part of a team that will support your growth as a professional. If you want to learn more about us or the graduate program before you apply, you can read more here: https://amstelveen.com/careers/graduates/