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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Australia 4.0 Summit - REGISTER NOW

AUSTRALIA 4.0
Summit

The Consumers' Grid

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.

Session Recordings and Reports:

2023
2024
2025

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

Many activities including:

  • Text history - publication of 1st authoritative history of Australian computing
  • IEEE milestone for CSIRAC
  • Virtual Museum

Collaboration includes:

  • Oral histories - of Australian ICT (Sydney  Uni Business School)
  • Documentaries - of history of computing in Australia
  • 70th Anniversary of computation laboratory with CSIRAC at Melbourne University
  • Annual Ada Lovelace Day (Monash Uni)
  • Working miniature model of CSIRAC


This is our 27th year of awards, focussed exclusively on outstanding individuals drawn from across our vast geography.

We present 12 awards each year, and have done so for a long time - recognising over 245 Australian ICT luminaries and entrepreneurs, as highlighted on this website.


Coming Events

Event Date

ACT Award

2 Oct 2025

Australia 4.0 Summit

5 virtual debates
each Friday
from 17 Oct

NSW Award

14 Oct 2025

QLD Award

22 Oct 2025

TAS Award

28 Oct 2025

SA Award

Nov 2025

National Awards
(Melbourne)

21 Nov 2025

Nominate now for Pearcey Awards

Latest News

TAS Awards2025
2025 Tasmanian Award
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Oct 29, 2025

2025 Tasmanian Award

Roxane Bandini-Maeder, CEO and co-founder of climate tech startup Geoneon, was awarded the 2025 Tasmania Pearcey Entrepreneur of the Year at the Enterprize Tasmania Demo Day in Hobart.

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Industry News2025
Pearcey Entrepreneur does it again!!
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Oct 3, 2025

Pearcey Entrepreneur does it again!!

As reported in The Age, Grant Petty, National and Victorian Pearcey Entrepreneur award recipient in 2020, has partnered with APPLE to once again make professional video creation and editing accessible to every creative effort.

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Pearcey Entrepreneur AwardsVIC Awards
2025 Victorian Pearcey Entrepreneur Award
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Sep 7, 2025

2025 Victorian Pearcey Entrepreneur Award

The 2025 Victorian Pearcey Entrepreneur Award presented to Sam Kroonenburg, co-founder and CEO of A Cloud Guru, co-founder and co-CEO of Cuttable. 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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Computing HistoryHistory of ICT
Oral History of Australian Computing
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Aug 21, 2025

Oral History of Australian Computing

Australia has a rich and dynamic history of invention, innovation, and commercial success in developing electronics products in computing and allied fields. Many of these achievements are within living memory. In this series of interviews by documentary expert Karl von Moller we hear first hand from the people who pioneered this era of modern electronics innovation in Australia.

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2025Pearcey InitiativePearcey News
IT Innovation in AU joint Study
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Aug 20, 2025

IT Innovation in AU joint Study

The Pearcey Foundation and the Business School at the University of Sydney are proud to release a detailed project report looking at IT Innovation in Australia, A Long-Term Perspective.

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WA Awards2025
2025 WA Award
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Jul 18, 2025

2025 WA Award

The 2025 WA Pearcey Entrepreneur Award was presented to Chris Morrissey, founder and CEO of Ever Nimble, at the 34th WAITTA Incite Awards in Perth on Friday 18th July 2025.

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Computing History2025Guest blogHistory of ICTWomen in IT
Grandmother of the Web
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Jun 22, 2025

Grandmother of the Web

Guest blog by Barbara Ainsworth

Mary Lee Woods enjoyed a short career in Australia at Mount Stromlo. Her son, Tim Berners-Lee, is known as the “Father of the Web”. Mary accepted the name “Grandmother of the Web’. She should be celebrated for her own career in programming.

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2025Pearcey NewsPearcey Hall of Fame
UNSW Quantum Professor presented Hall of Fame
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Feb 14, 2025

UNSW Quantum Professor presented Hall of Fame

Prof Andrew Dzurak was elevated to the Pearcey Hall of Fame in November 2024. Unfortunately, Andrew was overseas at the time of the presentation and so the Chair of the Pearcey Foundation presented the certificate in person on Friday 14 February at the Diraq lab at UNSW Campus in Kensington, NSW.

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2024Industry News
Dr Ian Oppermann Appointments
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Dec 20, 2024

Dr Ian Oppermann Appointments

Congratulations to Dr Ian Opperman on his appointment as the Chair of the Federal Government committee for Data Standards for Digital ID and Consumer Data Right. Ian is Chair of our Australia 4.0 Committee and was our 2024 Pearcey Orator.

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Pearcey News2024Pearcey Events
2024 National Awards Gala
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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.

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Pearcey Hall of Fame2024
2024 Pearcey Hall of Fame
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Nov 19, 2024

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).

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Pearcey Entrepreneur Awards2024
2024 Pearcey Entrepreneur Award
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Nov 19, 2024

2024 Pearcey Entrepreneur Award

The 2024 Pearcey National Entrepreneur Award was presented to Ian Croser 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.

