National AI Skills Forum 2026
Presented by Future Skills Organisation and the National AI Centre
Australia’s first National AI Skills Forum brought together more than 250 leaders from government, industry, unions, education and the technology sector to explore how Australia can build the workforce capability needed to realise the benefits of AI.
Held in Canberra in August, the two-day event examined both the practical challenge of building AI capability in workplaces today and the broader challenge of developing that capability at scale across Australia’s learning and workforce systems.
More than 40 speakers contributed perspectives on AI adoption, workforce transformation, education, productivity, leadership and skills system reform, while showcasing examples of innovation already underway across Australia and internationally.
It’s no longer if or when, but how: National AI Skills Forum 2026 insights paper
What will it take for Australia to build AI capability at scale? Drawing on discussions from across the Forum, this paper brings together seven key insights on workforce readiness, AI adoption and the actions needed to support capability development across the economy.
On-demand keynotes and panel discussions
Watch keynote presentations and panel discussions from Day Two of the National AI Skills Forum, featuring leaders from government, industry, unions, education and technology discussing AI capability, workforce transformation and the future of work.
Skills Accelerator-AI Launchpad
A highlight of the Forum was the Skills Accelerator-AI Launchpad, which brought together leaders, practitioners and innovators to showcase practical solutions designed to help accelerate AI capability across Australia’s education and training system. Five organisations will now enter a 12-month partnership with FSO and key partners to help connect, scale and amplify their solutions.
Building skills ecosystems for an AI-enabled future
Dr Michael Fung, Executive Director of the Institute for the Future of Education (IFE) at Tecnológico de Monterrey delivered a keynote at the Forum, drawing on his experience helping shape Singapore’s SkillsFuture movement and working with governments, employers and education institutions across Latin America, Europe and Africa.
During his visit, FSO and the IFE signed a Memorandum of Understanding focused on understanding how AI is reshaping entry-level and early-career work.
The AI challenge isn't technology. It's capability.
Reflecting on the Forum, FSO CEO Patrick Kidd OBE OAM explores why workforce capability has become the defining challenge of AI adoption and the role government, employers, educators and unions will play in responding to it.
Each year, we bring together senior leaders from finance, technology, business, training providers, unions and government to collaborate, share insights and shape discussions that inform our workforce planning and project priorities.
Past events
National Forum 2025
Innovate, Integrate, Engage: VET in Partnership with Industry
Finance, technology and business leaders from across industry, government, unions and the training sector came together in Canberra to explore how we can strengthen collaboration to build a more responsive future-ready workforce.
It was a day of meaningful discussion, actionable insights, and a shared commitment to working together on what’s next.
National Forum 2024
The inaugural National Forum, held in Melbourne in March, aimed to understand the finance, technology and business workforce’s readiness for future skills demands through facilitating strategic discussions, networking opportunities, thought leadership panels, and design thinking workshops.