CGXchange Team

Silvia Ticconi

CGXchange Technical Assistant

More than two years ago, Silvia Ticconi made a detour from her planned career path that would change her life in many ways. A passion that had stemmed from a hobby took her from the University of Rome "La Sapienza" to an Italian web design company and then on to the IT department of an international organization.

This young woman's first encounter with a computer in 1999 sparked an interest that quickly led to her creating her own website, something that most Internet newcomers wouldn't even contemplate doing. Later, while still at university, she undertook a professional computer programming course, which led to a job at a web agency in Rome, and then a consultancy under the supervision of Bioversity's IT Manager, Dario Valori.

Silvia has no regrets about postponing her chemistry degree, mainly because her experiences, both as a webmaster implementing the CGXchange portal and lately as the platform's administrator, have been rewarding on several different levels.

As she explains: "I have learned a lot through this consultancy. Dario taught me everything about the ICT-KM's Virtual Resources Center Infrastructure (VRCI) project, which was responsible for developing and implementing the technology behind CGXchange. I was also fortunate enough to be actively involved in developing the site's various prototypes. Another highlight of my consultancy was the different courses that I took part in, all of which have helped further my career."

Her involvement with the CGXchange platform has also benefited Silvia in some unexpected ways: "Working in an international environment for two years has vastly improved the way I go about my work. My command of English has also improved tremendously, probably because I have to speak the language almost every day now. I've also enjoyed and gained much from interacting with staff from other Centers."

In the run up to the launch of CGXchange, Silvia worked most weekends to make sure the first phase of the portal was ready for the CGIAR's 2005 AGM in Morocco. "It was a huge challenge for everyone involved," she says as she remembers that hectic period. "But the result, a single system where CGIAR staff and partners can collaborate and communicate at the same time, is something that will have a far-reaching effect on many people."

She stressed the need for users to participate actively if CGXchange is to be developed further. "It's a process. The first phase provided the platform, but the system now needs contributions from users. With everyone participating, we can turn something good into something really great."

These days, Silvia's responsibilities extend from manning the CGXchange Help Desk to addressing technical issues related to the maintenance of the server and the portal itself.

In her free time (her weekends are her own now), she still enjoys pottering around on her computer. And when the weather permits, you will more than likely find her on a tennis court whacking a few balls.

Born and bred in Rome, this industrious woman comes from a small, close-knit family. "I only have one sibling - a brother who's ten years my senior," she elaborates. "He works with the IBM platform, so he can relate to my work very well. I think he's proud of his little sister."

Looking at Silvia's contribution to CGXchange, he has every right to feel that way.