The Australian tech industry is seeking talent from across a range of sectors, not just from payments and finance – unsurprisingly, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a core focus area.
Australia’s technology trade body, the Technology Council of Australia, has launched the Tech Council Partners Forum. The new initiative aims to connect industry leaders and experts to accelerate tech adoption and investment, foster innovation and expand tech employment.
The forum has been opened to organisations which the Council believes has demonstrated leadership in tech adoption, support for the industry, or thought leadership. The platform plans to organise working groups and events with the aim of informing tech policy and to build skills and knowledge.
“Tech jobs aren’t confined to the pure tech players,” said TCA Board Director, Richard White.
“More than half of tech workers are employed in jobs and organisations that stretch across the broader economy including in retail, banking, mining and professional services.
“The Tech Council Partners Forum is an important platform to foster collaboration and innovation across all organisations, regardless of industry.”
Further clarifying the Council’s perspective, White asserted that artificial intelligence is a technology advancement that can make significant contributions to the Australian economy.
This is an approach shared by various other countries – the US and UK have both set up AI Safety Institutes, for example, whilst Canada’s government is pumping substantial resources into the tech.
In White’s view, AI can ‘deliver huge productivity and efficiency gains across the economy, and the Tech Council Partners Forum brings together organisations to showcase their expertise and work collaboratively on extracting advantage and solving emerging challenges in the economy’.
Australia’s government and industries have been examining other areas too. Open Banking is often touted by some observers as a good success story in the country – though it has been noted it is progressing slower than hoped – whilst it is also mirroring its UK counterparts in developing digital ID.
Various companies have been confirmed as taking part in the Tech Council’s new programme to build on this tech foundation. These include the Commonwealth Bank, Herbert Smith Freehills, NBN Co, Lockton, the Australian Public Service Commission, and the Australian Technology Network of Universities.
Jane Adams, Executive General Manager Human Resources Technology at Commonwealth Bank, said: “At CommBank, we recognise that the future of work is intertwined with technology across all sectors of the economy.
“The Tech Council Partners Forum is a pivotal step towards building a collaborative environment where diverse industries can leverage technology to drive innovation and create meaningful employment opportunities, ensuring that we all thrive in this digital age.”
