PwC Australia leads firmwide transformation to prepare for AI-enabled future

Wednesday, 18 March 2026

PwC Australia has today outlined the next steps in its comprehensive workforce AI upskilling program, which aims to position its people, partners and clients for success in the evolving professional services landscape. The new initiatives, such as a week-long graduate immersion program and firmwide AI fluency tools, build on its commitment to responsible and practical AI upskilling across all levels.

The firm recognises that the future workforce will look fundamentally different, with AI automating routine tasks and providing greater opportunities for scale and scope. However, these benefits can only be realised with human oversight, creating increased demand for human judgement, relationship building and creative problem-solving. This shift requires a strategic response that goes beyond teaching people to use new tools. The targeted approach creates bespoke learning catalogues based on an individual's client type and skill set, supporting them to deliver trusted solutions for their clients.

PwC Australia CEO Kevin Burrowes said this transformation is designed to help people thrive alongside AI.

"From comprehensive graduate development to executive coaching, we want our entire workforce to responsibly and confidently harness AI to enhance their work and deliver better client outcomes.

"We're embracing AI disruption and investing in the solutions and skills our people need to succeed in an AI-native environment. Being in the knowledge business, our sector is ripe for this transformation, and we're positioning ourselves and our people to lead."

Building skills that matter

The uplift is underpinned by the development of both human and AI capabilities that will define the future professional services worker. This includes strengthening core human skills like adaptability, relationship building and critical thinking, which become even more valuable as AI handles routine work, alongside building fluency in AI applications and responsible use practices. The comprehensive program involves several key initiatives, such as:

• All partners and managing directors are completing an eight-week executive AI coaching program, which focuses on AI strategies for business transformation. More than half the cohort has already graduated, and the remainder are on track to complete the course by June. All directors will participate in a series of tailored Masterclasses.

• All new graduates will participate in a week-long residential AI immersion program that brings the entire cohort together for practical exposure to AI applications in everyday work, teaching responsible AI principles through hands-on client simulation exercises.

• All staff will have access to an AI foundations program, featuring an AI skills compass baseline assessment, foundational capabilities training, and hands-on workshops for tools like ChatPwC and Copilot. This is in addition to the training they receive to deploy solutions specific to their roles.

• A skills-first approach and focus on developing talent, with continued introduction of tools which help teams identify their strengths and enhance their abilities through projects and client engagements.

This is in addition to the growing community of more than 500 AI Champions and the AI personal trainers reverse mentoring program.

"By equipping our people with practical tools, skill specific learning, and ongoing support, we're not only preparing our workforce to lead responsibly, but also supercharging our ability to deliver innovative, data-driven solutions that create lasting value for our clients in a rapidly evolving digital landscape," Mr Burrowes said.

Responsible AI at the centre

Every aspect of the workforce transformation incorporates responsible AI principles, governance frameworks, and ethical considerations. This ensures that as the workforce becomes more AI-enabled, it also becomes more conscious of AI's broader implications and committed to using these powerful tools appropriately.

The firm views this as fundamental to sustainable AI adoption - technology must enhance human capability while maintaining the trust and ethical standards that clients expect from professional services. Human accountability, disclosure and training are at the heart of this responsible AI approach.

Leading industry change

Through this workforce transformation, PwC Australia is helping to define what the future of professional services looks like. The initiative serves as a practical example of how firms can evolve their people strategies to succeed in an AI-driven marketplace while maintaining their core values and client focus.

"This represents a significant evolution in how we think about professional development," said Burrowes. "We're not just training people to use new tools - we're helping them understand their evolving role in a world where human expertise and AI capabilities work together."

The transformation positions PwC Australia's workforce to adapt to the changing professional services environment and actively shape its future direction.