2003 National Medal |
From Pearcey
The 2003 Pearcey Medal presented to Lyndsey Cattermole
Friday August 22. Brisbane: Prominent technology professional Ms Lyndsey Cattermole last night became the 2003 winner of the Pearcey Medal.
The Federal Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Richard Alston, announced the award at a gala dinner in Brisbane attended by many of Australia's leading technology identities.
Ms Cattermole has been a distinguished and influential figure in the Australian ICT industry for thirty years, building one of the nation’s largest and most successful software and services companies and taking a prominent role in promoting the industry through national and international bodies.
The National Pearcey Medal is bestowed each year on an individual who has made an exceptional and long-term contribution to the ICT sector.
The foundation takes its name from Dr Trevor Pearcey who led the Australian research team that in 1948 succeeded in designing and building Australia’s first operational computer - now the oldest surviving computer in the world.
The Pearcey Foundation was formed shortly after Trevor Pearcey’s death in 1998. Its aim is to foster an appreciation of the powerful contribution of Australians to the development and growth of the IT sector.
To this end the foundation makes annual awards to individuals for outstanding achievements in research, development, professionalism and industrial activity at both a national and state level.
The Pearcey Medal was first awarded in 1998. Previous winners were: Peter Jones, Trevor Robinson, George Kepper, Tony Benson and Bill Caelli.
At the State level, the foundation acknowledges the early and substantial contribution to the industry made by younger individuals, by making annual Pearcey State Awards.
Each year there are also two inductions to the Pearcey Hall of Fame. The inductees for 2003 are John O’Callaghan and David Hartley. They join previous inductees, John Bennett, Frank Hurst, Robert Northcote and Phil Singleton.
The winner of the 2003 Pearcey Medal, Lyndsey Cattermole, started computer programming and systems analysis in the early 70s and by 1974 had founded and become joint managing director of the software and services company Aspect Computing Pty Ltd. When Aspect was sold to KAZ Group Ltd last year it had 1,300 permanent staff and offices around Australia.
Ms Cattermole has served on and chaired numerous committees and advisory bodies, including the Women’s and Children’s Health Care Network and the Prime Minister’s Science and Engineering Council.
She is presently director of Foster’s Brewing Group Ltd, Kaz Group Ltd, Madowla Park Holdings Pty Ltd and Lansa Holdings.
She is also a board member of the Melbourne Theatre Company.
Chairman of the Pearcey Foundation National Committee, Mr Ian Dennis, speaking at the award ceremony, praised Medal winner Lyndsey Cattermole, saying her contribution to Australia’s IT industry had been over and beyond what was required by an IT professional.
“For more than thirty years, our medallist has been a fierce advocate for Australian ITT interests,†he said.