From bright beginnings at a public school in one of Australia’s most isolated communities to becoming the CEO of Accenture ANZ, Peter Burns says career success is not based on a skill or qualification.

Mr Burns and Accenture ANZ Strategy & Consulting lead Emma Neil, dropped by Campbelltown Performing Arts High School recently to chat with students from years 9 to 11 who are aspiring to become the next generation of digital workers.

Mr Burns spoke to the Information and Digital Technology (IDT), Computing Technology, Business and Software Engineering students about the digital landscape, careers and opportunities.

“Digital technology is an industry that has reach everywhere and is quintessentially global by nature,” Mr Burns said.

“The most important attribute we look for in students is curiosity. Where there’s that yearning for learning, there’s also problem-solving ability.”

With the New South Wales skills force expected to need an additional 85,000 digital workers over the next five years, collaborations like the NSW Digital Skills and Workforce Compact aim to change the way people think about digital careers through a range of initiatives delivered with corporate, government and tertiary partners.

Despite studying Economics at university, Ms Neil spent the last 25 years at Accenture building her career off a foundation of enthusiasm and passion for the technology industry.

“I wanted to be at the forefront of technological change, push the edge of what’s new and bring it to clients in an efficient way,” Ms Neil said.

“Technology is a constant source of change, and it allows you to make an impact, which is why I’m constantly excited and interested by what I do.”

Accenture has committed to hiring a fifth of its entry-level digital workers from alternative pathways by 2030 by signing the Digital Compact’s 20 per cent Alternative Pathways Pledge.

This includes employing talent who acquired their technology skills through non-university routes, such as VET courses, traineeships, micro-credentials, earn-while-you-learn models, bootcamps, and vendor certifications. 

Year 11 IDT student, Elle Vo, is an aspiring aerospace engineer and says she’s ‘hyped’ to hear from the tech leaders.

“Their talk gave me insight into the industry that you just can’t Google,” Miss Vo said.

“Digital technology is going to lead the world, and I’m really invested in the future. I want to be part of the advancement and see how AI can be used to assist with more tasks.”

To the students, Mr Burns left one piece of advice: “Be curious and follow your excitement, whether it takes you to university or another pathway. Get started and you’ll learn so much while on the job.”