Luke Howard's acceptance speech

From Pearcey

The Honourable Marsha Thompson MP; Ian Dennis, President of the Pearcey Foundation, Distinguished Ladies and Gentleman.

It is a great privilege to be presented with this award. As someone without a formal background in computer science, such an acknowledgment by one’s peers means a great deal.

I would like to thank my parents for their support and encouragement, and all with whom I have had the opportunity to study and work. In particular I am very grateful to Brett Adam of Versata and Daniel Ingvarson of MyInternet, who gave me my first real job in the computer industry. I am also very much indebted to PADL’s customers and partners.

Australians punch above their weight in many disciplines, and IT is no exception. This event is a particularly appropriate occasion to pay homage to the many role models, past and present, in the Australian IT industry.

I would be the last to claim that any of my work is rocket science, but I do think that PADL’s success demonstrates the influence a small vendor can have by defining open standards.

Once again, thank you very much.