Lumify Group has appointed Darren Cook as its new chief executive, alongside Ayisha Tufail as chief operating officer for Professional Capability and Joshua Cameron as chief operating officer for Careers, as the training provider prepares for growing demand for AI and digital skills

The executive appointments come as employers face a widening gap between investing in artificial intelligence and ensuring their people can use it well.

Lumify Group says the changes represent its next phase of growth, bringing its technical training, accredited learning, professional development and career pathways businesses closer together as organisations rethink the skills needed for the changing workplace.

The challenge is becoming harder to ignore. Almost half of global IT decision-makers identify AI and machine learning as their top investment priority for the year ahead, yet more than a third rate their teams’ current AI skills as low or somewhat low, according to the recent IT Skills and Salary Report.

A further third of decision-makers said the speed of technology change had already moved beyond their existing skills-development programs.

For businesses, the issue is no longer simply whether to adopt new technology, but whether their workforce is equipped to make it useful, secure and commercially worthwhile.

Darren Cook, CEO of Lumify Group, says the technology industry is entering a period where capability will be as important as technology itself.

“The next decade of technology will not be defined by tools alone.” said Darren Cook, CEO of Lumify Group.

“It will be defined by whether organisations can build the skills, behaviours and confidence needed to adapt. That is the opportunity for Lumify,”

“We help organisations build capabilitywe help individuals build careers, and we help close the gap between technology ambition and practical execution,”

“I’m incredibly excited to be joining Lumify Group at such an important time for the organisation and the market it serves.” he said.

Cook brings more than 20 years’ experience in leadership roles helping technology, consulting and advisory businesses scale through periods of growth, transformation and market change.

As CEO, Cook will lead Lumify Group in its ongoing mission to close the gap between technology investment and workforce capability.

At a time when Australian organisations are investing heavily in AI and undergoing rapid technological change, having the practical skills to turn those investments into real business value has never been more critical.

The additional appointments of Ayisha Tufail as Chief Operating Officer – Professional Capability, and Joshua Cameron as Chief Operating Officer – Careers, will provide further support to organisations seeking to increase their skills and capabilities.

Ayisha will lead Lumify Group’s Professional Capability business, which focuses on delivering workforce upskilling, professional capability development and organisational learning solutions.

Her portfolio of brands includes Lumify Work, Nexacu, City Desktop Training, Plain English Foundation, ENS, Lumify Work New Zealand and the Group’s Philippines operations.

Meanwhile, Joshua will lead the Careers business, overseeing the Lumify Learn and Lumify People brands. Joshua will have responsibility for accredited learning pathways, industry certifications and career-focused education that supports the technology workforce of the future.

Commenting on her appointment, Ayisha Tufail said, “While AI is accelerating the pace of transformation, sustainable competitive advantage will always come from people,”

“The challenge for organisations is no longer simply keeping skills current, it’s building workforces that can continuously adapt, innovate and embrace change,”

“Our role is to help organisations achieve that by bringing together technology, professional capability and leadership development into integrated solutions that deliver measurable business outcomes.” said. Tufail

Joshua Cameron added, “Our focus is on expanding access to high-quality certified learning, helping individuals build meaningful careers while ensuring employers have access to the skilled talent they need,”

“By strengthening the connection between education, certification and employment, we’re creating better outcomes for learners, industry and our partners.”

Together, the new appointments strengthen Lumify Group’s ability to support organisations and individuals in developing future-focused skills for an increasingly AI-enabled world.

Lumify Group’s evolving business structure also enables customers, technology vendors and strategic partners to access the breadth of expertise across the Group, while continuing to benefit from the trusted relationships and specialist knowledge that each brand is known for.