ACS elects Sri Lankan-born Yohan Ramasundara as President for 2018-19

ACS - the professional body for Australia’s ICT sector - announced on November 25th, 2017 that Sri Lankan born Yohan Ramasundara was elected as the ACS President effective from January 1st, 2018 for a two-year term.

Ramasundara completed his schooling at Thurstan College Colombo before moving to Australia to further his education in late 90s.

He pursued his passion for technology by graduating with Bachelor of IT qualifications from University of Canberra. In recognising how vital ICT education and collaboration is to the prosperity of communities, Ramasundara has led major international initiatives including conferences and leadership assemblies.

Ramasundara is the youngest president to be elected at ACS for over two decades and is currently the Vice President overseeing ACS Membership Advisory Board, having previously transformed the ACS financial performance as the National Treasurer for five years from 2012 to 2016.

Ramasundara is also the Secretary General of SEARCC - the Asia Pacific forum for professional ICT associations. He is the Head of Governance for the Australian government agency administering IP rights. He recently returned to Australia from a secondment as the Innovation Manager for International Operations in San Francisco, California with the Australian trade mission.

In 2018-19 Ramasundara’s leadership team includes Vice President Dr. Nick Tate overseeing the Professional Advisory Board; Vice President Dr. Ian Oppermann overseeing the Technical Advisory Board; Immediate Past President Anthony Wong; Treasurer Arnold Wong; ACS CEO Andrew Johnson and; four branch representatives.

Ramasundara said, “As President, I will build on the platforms ACS has laid over the last 50 years. I look forward to collaborating across ACS and building our credibility as a trusted advisor to government, industry, academia and our members,” he said.

Ramasundara acknowledged the work of the outgoing president Anthony Wong: “As ACS President, Anthony has worked tirelessly for the past two years, bringing to the role his in-depth knowledge of the ICT industry and the organisation of which he has been a member since 2001.” During Anthony’s leadership, ACS’ engagement with government at a state/territory and federal level grew markedly during 2016 and 2017, building strong networks and advocating for ACS, its members and the ICT profession. 

“I have been intimately involved in the development of ACS’ new strategy and I am honoured to have been elected President for ACS to develop technology talent fostering innovation and creating new forms of value,” concluded Ramasundara.

In his spare time Ramasundara enjoys all things related to innovation and the start-up ecosystem. He has also served as a Cricket Australia umpire with an impressive record officiating at a national level over many years.