Indigo Interview

ANGUS Florance was born in the Murray River town of Cobram, Victoria. Four years ago with his wife Karla and their children, the family moved to Beechworth. What do you do workwise? I work for Microsoft as a specialist in Modern Work, focusing on helping organisations enhance productivity and collaboration. Currently, my role involves introducing and coaching customers on the capabilities of AI through Microsoft 365 Copilot. What brought you to your role/career? I’ve always been fascinated by technology—it’s been a big part of my life. Over time, I moved into sales and marketing roles, and I love it because I get to see the real impact technology has on people and businesses. What do you love about your work? I love the flexibility of being able to work from anywhere. But what I enjoy most is knowing that the work I do can have a meaningful impact on the world, helping people and businesses achieve more with technology. What do you do in the community? I’m the president of Beechworth Montessori School, where I work with a great team to support our students and community. I also volunteer with Karla’s community basketball program, Beats & Bounce, which encourages kids to stay active and enjoy the sport. It’s a great way to be involved in the community and share something we’re passionate about. Is there an important community issue that you think needs addressing? Ensuring kids in the community have the skills and opportunities to thrive is a key issue for me. By fostering entrepreneurship and creating opportunities, we can help kids build a bright future. What would you do to solve, change, or improve that situation? I would focus on creating more programs that connect young people with local opportunities in education, business, sporting and community projects. Supporting small businesses and startups through grants or mentorship could help foster entrepreneurship and create jobs. What do you see as one of the most important current world issues? One of the biggest issues today is the impact of social media on society, but especially on kids and young adults. They’re exposed to so much content—often unfiltered and harmful—and it’s reshaping how they see themselves and the world. As we enter a new era with AI-generated content, the risks only increase. We need to be extra vigilant, guiding kids to engage with technology safely and encouraging them to spend less time online and more time connecting with real people in their communities. If the person you would most like to meet or knew came to Indigo Shire or was already here, who would that be, what would you show them, and why? If I could meet anyone, it would be Jim Stynes. As a lifelong Melbourne supporter, I’ve always admired his journey—not just as a footballer but as someone who dedicated himself to helping young people. I’d take him to a Beats & Bounce session to show how sport is building confidence and connections in our local kids. His focus on community and youth aligns perfectly with what we’re trying to achieve here. What book are you reading? ‘Nexus’ by Yuval Noah Harari. It’s a fascinating look at how technology is shaping our world and how we can navigate these changes while staying grounded. It connects well to the challenges we face, like the impact of social media on kids and the need to focus on real connections in their communities.

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