Abitha Arunachalam

ABOUT ME:

Hi, I’m Abitha Arunachalam—but most people just call me Abi.

I’m a Test Automation Practice Lead, mentor, community organiser, and someone who genuinely loves helping testers thrive. I’ve spent over 17 years in QA, leading everything from large-scale enterprise transformations to startup testing turnarounds. Right now, I lead the national automation practice at Avocado Consulting in Australia, and I also run the Sydney chapter of The Test Tribe, bringing testers together to learn, connect, and grow.

What drives me? People, purpose, and progress. I believe testing is about more than just finding bugs—it’s about building trust, asking better questions, and making sure the things we create actually work for the people who use them. I’m especially passionate about AI in testing, ethical quality practices, and helping new testers find their voice and place in this ever-changing field.

If I’m elected to the AST Board, I’m ready to bring that same energy into building stronger global connections, fresh learning opportunities, and bold conversations around where testing is headed next. Whether it’s launching mentorship programs, creating more accessible content, or shaping how we tackle testing in the age of AI, I’m all in.

Testing has given me so much. I’d love the chance to give back—and help shape a future where more testers feel seen, supported, and excited to grow.

Let’s do this.

WHY QUALITY? In 2 paragraphs give us an overview of your philosophy on Quality and how you approach testing in support of achieving quality outcomes… Please provide (non-confidential) real world examples:

"For me, quality is all about building confidence with care. It’s not just about ticking off test cases or finding bugs. It’s about asking the tough questions, uncovering risks early, and helping teams deliver something they’re truly proud of. I see testers as curious detectives, quality coaches, and calm voices in the chaos. My approach is grounded in collaboration, storytelling, and making quality feel like everyone’s win, not just a QA task. When quality is baked into the culture, not sprinkled on at the end, magic happens. At APA Group, I led testing for a complex ERP transformation involving multiple vendors and moving parts. We shifted the conversation from "Did it pass testing?" to "Is this process ready for the business?" by aligning test coverage to critical services like payroll and maintenance. It gave stakeholders clarity, not just status updates. In a completely different setting at Withwine, a fast-paced start up, I introduced lightweight automation and made testing a team sport. We reduced production issues by 40 percent in two months and even had developers excited about test coverage. Whether it’s a large enterprise or a lean startup, I bring energy, strategy, and a bit of fun into making quality everyone’s priority."

This board role will require 10 - 20 hours per month of often self driven activities and the ideal candidate is someone who is willing to own an initiative and drive it through to completion... Is this something you are willing to commit to, and in your most honest moment, what will keep you motivated when the work gets hard and progress feels slow?

Yes, I’m in. I’ve always been a self-starter, and I genuinely love turning ideas into action. What keeps me going when it gets tough? The people. Knowing that even one tester might grow or feel supported because of something we built—that’s what makes it all worth it. And once I commit, I see it through. Always.

It's 2030. AST just won 'Global Nonprofit of the Year' for transforming testing careers worldwide. What three bold moves did we make between 2025-2030 that nobody saw coming?

Follow-up: Which of these moves would you personally champion, and how would you convince skeptics on the board?

We launched AST Ignite, a global mentorship and career accelerator that connected aspiring testers with experienced mentors. It focused not just on upskilling, but on building confidence, community, and career momentum.

We became a global leader in AI quality, offering open-source tools, ethical testing guidelines, and practical training that helped testers stay ahead of the curve—and speak up when it mattered.

We completely reimagined testing education by creating short, story-driven micro-courses. These were accessible, engaging, and featured real-life experiences from testers around the world, making learning feel personal and inspiring.

Which of these would you personally champion, and how would you convince skeptics?
I’d throw my heart into AST Ignite. I’ve seen first-hand how mentorship can change someone's career path—and life. Whether it’s a tester in a remote region or someone switching into QA mid-career, the right support at the right time makes all the difference. To the board, I’d say this isn’t just a feel-good initiative. It’s a bold, scalable way to grow future leaders, expand AST’s reach, and leave a lasting impact on the global testing community.

What's one thing AST is doing right now that we should stop doing immediately, even if it's popular? And what's one bold experiment we should try, even if it might fail spectacularly?

"What’s one thing AST should stop doing, even if it’s popular? AST has done a wonderful job supporting experienced testers with deep, thought-provoking content. However, to grow and truly reflect the global testing community, we may want to pause and rethink how accessible some of that content is for newer testers or those transitioning into QA. Even if advanced discussions are popular, balancing them with more inclusive, beginner-friendly formats could help us welcome a wider, more diverse audience into the fold. What’s one bold experiment we should try, even if it might fail? Let’s create a global “Tester Lab”—a fun, hands-on space where testers around the world can experiment with new technologies like AI agents, no-code tools, and visual testing platforms. It could be part hackathon, part learning lab, and part community showcase. It might not be perfect, but it would spark creativity, collaboration, and help us all learn together in real time."

What is your history with AST? Describe why you are interested in serving on the AST Board and what personal / professional strengths make you an ideal board member for the organization?

Follow Up: Are there any particular initiatives or areas you are especially interested in driving / leading?

"I’ve long admired AST’s focus on critical thinking, context-driven testing, and community impact. While I haven’t held a formal role yet, I’ve lived the values by leading meetups, mentoring testers, and speaking on topics like AI in testing and quality culture. It feels like the right time to get more involved"

Why am I interested?

Because I’m passionate about making testing matter and making it fun. I bring over 17 years of QA experience across industries, lead a national test automation practice, and thrive at the intersection of people, strategy, and innovation. I want to help shape the future of testing with a global community of bold thinkers.

What would you bring to the board?

Energy, empathy, and the ability to turn ideas into action. I’m a connector, a storyteller, and someone who gets things done. I know how to lead with heart and structure, and I love empowering others.

What would you love to lead?

I’m especially keen to drive thought leadership in AI and ethical testing, and help expand AST’s reach across APAC and emerging regions. I’d also love to contribute to content creation, events, and anything that gets people excited about quality.

When you step down from this board, what do you want your Wikipedia entry to say about your contribution to AST and the testing profession? What impact are you personally committed to creating?

She helped make testing feel human again. During her time on the AST board, Abitha championed global voices, brought energy to ethical AI testing, and created spaces where both new and seasoned testers could grow with confidence. Her impact was felt not just in strategy, but in the stories, connections, and opportunities she sparked for others.

I’m personally committed to making testing more inclusive, future-ready, and full of possibility—for everyone, everywhere.

You're on a board committee with members from Japan, Brazil, Nigeria, Germany, and the US. The group is stuck on a decision because cultural communication styles are clashing and creating misunderstandings. What is your strategy for facilitating breakthrough and building genuine consensus?

Follow-up: Provide an example of how you've successfully worked across significant cultural or professional differences.

Strategy for building consensus:
I’d create space for everyone to be heard in the way they’re most comfortable—some speak up, others write better. I’d refocus the group on our shared goal, slow things down, and listen actively to bridge the gaps. Respect, empathy, and clarity go a long way.

Example:
On a cross-regional project with teams in Australia, India, and the Philippines, I used regular check-ins and visual dashboards to align everyone. It helped cut through communication gaps and built real trust across cultures.