Why professionalism in tech matters more than ever in 2026

Written by Cindy Chung, ACS NSW Branch Chair

The pace has quickened in tech and hype is at fever pitch. So, what sets the tech professional apart? As with any profession, the ethics, abiding regulations, earning public trust, and being a member of a recognised professional body with a code of ethics, lifelong learning and accountability mechanism is the bedrock of professionalism. This matters more than ever with the scale of impact and risk from tech. 

AI is now embedded in finance, healthcare, government services, and critical infrastructure.  Misuse or poor-quality systems can cause material harm, not just minor inconvenience. ISACA [1]research shows that AI-driven cyber threats and deepfakes are top concern for cybersecurity professionals.

Australia[2] faces significant digital skills gaps and AI adoption problems that risks billions in lost economic value and widening inequality if not addressed.  AI and digital transformation is also the drive behind an estimated 39% of workers’ core skills to be changed by 2030, according to the World Economic Forum[3].  Continuously upskilling is needed.  Resilience, flexibility, analytical thinking, and AI literacy are key differentiators[4] between growing and declining roles. 

So while I’m gathering thoughts from various sources, here's what I believe will be most important for 2026.

Key skills to build in 2026

  1. AI, intelligent agents and automation: Building real AI capability goes beyond using tools - it requires AI literacy, strong prompting and agent orchestration, and robust data handling, evaluation, and monitoring. Just as critical are the human skills: applying critical thinking to AI outputs while embedding ethics, bias awareness, privacy, and governance into every AI-enabled workflow.

  2. Cybersecurity and AI-driven threats: Modern cyber capability demands secure-by-design architectures, rigorous threat modelling and testing, strong protection across cloud, APIs, and AI systems, and the ability to respond to incidents using both digital forensics and AI-enabled attack and defence techniques.

  3. Data, cloud and edge computing: Strong data and platform capability is built on sound data engineering foundations, modern cloud platforms using IaC, containers and serverless, and a focus on observability, performance, and reliability engineering.

  4. Quantum and cryptography readiness: Preparing for the quantum era requires understanding the threat quantum computing poses to today’s cryptography and being familiar with NIST post-quantum standards and practical migration strategies.

  5. Sustainability and green tech: Sustainable technology practice means designing energy-aware architectures and code while applying lifecycle thinking across hardware, cloud usage, and model size–impact trade-offs.

  6. Human "core" skills: Effective leaders collaborate across disciplines, exercise sound judgement on ethical AI use, and confidently lead change while coaching others through disruption.

3 ways your ACS membership can set you up for success in 2026

  1. Structured lifelong learning and CPD: From online courses and e-learning (SkillSoft) to webinars, workshops, and CPD tracking. ACS Members also have access to SFIA, a structured skills framework that maps skills to career advancement by aligning skills to roles and identifying gaps to build.

  2. Professional identity, standards, ethics and trust: Being a member signals you take those responsibilities seriously and gives you tools to apply in your work. Adhere to the ACS code of ethics / professional conduct; find tools to apply through the work ACS develops or disseminates on technical and professional standards; and guidance on regulatory changes and what they mean in practice.

  3. Community, networking and mentoring: You have access to special interest groups and local chapters to meet peers facing similar challenges, find mentors/mentees, and form study groups for certifications or emerging topics.

In 2026, professionalism in technology means:

  • we understand the risks and responsibilities of powerful tools

  • we stay current with fast-moving tech and regulation

  • we act ethically and contribute to trusted, resilient systems

  • we commit to lifelong learning, and give back to community and country

A professional membership isn’t just an item on a resume; it’s a system to plug into: curated learning, ethical frameworks, standards, mentors, and peers.  Combine that with realistic routines – small daily practice, quarterly plans, and regular reflection – this puts us in a strong position to thrive in 2026 and beyond.

 

References:

[1][1] ISACA Now Blog 2025 ISACA 2026 Tech Trends and Priorities Pulse Poll Reinforces High Stakes of AI Preparedness

[2] Australia risks losing $44bn AI prize amid national skills crisis

[3] 3. Skills outlook - The Future of Jobs Report 2025 | World Economic Forum

[4] The Future of Jobs Report 2025 – World Economic Forum - Career Industry Council of Australia (CICA)

[5] www.acs.org.au/campaign/digital-pulse.html

[6] www.isaca.org/resources/tech-trends-pulse-poll

[7] www.acs.org.au/campaign/digital-pulse.html

[8] www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/tech-and-ai/our-insights/the-top-trends-in-tech

[9]www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/tech-and-ai/our-insights/the-top-trends-in-tech

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