The school is aimed at building secondary student skills in the STEM subjects of science, technology, engineering and maths.

It will open early next year in a refurbished Federation University SMB campus building.

Ms Fiusco recently worked for IBM Australia focusing on the collaboration between education, industry and community to develop STEM pathways for young people.

She has also been the Leadership Ballarat and Western Region and Committee for Ballarat executive officer and was previously the VET/VCAL coordinator at the former Sebastopol College, now Phoenix P-12 Community College.

“I am excited to head up this Tech School, which will use leading-edge technology, discovery and innovation to support students to flourish in the rapidly changing global economy,” Ms Fiusco said.

The Ballarat Tech School will deliver programs to students from 15 regional schools including all the Ballarat secondary schools, Daylesford Secondary College and Lake Bolac College.

It is being built on a TAFE campus to help introduce students to the tertiary education environment.

Buninyong MP Geoff Howard said the state government was “preparing secondary students with the skills and knowledge they need to launch into emerging industries and future career opportunities”.