AFTER removing fallen trees and developing innovative apps for Kiama SES, university graduate Sam Dunster will be taking his unique skill-set to the US, working for social media company Facebook.
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Next month, the Minnamurra resident and former University of Wollongong student begins his new role.
The 24-year-old will relocate to near San Francisco for the full-time role as a production engineer.
After completing an internship with Facebook in 2014, the computer science graduate was offered a job.
In addition to his studies, Mr Dunster has been an active volunteer with the Kiama SES unit.
As well as repairing roofs, removing fallen trees and attending motor vehicle accidents, he has managed the Kiama Unit’s IT systems and developed a number of innovative apps.
Mr Dunster began volunteering with the SES in mid-2011, and has been filling the role of IT co-ordinator for the Kiama unit.
This includes collaborating with Andrew McCullough from the SES Illawarra South Coast Region on a system which allows volunteers to sign in electronically, as well as assisting with keeping records of training requirements and related expenditure.
The system has been deployed to other units, including Shellharbour, Nowra and Parramatta.
“We’ve been using the system for close to four years,” Mr Dunster said.
“It’s been really good – I get lots of feedback that it makes it much easier not to have to fill out a stupid book all the time.
“People I don’t even know are using the system, and really enjoying it… Other units are interested as well.”
Having graduated in December, Mr Dunster will enter Facebook’s boot camp at its Silicon Valley headquarters.
He will spend six months shuffling through different teams and trying out various areas of interest.
“It’s a really good place to work, with lots of really smart people,” he said.
Mr Dunster has already had a few brief encounters with CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
“He’s quite accessible; he works at a desk like everyone else, doesn’t really have a private office.
“He has very limited time though.
“On most Fridays, he has a Q&A on campus.
“He encourages people to ask hard questions about things like bad press; things most ordinary, other CEOs (wouldn’t)… I like that it’s a really open company.”
Mr Dunster said he would miss not being involved with the SES on a day-to-day basis.
“I hope to participate as much as I can remotely,” he said.
