About the Speakers
Ian Birks, CEO Australian Information Industry Association
Ian Birks was appointed AIIA Chief Executive Officer in July 2008. Prior to this appointment Ian had been a National Board Member of the AIIA, serving in this capacity since 2004. Prior to the AII, Ian served as the Managing Director of ASX-listed IT research and advisory firm Ideas International. Ian remains a non-executive director of Ideas International. Prior to Ideas International, Ian worked in a number of senior roles for Prime Computer of Australia. Ian holds a BSc Tech (Hons) from the University of Manchester (UK) and is a member of Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Hon John Della Bosca, member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
Recently appointed minister for Health, Mr Della Bosca most recent portfolios were Minister for Education and Training, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for the Central Coast. He was formerly the Minister for Commerce, Minister for Finance, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Disability Services and Vice President of the Executive Council. He also served as Leader of the Government in the upper house.
Ted Dunstone, CEO Biometix
Winner of the 2003 NSW Pearcey award, Ted is a recognised authority of technical security and authentication issues relating to biometrics, as well as experience in dealing with the many policies and strategic issues. Ted also founded the Biometrics Institute, a not-for-profit organization engaged in research analysis and education for biometric users, vendors and government agencies throughout the Asia Pacific region.
Rt Hon Sen Stephen Conroy
Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy was appointed Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy in December 2007. He is also Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate. Passionate about the media and communications sector and about engaging with industry to foster innovation and growth, Stephen has had active involvement in the communications portfolio for six years—first as Senate representative for shadow communications spokesman Lindsay Tanner and then as shadow communications minister until the November 2007 federal election.
Narelle Kennedy, Chief Executive Australian Business Foundation
Narelle Kennedy is Chief Executive of the independent business think tank, the Australian Business Foundation. Narelle has had a working history that spans both the public and private sectors in NSW. She is regularly sought as an expert commentator on emerging business issues, innovation and opportunities from the knowledge economy. She holds positions on various Boards and Advisory Councils and has represented Australia at the Business Advisory Committee to the OECD. Narelle was awarded a Centenary Medal in 2003.
Kumar Parakala, President Australian Computer Society
As President and Chairman of the ACS, Kumar represents 16,500 professionals in the ICT industry in Australia. In this role, he is one of the leading industry spokespersons in Australia and provides advice and comments on ICT matters of national priority to senior Ministers, public servants and industry. Kumar is also the Global Chief Operating Officer of the IT Advisory practice of leading professional services firm KPMG. He is also the Global Head of Sourcing and National Leader for the Australia-India Business Practice.
Tony Pensabene, Director Economics and Research Policy, Australian Industry Group
Tony is responsible for the development of Ai Group's economic and industry policies, the design and management of economic and business surveys, and the provision of a wide range of economic services to member and non-member companies. Tony has held senior economic and policy positions with a number of federal and state departments and associations. He has undertaken several major consultancy projects and published widely on economic and policy issues.
Dr Silvia Pfeiffer, CEO Vquence
A 2004 Pearcey award winner, Silvia took a sabbatical from a decade of research in web-based technologies at CSIRO to establish Vquence, a web2.0 social video intelligence company. Vquence also extends and develops Annodex, an open platform for video indexing and analysis developed at CSIRO. She is one of the leading digital networked media authorities, and has published research work in many international conferences and workshops.
Peter Roberts, Fairfax Media
Until recently the editor of BRW magazine, Peter is a leading writer and commentator in the fields of innovation, manufacturing and government policy. Peter began his career in journalism at The Australian in Adelaide, and has since held a wide variety of editorial and management roles. In 1999 Peter founded and was CEO of an internet-based procurement service for small, business, Buperspower.com. He was also the managing editor for Fairfax Business Media Asia, with responsibility for business titles in South East Asia, India, New Zealand and China.
David Skellern, CEO NICTA
David is one of Australia's most successful ICT entrepreneurs, with a strong background in research, education, collaboration, and commercialisation. In 1989 Dr Skellern took up the Chair of Electronics at Macquarie University. Later, he co-founded the Radiata group of companies, to commercialise the results of the 802.11 research he led at Macquarie University in collaboration with CSIRO. Dr Skellern has also spent significant time working in industry as a visiting researcher, including over two years at Hewlett Packard Laboratories. Dr David Skellern was appointed to the NICTA board in 2003 and became the CEO in May 2005.
James Tuckerman, CEO Anthill Magazine
James Tuckerman is a young man on a mission. Trained in law at the University of Melbourne, James commenced his career as a public relations consultant, providing services to clients such as Telstra, Holden, AAMI and JB Were. At the age of 26, James launched Anthill Magazine with $28,000 in personal savings and no experience in the publishing world. Now recognised as the leading magazine for entrepreneurs, Anthill has won the Publishers Association’s annual award for Best Small Publisher for two years in a row.
Pia Waugh, CEO Waugh Consulting
Winner of the 2007 NSW State Pearcey Award with her husband Jeff, Pia is well known in the "open source" world for her contribution to Linux Australia, to www.linux.conf.au and to the "Open CeBIT" program at CeBIT Australia. Pia has made important contributions to the education and research sector in Australia through project co-ordination and fostering of shared development processes, while husband Jeff has contributed on a global scale through his work on the Ubuntu platform, and his contribution to the GNOME desktop.
Catherine Woodthorpe, CEO Australian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association
Catherine has an extensive background as a management adviser and professional director, including working with Australian technology companies seeking venture funding through to being a board member of listed companies. She has consulted to government groups on innovation and commercialisation. Catherine is currently a Director of medical devices company pSivida Limited, Chair of the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre and Council Member, University of Technology Sydney
For more information on the NSW Pearcey Awards please call Dr Silvia Pfeiffer on 0401 384 041 or Dr Ted Dunstone on 02 9209 4599.
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