EY launches external AI training academy for Australian organisations
Professional services firm EY has launched a new artificial intelligence academy in Australia to support organisations in building the skills and governance to responsibly scale their AI projects.
Having launched in India last year, the Australian iteration of the EY AI Academy further builds on the firm’s internal program, with over 2,200 local staff last year completing almost 2,500 hours worth of study across its 150-plus modules.
Now, executives, people managers, technical specialists and front-line staff from Australian organisations will have the chance to participate in what Ernst & Young describes as personalised, hands-on learning pathways tailored to role and industry.
“The biggest barrier to scaling AI right now is alignment,” said technology & innovation chief Katherine Boiciuc. “People have very different understandings of what AI does, how to use it safely, and apply it to day-to-day work. The academy is designed to close that knowledge gap with practical learning and clear governance, so organisations can move faster with confidence.”
In launching the new academy, EY cited its own ‘Australian AI Workforce Blueprint’ study which found that more than two thirds of the country’s office workers use AI tools, with daily users reporting time savings of four or more hours per week. Despite the advantages, only one third of those surveyed said they had received formal training in AI from their employers.
Such a situation also creates concerns as to oversight and employee confidence, with Boiciuc adding; “If organisations want AI to be trusted and adopted at scale, leaders need to listen, engage and communicate clearly how risks are being addressed. Our EY AI Academy helps teams build real capability while embedding responsible AI practices from the outset.”
EY noted that in one pilot for its AI training program run alongside a major technology transformation for a large Australian enterprise, the average confidence around AI in the more than 3,600 participants increased from 2.6 to 3.9 points. The firm says the curriculum’s combination of learning, demonstrations, and hands-on exercises means AI can become a normal part of work.
While the courses cover everything from foundational AI through to advanced applications, another important aspect of the academy in building confidence is in its phased approach, which first starts with an assessment of current skill-levels to inform a tailored learning strategy, followed by co-design workshops and an implementation strategy to support continuous learning over time.
Senior members
Members of EY’s new AI academy senior leadership team include Oceania regional chief AI officer Blair Delzoppo, regional AI leader Lisa Bouari, who joined the firm as a partner in 2022, Oceania HR transformation practice leader Peter Fox, and fellow people consulting practice partner Juliet Andrews, with the quartet all being based out of Sydney.
