ACS & ISACA extend partnership to address IT skills shortage
ACS and ISACA have announced an extension of their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), aimed at enhancing member benefits and addressing the global IT skills shortage.
The Australian Computer Society and ISACA, a global association for IT audit, governance, risk, and cybersecurity professionals, will work together on several key initiatives.
Under the renewed MoU, both organisations will collaborate in areas including training and credentialing, advocacy to governments and agencies, expanded conferences and events, and joint research.
This partnership is anticipated to significantly contribute to the development of a more skilled and adaptable IT workforce in Australia. ACS has a local presence of over 47,000 technology professionals, while ISACA boasts a global network of more than 180,000 members.
Speaking on the enhanced collaboration, Jo Stewart-Rattray, Vice President of Community Boards at ACS and Oceania Ambassador for ISACA, highlighted the strengthening of the historic relationship between the two organisations.
"I am proud to see two of the most respected organisations in the technology sector deepen and extend their partnership," she said.
"Both ACS and ISACA have consistently driven innovation and excellence and will continue to do so together, elevating efforts to tackle emerging challenges in the IT field. This offers members of both organisations more opportunities to gain a broader skill set, through an array of new resources, along with enhanced training and credentialing."
Erik Prusch, CEO of ISACA, emphasised the strategic importance of this expanded collaboration. "As Australia intensifies its focus on digital trust and cybersecurity, our combined resources and expertise will give IT professionals a distinct advantage in the sector," said Mr Prusch. "At ISACA, our commitment extends beyond simple membership: we strive to be a lifelong career partner to our members."
"Our collaboration with ACS not only strengthens our capability to support this endeavour but also amplifies our collective efforts to promote a safer and more trustworthy digital environment. Together, we are indeed stronger."
A recent ACS Digital Pulse report projects that Australia will need 1.3 million technology professionals by 2030. Additionally, the 2024 State of Digital Trust research by ISACA reveals that 82% of respondents believe digital trust will become more critical in the next five years.
Josh Griggs, CEO of ACS, remarked on the importance of this partnership in addressing the IT skills gap and promoting digital trust. "Strategic partnerships, like our collaboration with ISACA, are essential to strengthen and diversify our workforce," said Mr Griggs.
"As companies strive to establish digital trust and fully realise its benefits, IT professionals with diverse credentials will be highly valued."
The MoU's key focus areas include expanding conferences and events to enhance professional engagement and knowledge sharing, and increasing training and credentialing opportunities to improve workforce capabilities.
Furthermore, the agreement aims to strengthen advocacy and government relations, offering a united voice in the tech sector and promoting under-represented groups, including women in tech. The collaboration also seeks to maximise the impact of industry research.