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Pearcey Medals2024
2024 Pearcey Medal
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Nov 19, 2024

2024 Pearcey Medal

The prestigious 2024 Pearcey Medal was awarded to Professor Svetha Venkatesh at the Pearcey Foundation's National Event in Brisbane on 19 November 2024. The event also celebrated the 75th anniversary of Australia's first computer, CSIRAC, running its first software program in November 1949.

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QLD Awards2024
2024 Qld Award
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Nov 19, 2024

2024 Qld Award

The Queensland Pearcey Entrepreneur for 2024 was presented to Andrew Bate, co-founder and CEO of Swarm Farm Robotics. The presentation was part of the Pearcey Foundation's National Event Gala Dinner on Tuesday 19th November 2024 in Brisbane.

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Pearcey NewsHistory of ICT2024Computing History
Biography - Trevor Pearcey
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Nov 11, 2024

Biography - Trevor Pearcey

Mrs Barbara Ainsworth, Curator of the Monash Museum of Computing History has published a new biography of Dr Trevor Pearcey, Dean of the School of Computing and Information Systems (1980-1984).

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NSW Awards2024
2024 NSW Award
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Nov 6, 2024

2024 NSW Award

At a special Pearcey Foundation awards night in Sydney on Thursday 7 November 2024, Prof Michael J. Biercuk PhD, CEO and founder of Q-CTRL, was announced as the recipient of the 2024 NSW Pearcey Entrepreneur of the Year Award.  Professor Biercuk is a global science and technology innovator building the greenfield quantum technology industry.

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Pearcey News2024Pearcey Entrepreneur Awards
Pearcey Award Recipient on TV
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Oct 30, 2024

Pearcey Award Recipient on TV

Chris Piastri, recipient of the 2024 Victorian Pearcey Entrepreneur Award is interviewed by 9News about his Pearcey award and the work he has done to receive this prestigious recognition.

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ACT Awards2024
2024 ACT Award
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Sep 24, 2024

2024 ACT Award

The founders of CEA Technologies, Ian Croser and David Gaul, were the recipients of the 2024 ACT Chief Minister’s Pearcey Award. The award was presented at a special Pearcey event in Canberra on the 25th of September 2024 by the ACT Chief Minister, Andrew Barr.

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Pearcey Orations2024
2024 Pearcey Oration
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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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2024Pearcey Entrepreneur AwardsVIC Awards
2024 Victorian Pearcey Entrepreneur Award
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Sep 5, 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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CSIRACPearcey News2024
Musica ex Machina
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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 

WA Awards2024
2024 WA Award
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Jul 19, 2024

2024 WA Award

Peter van der Made, founder and CTO of Brainchip Inc was announced as the 2024 WA Pearcey Entrepreneur Awardee at the 33rd WAITTA Incite Awards in Perth on 19th July 2024. 

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Pearcey Orations2023
2023 Pearcey Oration
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May 6, 2024

2023 Pearcey Oration

The 2023 Pearcey Oration, The Quantum Revolution: Australia leads the world into the new age of computing – again!!, was presented by Professor Michelle Simmons AO, on Wednesday 6 September 2023. Professor Simmons gave a passionate and exciting insight into the opportunity for Australia to once again be at the global forefront in manufacturing advanced technology computers.

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Australia 4.02024
Australia 4.0 Communiqué
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Apr 26, 2024

Australia 4.0 Communiqué

Australia 4.0 Communiqué examines the challenges and opportunities for Australian energy networks as the nation transitions to a net zero economy.

Australia 4.0 is a Pearcey Foundation initiative to spark collaboration between the energy and ICT sectors to help Australia move towards a net zero energy system.

Read the official media release.

Australia 4.02024Special Events
VIP Launch - Australia 4.0 Communiqué
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Mar 30, 2024

VIP Launch - Australia 4.0 Communiqué

The Honourable Ed Husic MP, Minister for Industry and Science will launch the Australia 4.0 Communiqué which outlines five pilot projects to accelerate the progress towards the ultimate goal of a net-zero energy system for Australia.

Australia 4.0 is an initiative of the Pearcey Foundation to help our nation move towards a net zero energy system by enabling the innovative contributions of the ICT sector in collaboration with the energy sector. Over 100 discrete business and regulatory challenges  identified, were synthesised into to 10 key challenges with three overarching themes.

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2024Vale
Jeff Whittle Obituary
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Mar 5, 2024

Jeff Whittle Obituary

Jeff Whittle AO FACS passed away on 5th February 2024 at the age of 93. His legacy is profound and not only in IT. He was made an Officer (AO) of the general division of the Order of Australia for "Distinguished service to the information technology sector and the mining industry, particularly through the development of industry standard computer programs for strategic mine planning and optimisation”.

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2024Pearcey News
Jordan Green Awarded AM
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Jan 26, 2024

Jordan Green Awarded AM

The Pearcey Foundation's own Board member and Secretary, Jordan Green, was awarded an AM in the Australia Day 2024 Honours List. Jordan was recognised for his significant service to business, particularly through Angel investing, and to professional associations.

