Welcome to

The Pearcey Foundation

The Pearcey Foundation is a non-profit organisation founded in 1998 in memory of a great Australian ICT pioneer Dr Trevor Pearcey. The Foundation operates broadly across the Australian Information Computing and Telecommunication (ICT) technologies sector, from celebrating achievements through national and state awards, to being involved in debate and public policy on critical national issues such as productivity, the digital economy and national infrastructure.

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See all the Highlights and photos from our 2024 National Awards Gala See all the Highlights and photos from our 2024 National Awards Gala

AUSTRALIA 4.0 - ICT enabling Net Zero

Australia 4.0 is a constructive space for all stakeholders to discuss the challenges, opportunities and solutions for the transition of Australia to a Net Zero energy system.

A series of hybrid events:

First session focused on "Creating an Open Data Architecture" and was hosted by CSIRO in Sydney on September 3^rd.

Second session October 2^nd hosted by Engineers Australia in Canberra.

Third session October 29^th hosted by Cremorne Digital Hub and RACE for 2030 CRC in Melbourne.

Fourth session February 12^th, 2025 hosted by Standards Australia in Sydney.

Registration link coming soon ....

Download the Australia 4.0 Communiqué .................. and White Paper

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This is our 26^th year of awards, focussed exclusively on outstanding individuals drawn from across our vast geography.

We present 11 awards each year and have done so for a long time - recognising over 170 Australian ICT luminaries and entrepreneurs, as highlighted on this website.

Nominate now for Pearcey Awards

Heritage Projects - many activities including publication of 1^st authoritative history of Australian computing, national oral history of Australian ICT, and an IEEE milestone for CSIRAC.

Latest News

Dec 1, 2024

2024 National Awards Gala

An evening of celebration and recognition, the Pearcey National Awards Gala incorporated the Queensland Entrepreneur Award, the National Entrepreneur Award, the Pearcey Hall of Fame and the Pearcey Medal. These most prestigious awards recognise outstanding Australians in the ICT sector for their entrepreneurial spirit, achievements and lifetime commitment to the betterment of our society through technology enabled change.

2024 Pearcey Hall of Fame

Professor Svetha Venkatesh, Professor Andrew Dzurak and Jan Kornweibel were inducted into the 2024 Pearcey Hall of Fame at the Pearcey National Awards night on 19 November 2024 in Brisbane. The presentations were made by David Tudehope (2023 Pearcey Medallist) and the Honourable Kate Lundy (2017 Pearcey Hall of Fame inductee).

2024 Pearcey Entrepreneur Award

The 2024 Pearcey National Entrepreneur Award was presented to Ian Corser AM and David Gaul, founders of CEA Technologies. The presentation was made by Emeritus Professor Roy Green AM at the Pearcey Foundation National Event on 19 November 2024 in Brisbane.

Awards

The Pearcey Foundation's annual awards recognise and celebrate outstanding individuals in Australian ICT.

National Awards • State Awards • Nominations

The Heritage Project

The Pearcey Foundation intends to extend the Heritage Project well beyond Phase One (the book) – with the aim to become ‘the’ central repository – hosting a ‘virtual museum’ of Australia’s computing artefacts, documents and oral histories from key players.

The Project

Kind Words

Australians have all too often seen themselves as observers rather than participants in the digital revolution, but that does not do justice to our history. The Pearcey Foundation plays a very important role in highlighting the real contributions Australians have made in the past, and in so doing will help inspire the next generation of Australian digital innovators.

Charlie Day
Former CEO, Innovation and Science Australia

The Pearcey Foundation’s project to document Australia’s achievements in the computer age is a critically important endeavour. A central repository, that documents the central role of our universities and CSIRO and the individual contributions of academics and entrepreneurs, will be an essential resource for future policy makers and for students, research workers and entrepreneurs.

Alex Zelinsky AO
Vice-Chancellor and President, University of Newcastle

Australians are a nation of storytellers. Stories make us laugh and they make us cry, they remind us who we are and they inspire us, and let us celebrate our successes and failures. Australia has much to celebrate when it comes to the digital age, from pioneering work in computer science through to innovative cloud services. The Pearcey Foundation Heritage Project will be an inspiration to future generations of Australians.

Founder
Australian Ocean Lab and Former Engineering Director, Google Australia

Initiatives

The Pearcey Foundation is actively involved in many initiatives to help promote and accelerate the Australian ICT industry.

Thought Leadership • Australia 3.0 • Australia 4.0 • ICT Heritage • Pearcey Institute

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In memory of

Dr Trevor Pearcey

The Pearcey Foundation Inc. was established in 1998 to raise the profile of the Australian Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Industry and profession. It was created in the memory of one of the greatest pioneers of the Australian ICT industry, Dr Trevor Pearcey.