Cleared for Takeoff: Joshua Ho Bridges the Gap Between Classroom and tech founder at Aviation High

Last week, tech company founder Joshua Ho showed again why he is a fantastic ambassador for two major initiatives out of ACS Queensland. At Aviation High School—a specialised Aerospace and STEM hub located in Hendra and dedicated to preparing students for the high-tech worlds of aerospace and engineering—Josh spoke to 116 Year 10 students about the reality of modern tech career pathways

A recent addition to the ICT Gateway to Industry Schools program (ICT GISP), Aviation High provides a unique environment where students don't just study theory; they are immersed in a curriculum designed to bridge the gap between the classroom and the hangar (or the server room). It was the perfect stage for Josh to represent the Young Tech Ambassador (YTA) program, where he generously gives his time to share a journey that many of these students are just beginning.

Josh’s story is particularly resonant because he didn’t just join the industry; he helped shape it by founding Acenci.com. As a firm focused on high-level IT consultancy and digital transformation, Acenci represents the "entrepreneurial end" of the tech spectrum. By explaining how he navigated the path from a student interested in code to the founder of a company that solves complex technical infrastructure problems, Josh helps students "see it, so they can be it."

During the session, he also shared practical resources like the 'Hack the Future' bank of career videos, giving the students a roadmap for their own digital evolution. With many of the schools where YTAs share their stories also being active members of the ICT GISP, this talk served as a perfect example of how these two initiatives work in tandem to build Queensland’s—and Australia’s—future tech workforce. 

The talk inspired nearly 20 questions from the students, and ended with a lineup of those wanting to talk with Josh in person, showing what a successful impact the event had.

Learn more:

• Are you a young tech professional? The YTA program would love to have you on board. You can learn more here.

• About ICT GISP: This program is proudly supported by the Queensland Department of Trade, Employment and Training and facilitated by ACS (Australian Computer Society) and provides an important opportunity to address the significant shortfall of young, emerging ICT talent in Queensland and Australia. Learn more here.