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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National Awards Gala Dinner - Early-bird open now!!!

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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 3rd.

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

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

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

Registration link coming soon ....


Download the Australia 4.0 Communiqué .................. and White Paper
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National Awards Gala

The premiere event of the Australian ICT sector. National recognition for the most remarkable entrepreneurs, researchers and achievers in the country.

Join us in Brisbane November 19th for an evening like no other.


We present the National Entrepreneur Award, induct three new members to the Pearcey Hall of Fame and present the Pearcey Medal.

Special address to mark the 75th Anniversary of the first program run on CSIRAC.

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Pearcey Medal


This is our 26th 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


Make your mark ...                                    
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... help us find the most deserving candidates for the
Pearcey Entrepreneur Award
in your state or territory.

A peer-based selection process, recognises mid-career entrepreneurs who have taken a risk, are making a difference and are an inspiration to others.

Individuals doing something special with information, computing and communication technologies. Commercial success is important but, not sufficient to stand out from the crowd. Criteria explained.

Know someone who deserves this prestigious recognition??

Your friend, your boss, your partner, your sister, your brother??

This is for everybody, including migrants, refugees, gender-diverse, indigenous and everyone else who might normally feel they don't belong.

Online nomination form.
Self nomination is not permitted.


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

Latest News

Sep 6, 2024

2024 Victorian Pearcey Entrepreneur Award

The 2024 Victorian Pearcey Entrepreneur Award presented to Chris Piastri, co-founder and CTO of HP Tuners. Award was presented at a special dinner in Melbourne, by Professor Eduard Hovy, Executive Director of Melbourne Connect at the University of Melbourne. This was the flagship event of the Melbourne Connect Innovation Week.

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Sep 6, 2024

2024 Pearcey Oration

The 2024 pearcey Oration Taking the Tiger by the Tail – a digital future for Australia that works for us all! was delivered by Dr Ian Oppermann on Wednesday September 4th 2024. Dr Oppermann looked through the digital and data lens to delve into challenges, issues and opportunities for equity, AI, privacy, cybersecurity, standards and collaboration.

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Jul 31, 2024

Musica ex Machina

Musica ex Machina: Machines Thinking Musically is an exhibition at EPFL Pavilions in Lausanne, Switzerland, that explores the intersections of algorithmic and computational thinking in music. The exhibition highlights the evolution of these concepts from historical to contemporary contexts, showcasing how technological advances have expanded musical possibilities. A significant part of the exhibition is dedicated to CSIRAC, the first computer to play music, featuring its pioneering role in the history of computer music. CSIRAC's contributions are illustrated through historical documentation and audiovisual installations. More details about the exhibition and its themes can be found here . Details about the associated symposium are here 

Awards

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

National Awards • State AwardsNominations

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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 

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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 3.0Australia 4.0 •  ICT HeritagePearcey 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.

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