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2023ValeAustralia 4.0
Vale Ariel Liebman
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Nov 19, 2023

Vale Ariel Liebman

Professor Ariel Liebman was a key supporter of Australia 4.0. He worked at the intersection of ICT and the future renewable grid. Ariel was going to moderate one of the Australia 4.0 sessions but, since he was to be overseas at the time, he arranged for other colleagues to assist. Sadly, Ariel passed away after a brief illness on November 9th 2023 and will be sorely missed by his family, friends and colleagues.

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TAS Awards2023
2023 Tasmania Award
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Nov 10, 2023

2023 Tasmania Award

The 2023 Tasmanian Pearcey State Entrepreneurship Award was presented to Damian Ivereigh, founder and Chief Network Architect of Tasmania-based ISP Launtel. The presentation was made by Tasmanian Minister for Small Business and Science and Technology, the Hon Madeleine Ogilvie at the TasICT Conference Gala Dinner tonight at the C3 Convention Centre in Hobart on the evening of Friday 10th November.

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2023Pearcey News
2023 National Awards Announced
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Nov 1, 2023

2023 National Awards Announced

On October 31st in Sydney the Pearcey Foundation celebrated its jubilee year and presented its national awards. This included the Pearcey Medal awarded to Aidan and David Tudehope, co-founders of Macquarie Technology Group and Pearcey Fame inductees, Richard White, Founder and CEO of Wisetech Global, and Professor Jean Armstrong, engineer, inventor, teacher and researcher. The Pearcey National Entrepreneur Award recipient was Didier Elzinga, Founder and CEO of CultureAmp.

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Pearcey Entrepreneur Awards2023
2023 Pearcey Entrepreneur Award
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Oct 30, 2023

2023 Pearcey Entrepreneur Award

The 2023 Pearcey National Entrepreneur Award was presented to Didier Elzinga founder and CEO of Culture Amp, by Rick Harvey, National Awards Director of the Pearcey Foundation at the prestigious 2023 Pearcey National Awards gala dinner, in Sydney.

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Pearcey Hall of Fame2023
2023 Pearcey Hall of Fame
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Oct 30, 2023

2023 Pearcey Hall of Fame

At the 2023 Pearcey National Awards gala dinner on Monday 30 October 2023 in Sydney, David and Aidan Tudehope, Richard White and Professor Jean Armstrong were elevated to the Pearcey Hall of Fame. The Pearcey Hall of Fame is an individual award that recognises a distinguished lifetime of achievement and contribution to the development and growth of the Australian ICT industry.

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Pearcey Medals2023
2023 Pearcey Medal
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Oct 30, 2023

2023 Pearcey Medal

The Pearcey Medal, the most prestigious annual individual award in the Australian ICT industry, in its 25th year, was awarded to brothers, Aidan and David Tudehope. David and Aiden founded Macquarie Technology Group in 1992 and have guided their company to become a fully integrated carrier, supplying voice, mobile, data networks & managed hosting solutions to business & government users in Australia & Asia.

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QLD Awards2023
2023 Queensland Pearcey ICT Entrepreneur Award Recognises Yas Grigaliunas
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Oct 18, 2023

2023 Queensland Pearcey ICT Entrepreneur Award Recognises Yas Grigaliunas

Brisbane, Australia – 18 October 2023 – The Pearcey Foundation today announced Yas Grigaliunas, founder and chief evangelist of Circonomy, as the recipient of the 2023 Queensland ICT Entrepreneur of the Year Award. The Pearcey Foundation also gave a highly commended award to Geoff Augutis.

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ACT Awards2023
2023 ACT Pearcey Award
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Oct 17, 2023

2023 ACT Pearcey Award

At a special Pearcey Foundation roundtable event, Marcus Dawe was awarded the ACT Chief Minister’s Pearcey Entrepreneur Award by the ACT Chief Minister, Andrew Barr. Marcus is CEO of MCi Carbon, a clean energy scale-up that started in Canberra 17 years ago. Marcus has mentored many rising entrepreneurs over last 10 years. This year, the Pearcey Foundation is pleased to announce him as the 2023 ACT Chief Minister’s Pearcey Entrepreneur for his involvement in MCi Carbon.

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Special EventsPearcey News2023
2023 National Awards Gala
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Oct 9, 2023

2023 National Awards Gala

25 years ago, the Foundation launched on its mission to celebrate, support and encourage Australians who engage in, and excel at, the invention, development and use of information, communication and computing technologies (ICT) for the betterment of our society.

Building on the work of Dr Trevor Pearcey and his invention of the first digital computer in Australia, which put us at the global forefront of the digital age, we have recognised outstanding Australians:

161 Pearcey Entrepreneur Awards
62 Pearcey Hall of Famers
24 Pearcey Medals

Peer-selection is the hallmark of the Pearcey awards. Selected by past award recipients, this is the community recognising the significant achievements of its peers.

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Awards

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

National Awards • State Awards • Nominations

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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 3.0 • 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.

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