Paul Walsh
Chief Executive Officer of Industry Skills Australia
Paul Walsh is the Chief Executive Officer of Industry Skills Australia, the Commonwealth appointed Jobs and Skills Council for the Transport and Logistics industries, comprising Rail, Maritime, Aviation, Transport and Logistics, Space Transport and Omni-Channel Logistics. He holds more than 30 years’ senior experience in transport and logistics, both as a company owner and as an employee.
A strong believer in the transformative power of skills development, and its ability to lift productivity and create better jobs, his role at Industry Skills Australia enables Paul to combine his two passions of industry and workforce development.
Paul is an accomplished leader with an extensive knowledge of Australia’s VET system and is highly respected by industry, unions, regulators and government stakeholders for his expertise, impartiality and high standards of professionalism.
He holds unapparelled experience in the design, negotiation and implementation of multilateral skills recognition frameworks across APEC, IORA and LATAM regions for the Transport, Logistics and Ports industries. He has also led the design and implementation of industry-led VET models for the transport and logistics industry in developing economies, such as Vietnam.
Through collaboration and a shared vision for a skilled and resilient supply chain workforce, Paul and his talented team at Industry Skills Australia are focused on working closely with leaders across industry, unions, and government to implement solutions to national workforce skills challenges.
The Learning Country: How VET can transform Australia into a digital powerhouse
When Donald Horne referred to Australia as ‘a lucky country’ back in 1964 he did so with irony, and to sound three warnings about Australia’s future:
- the challenge of our geographical position;
- the need for ‘a revolution in economic priorities’; and
- the need for a discussion on what sort of country we wanted to become.
Digital transformation gives us the chance to overcome many of our geographical challenges, to build a smart, sustainable, and highly productive economy that’s powered by innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as a more inclusive way of life.
While technology brings great opportunity, it also brings great responsibility and significant risk. With every technology-enabled step forward, workers without the requisite skills to engage in our digital future will be left behind.
Digital transformation and the accelerating speed with which technology and automation will continue to evolve, mean we must establish ourselves as the ‘learning country’. One that enables existing workers to build world class skills and knowledge throughout their working lives regardless of geography, income, age or gender. As our continued use of technology has become the new normal, so too must our acquisition of new skills and knowledge and a culture of continuous learning.
This presentation outlines the critical shifts VET must make to become the driving force behind Australia’s digital transformation. It delves into the Australian Digital Capability Framework, modelled on the globally recognised DigComp 2.0, and tailored specifically for the Australian workforce. Additionally, it highlights ISA’s groundbreaking approach to exploring the future of work by integrating advanced AI tools with the insights of technology developers and early adopters across industry.
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