Exclusive: Lumify Group's CEO highlights expansion in ANZ region

Lumify's CEO, Jon Lang, has revealed the company has been making significant strides in the ANZ region, expanding its presence and offering a wide range of training solutions across Australia, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

With seven years in his position, Lang has overseen several key milestones that have driven the company's growth, including strategic acquisitions, the development of new digital courses, and the launch of a new division focused on digital transformation.

Strategic acquisitions and campus growth

One of Lumify's recent moves was the acquisition of Wizard Corporate Training, a Canberra-based business known for its high-quality professional development courses.

Lang explained that this acquisition has allowed Lumify to expand its offering in Canberra and add around 25 new professional development courses to its portfolio.

"The acquisition of Wizard has been a fantastic addition to our group, allowing us to expand our scope and provide even more training options for our clients, particularly in the government sector," Lang said. "Our Canberra facility has been buzzing ever since, with clients now benefiting from both Wizard and Lumify courses."

In addition to Canberra, Lumify operates in major cities across Australia, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

The company has campuses in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Manila, giving it a strong geographical footprint. In New Zealand, Lumify is currently building a new campus in Christchurch, which Lang described as a key investment in the region.

Some key customers include Optus, the Department of Defence and Transport for NSW, in Australia, and the Ministry of Education in New Zealand.

Expanding the course portfolio

Lumify has been proactive in expanding its course offerings, especially in the digital transformation and cybersecurity sectors. Lang noted that the demand for cybersecurity training, AI, and machine learning courses has been growing rapidly, with Lumify now offering a full portfolio in these areas.

"Cybersecurity is absolutely front and centre for us. We have full-time cybersecurity trainers, and they're constantly in demand," Lang explained. "We also launched a ChatGPT course, and it sold out quickly. In fact, we're now ramping up our schedule to meet the demand."

Lang added that the company's collaboration with Microsoft has been instrumental in its expansion. "We're Microsoft's biggest partner in Australia and New Zealand, and we're heavily involved in delivering their certification training, especially around their new CoPilot AI tools," he said. "The demand for CoPilot courses is immense, and we're working hard to ensure we can offer these skills across all of our campuses."

Blended learning and microlearning

A significant shift in the way Lumify delivers training has come from the rise of blended and microlearning formats. Lang explained that while traditional face-to-face instructor-led training remains popular, there has been a growing demand for shorter, more flexible learning options.

"Microlearning is a key part of our strategy. People are looking for targeted learning experiences, and businesses are increasingly asking us to provide specific skills training in short, digestible formats," Lang said.

"We've built out a dedicated team to create custom e-learning solutions that can meet these needs. It's not just about learning everything in one go anymore; it's about learning the skills you need when you need them."

Lumify has also embraced the hybrid learning model, where students can attend live, instructor-led classes either in person or remotely. This flexibility, Lang said, has allowed the company to cater to diverse customer needs across different locations.

"You might see a class where half the students are in the room, and the other half are joining remotely, but they're all getting the same high-quality experience," Lang said.

"We've invested heavily in the technology that makes this possible, with high-end cameras and microphones ensuring that remote students feel just as engaged as those in the classroom."

Meeting the demand for digital skills

As businesses increasingly turn to digital solutions, the demand for training in areas such as AI, cybersecurity, and end-user applications continues to grow. Lumify has responded to this by adding new courses and ensuring that its offerings are up to date with the latest technological developments.

"Technology evolves so quickly these days. A course we delivered three months ago might already need updating, especially in fast-moving areas like AI and ChatGPT," Lang said. "We're committed to ensuring that our customers get the most current and relevant training, which is why we have a dedicated product team that's constantly bringing new courses and partners on board."

Lang highlighted that this commitment to staying at the forefront of technology training is crucial for Lumify's success. "Our customers trust us to provide the skills they need to stay competitive, and that's a responsibility we take very seriously," he said.

Looking ahead

Looking to the future, Lang sees continued growth in the demand for digital skills, particularly in cybersecurity and AI.

"Cybersecurity and AI are without a doubt the two biggest areas of demand right now, and I don't see that slowing down anytime soon," he said. "We're already expanding our course offerings in these areas, and we're constantly adding new skills to our portfolio to keep up with what the market needs."

Lang also emphasised the importance of being responsive to customer needs, particularly in challenging economic environments.

"We work with a wide range of customers, from ASX 200 companies to government agencies, and each one has different needs. Our job is to tailor our training solutions to fit those needs," he said.

As Lumify continues to expand across the ANZ region, Lang is confident that the company's focus on digital transformation, blended learning, and customer-centric solutions will keep it at the forefront of the training industry.

"We're excited about what the future holds," he said. "The demand for digital skills is only going to grow, and we're ready to meet that challenge head-on."