President Philip Argy said that, for Australia to keep pace internationally, it must raise the standard and be professional in the global marketplace.

"We must reduce the risks associated with major technology projects in Australia to ensure we capture the maximum economic benefits from spending on ICT goods and services as well as promote the sector's reputation," he said.

"Technology underpins the productivity and performance of the nation's corporations and thousands of small-to-medium enterprises and its influence is becoming more pervasive in both the home and the office. Our Australian ICT industry will face significant challenges in the next decade from rapid advances in technology."

Argy said that the way to reduce risk associated with technology projects is to ensure that high standards of professionalism are applied across the ICT industry.

"This means you need to be sure that the ICT people you use on a project have the appropriate ICT credentials so you know they have the expertise to do the job effectively and with a professional approach," Argy said. "Because technology is moving so fast, the ACS believes ICT workers need to undertake professional development programs every year to keep pace." The Australian technology industry employs more than 200,000 people and is a significant contributor to the nation's GDP.